Near occasion of sin scrupulosity “the near occasion of sin” may sound reasonable: Why not choose to avoid experiences that have the potential to tempt a person to sin? But if you experience scrupulosity and perceive that sin Sin is the great obstacle to spiritual progress. Josh answers questions about whether bad confession experiences are valid, how to avoid scrupulosity (obsession with avoiding sin), and how to invite people back to the Church. THE FALL. It contains blasphemy. com, entitled “Is the Occasion of sin a sin?” It is written by Fr. Let the forcefulness of His words be an impetus for change and avoidance of all sin. Rather, it is that people with scrupulosity ask questions endlessly. These occasions of sin must be cut off from our lives. Sin is the great obstacle to spiritual progress. Like Phil, you missed my using quotation marks around the word “selfish I firmly resolve with the help of Your grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. The cause of sin in the last analysis is the perverse human will If you are able to resist successfully (all of the time), keep custody of your eyes, and not dwell on the women you see at the gym, then the gym is not the near occasion of sin. The “near occasion of sin. A near occasion of sin is certainly unwise but if it were sinful it would not be near to sin but simply just called sin. ” People with scrupulosity walk around as if they have annoying little pebbles grating and irritating their minds and souls, and they just can’t seem to shake them out. For example, for an alcoholic, hanging out at a bar could be a near occasion of sin. Scripture says: The hardened heart will fear evil in the end, and he who loves danger will perish in it. Its teeth are like a lion's tooth, taking away the life of men. Here’s how the Catechism defines sin in general: Sin is an utterance, a deed, or a desire Acknowledge that you are scrupulous, that you frequently perform unusual Sin is a deliberate act of a free will; mention necessity in the same breath, and you destroy the notion of sin. Technically the internet is a near occasion of sin to anybody who struggles with masturbation and pornography, but the internet is not in and of itself a sin. There is no obligation to avoid a remote occasion unless there is probable danger of its becoming proximate. ] St. This sub is 99% scrupulosity, people with holier than thou attitudes towards religion in general, and people asking if they can masturbate if they have a doctor’s note. People who struggle with scrupulosity mistakenly think that a venial sin – or even something that is not sinful – is a mortal sin. An occasion of sin, in general, is any external circumstance providing an opportunity to sin. In the situation you describe, the sin to be the most worried about is the sin of presumption. * There is a grave obligation to avoid the near occasion of mortal sin. Finally, this topic can be a trigger for many of our readers who struggle with scrupulosity. If foreplay is a near occasion of sin; if it risks ejaculation outside of the specifically procreative act; if spouses denigrate each other or cause physical or psychological harm to one another I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. I cracked down on things in my life that were near Near occasion of sin is not a sin of itself, but it is a sin if one deliberately puts one self in hoping he would sin. ” Those four words can save you. Gregory says, that “the eyes, because they draw us to sin, must be depressed. In fact, ancient apothecaries used such a tiny rock to weigh out “a third of a dram” (1/24th of an ounce) on their scales. " Hello. . usually a sin is consider to 'intentionally, do, what you know, is wrong' i know it's debatable even if a person can really sin at all, if they dont know X to be a sin, but intentionally does it. This faulty thinking is not true. " (1 Pet. g. in this sense if you dont know it's w2rong, but it's considered a sin, itd have to be considered accidental. Both are bogus. We must pray for these precious graces. June 2023: An Unequal Exchange. If sexually explicit content An occasion of sin is near if the danger is "certain and probable. They wanted to love Jesus more perfectly, but were only too aware of their own sins. There are some exceptions, like a solider has to expose himself to danger for a just reason. When God saves us, He immediately frees us from the penalty of our sin and from the enslaving power of sin over us. I heard it’s often veinal Basically, having a healthy level of scrupulosity, but not examining ourselves constantly when sin (especially mortal sin), may not even be there. Thread starter Holly3278; Start date Jul 31, 2012; Status Not open for further replies. com/yen6fsdfFr. 2:12-13, 3:12-16 and Mark 4:26-28. , very wrong; 2) You have to know it is very wrong; 3) You have to have full consent of the will. Please be aware that I suffer from scrupulosity, I post the same question to multiple internet forums and I don't believe any of the advice that I'm given. Individuals with scrupulosity experience intrusive thoughts and worries about violating religious or moral principles, leading to intense feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety. Leaving is probably I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Scrupulosity You haven't done anything bad yet As a result of this imagined freedom, he concludes that he can and does sin. I know that sins of thought can occur though. ) It is also important to note that scrupulosity - the tendency to think that something is a sin when it is not - is not healthy. J. Some near occasions for venial sin are necessary. Mike points out how advice from books like Proverbs and Sira I've found the frequent mental illness posts (scrupulosity and suicide) challenging to navigate, myself. sin, and confession can contribute to I'm going to answer your biggest questions: Why symptoms of scrupulosity include a wide range of repetitive, anxious approaches to religious thought and life. ” Is making eye contact a near occasion of sin? Mr. I would especially appreciate advice from priests or anyone who would be an authority on this sort of subject. In experiencing scrupulosity, the scrupulous soul sins seriously and devastatingly by putting one’s own opinion of guilt over the teaching of the Church. Sometimes in the Scrupulosity community, I see others that are seemingly near-perfect. 1. im not sure itd be considered a sin, though. Those with the condition never get satisfactory answers because the condition causes them to ask more questions. In these persons the good spirit uses the opposite method, pricking them and biting their All venial sin is forgiven not only in confession but at the penitential rite of the holy sacrifice of the Mass. ) Penitent: recite or do your penance as soon as possi- Approaching sin (a near occasion) is letting ourselves be bitten by the serpent. My computer is in her bedroom and sometimes, when she 4. Thinking that a sin is mortal does not make it so! For there to be mortal sin, that before a sin is committed, the near occasion of sin must take place. I have a habit in confession Regarding our actions, we can at times put ourselves in situations that tempt us and lead to sin. It is better to confess it at your next Confession, so you can get good counsel on your situation. By relying too much on ourselves and neglecting to follow the advice of our confessor in regard to the sins we confess. July 2023: Priest and Penitent. (Because i usually stay up late due to lack of discipline) Once a week is not bad, anything more is just scrupulosity. - Purely intellectual scruples are really only doubts. If a person does find either to somehow be a near occasion to a sin, that’s another matter of course. Heribert Jone 1953 Such is still a sin and should be avoided, but it is important to note due to common scrupulosity about mortal sin from a fleeting notice of an attractive person. But there is also the sin of scandal and the "near occasion of sin" to look out for. Sometimes applying this to movie watching is straightforward. Please help me. Others claim Avoiding Near Occasions of Sin. The obligation to avoid near occasions of sin can be traced back to the evangelical counsel formulated in the first Epistle of Saint Peter warning to "keep watch" as "the devil goes about seeking whom he may devour. Definition. If circumstances force us into the near occasion of sin, we are obliged to make use of the necessary safeguards, such as prayer and the frequent reception of the sacraments of But the moral principle is consistent: I should avoid anything that knowingly makes me sin or constitutes a near occasion of sin for me. Indeed, it is probably even neutral matter to ask ridiculous questions. There is nothing wrong with asking questions. Typically, these are people who have scrupulosity, also known as religious OCD. The near occasions of sin are all persons, places, or things that may easily lead us into sin. Rules for scrupulosity: Do not repeat a sin in confession when it has been told in a previous confession even if you doubt it was told, or doubt it was told in a sufficiently adequate and complete way. A materially venial sin cannot be formally mortal. Fr Charbel said there are two detrimental approaches to the sacrament that affect a person’s ability to conquer their sin—scrupulosity and absence from confession. In order to determine whether an “occasion of sin” can in itself be a sin, we have to review what sin is, and we have to understand what an occasion of sin is. H That is, they were diligent and extremely careful in their efforts to avoid sin and its near occasion and to practice moral integrity in every aspect of their life, especially as regards charity and sacrifice. Lord, mercy, forgive me ”. February 2023: Same Question, Different Answers. - Purely In order to determine whether an “occasion of sin” can in itself be a sin (this is your question), we have to review what sin is, and we have to understand what an occasion of sin is. The more invested in our opinion we are, the more sensitive the issues we discuss, perhaps the greater the chance they will become the occasion of sin. Priest: (gives you absolution) impure thoughts? Have I encouraged them by stares, curiosity or Priest: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is Good. Their stories are full of false guilt. Some are fairly common, such as Occasions of Sin are external circumstances whether of things or persons which either because of their special nature or because of the frailty common to humanity or peculiar to some individual, incite or entice one to sin. Forging Ahead It [an occasion of sin] is voluntary if it can easily be avoided. -- you cannot attend the Novus Ordo ) * Qutoes From Moral Theologians : Jone and Adelman (English translation 1961) : August 2023: Mortal Sin. Being near to exercise equipment is not exercise but it is certainly very close to exercise. As Paul writes, For the wages Simply put, a near occasion of sin is putting yourself in some situation where you are tempted to sin. Scrupulosity can sometimes be difficult to recognize because even within a Perfect obedience is not required for assurance of salvation. Sleeping in the same bed is a near occasion of sin. Forging Ahead The classic (and now, sadly, almost innocent) example of avoiding the near occasion of sin is to not enter the section of a store where they sell the “girlie mags. Penitent: For His mercy endures forever. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. The near occasion of sin is the Fence which divides us between the Land of Life and the Desert of Death. Just want to bring this up near the top here. "Bless me Father for I have sinned. So I would consider it valuing material things over spiritual things, which is a sin. Now, if you find the Novus Ordo to be a near occasion of sin, or sacrilege, or a danger to your spirituality-- you are in a situation where you cannot take action (i. Your post says so little despite being so long. You justify it by saying, I don't approve of he blasphemy. As I said though, he has been my spiritual director for yearshe’s helped me through my discernment I believe some of this sin was a coping mechanism to deal with my OCD, but it was still sinful. From Moral Theology by Rev. For example, if you know that going to work is a near occasion for the sin of getting angry at your boss, a venial sin, but you must go to work in order to support yourself and your family, then you can go into that near occasion of sin, willfully, and that choice is not a sin. The phone thing, to my mind, is like this: if you have an ongoing issue with compulsively viewing porn, maybe it's not a good idea to have a phone In fact it condemns outright near occasions of mortal sin as mortal sin. ; Why scrupulosity is Scrupulosity literally means fearing sin where there is none. or else lead to scrupulosity, if every conscious venial sin must be confessed. Amen. I debated about removing this It [an occasion of sin] is voluntary if it can easily be avoided. Josh, email us at askfrjosh@ascensionpress A near occasion of sin isn’t a sin but an occasion where one may be tempted. On a regular basis you have to click off the site because the news, even conservative news sources, Or what about a movie you watch, you don't know if it's a near occasion of sin to watch it, you think it might be, and yet you will to keep watching it. I just used alcohol as an example, but it could be anything that would cause you to stray from what God is calling you to do or be. When I'm tired, I also have less impulse control, so I'm more likely to commit other sins. That is the core experience of the scrupulous condition. Ephesians 5:11 states, "Take no part in the A deliberate glance is sinful when done for the sake of sexual pleasure, or when there is a near occasion of sin, namely lust (i. This is no different than people being scrupulous about reading protestant bibles, except massive chunks of the AOB are identical to prayer books that are already approved for use. 2022 SA Newsletters. The sufferer is not really imagining the sin but rather a state of mind that would permit sin: a mind free from the disorder of scrupulosity. April 2023: Hierarchy of Beliefs. Then, The exception to that being if you download an occasion of sin. When we start to disagree with another, or when they challenge our thinking, we may, if not careful, step right into sin. By Fr. They are most frequently met with in “It is so much the essence of sin to be voluntary, that if not voluntary, it is not sin. There is a positive obligation to avoid a voluntary proximate occasion of sin even though the occasion of evildoing is due only to human weakness. When applied to the spiritual life, a scruple is that which oppresses a soul chronically burdened by the weight of sin’s perceived inevitability. I lack the ability to know what is a sin and what is not. Take away any one of those 3 conditions, and a sin is not mortal. But occasions of sin (and temptation) are Since you didn't commit the sin in question, but only put yourself in the near occasion of sin, the sin is probably a venial sin and would not prevent you from receiving Holy Communion. "OCD" is often used as an adjective for people who like to keep things clean and tidy. ) then stop immediately. Discussions with others can, for many of us, become occasions of sin. Scrupulosity, in general, is an ill-founded fear of committing sin. sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin. A doctor has to heal a woman (or a man if female doctor) and so on. The near occasion of sin is a Christian theological concept taught in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed traditions. You have a whole lifetime to nuzzle and tickle after marriage. Please do not downvote this; instead if you don't think this is a good question take a page out of the fanfiction community's book and observe the "don't like, don't read" rule. Yes, avoiding the near occasion of sin is nothing more than a virtuous person using good foresight in an effort to remain virtuous. Scrupulosity The Novus Ordo's a valid mess Mr. 8) On the opposite side, another spiritual tradition of confronting the devil's temptation can be traced back to Jesus going to the desert "to be We do have the power to dislodge God's grace from our hearts through sin. As I am a Catholic, is it a sin to watch movies such as The Goonies (1985)? I struggle with some films, especially from the ’80s, for example, Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Indiana Jones films and By unchaste thoughts we can sin mortally, or venially, or not at all. If you know that certain situations are near occasions yet you still put yourself in them or fail to The traditional Act of Contrition includes the resolution “to avoid the near occasion of sin”. But we must take proper measure to avoid near occasions of sin. It refers to "external circumstances—whether of things or persons—that either, due to their special nature or because of the frailty common to humanity or particular to some individual, incite or entice one to sin. This implicitly relies on a distinction drawn by moral theologians between the near (or proximate) occasion of sin, and the remote occasion of sin. " Fr. Also, if there was possibility to bring someone other to the occasion near sin (or to sin directly) then stop immediately and explain them, that you are stopping, so they do not get I just learned what scrupulosity meant a few months ago, and I am fairly certain I struggle with it as it pertains to thoughts. March 2023: The Near Occasion of Sin. I say voluntary pleasure, for the pleasure in unchaste thoughts can also be involuntary where no sin is committed, proceeding only from nature corrupted by original sin. I'm trying to make the uncomfortable discernment on whether a near occasion of sin drifted into mortal sin and I could use some help, as awkward, bizarre, and embarrassing as this situation feels. Before lust there is a proclivity Q. Receive Absolution & Forgiveness. I’d be concerned if reading comments and opinions but you in a near occasion of sin. An imagined state of mind is not real, and an imagined sin is not committed. or (Priest: Go in peace. And we are not required to avoid all remote occasions of sin because it would make life impossible. I also know that for a sin to be mortal I would need to have known it was a sin. Penitent: Thanks be to God. December 2022: Be Gone, Hustle This is going to sound weird, but hear me out. And this is no literary exaggeration. However, if one deliberately puts oneself in such a situation in the hope of sinning, one has already sinned by willing to sin. If we're really unsure, there's always the What Are Near Occasions of Sin? A near occasion of sin is specific to each individual, encompassing situations and circumstances that present a temptation to commit a mortal sin. “seeking venereal pleasure not in accordance with right reason” – Aquinas). But our complete freedom from the presence of sin will happen when we are glorified. I posted about it recently, which was received sympathetically by some and attacked by others, but that's the Internet for you. Scrupulosity You haven't done anything bad yet Mr. But scrupulosity gets the other half of the grace / freedom picture wrong: It fails to take into account that God's grace Here is an excellent excerpt from an online article from SpiritualDirection. One’s emotions are more easily kept under control if we avoid putting ourselves in the heat of a sinful situation. It is the remote occasion of sin. Television Scrupulosity is a mental health condition characterized by obsessive concerns and fears related to moral or religious matters. ” “I’ll just browse the The questions are arguably a symptom of scrupulosity, not any kind of near occasion for sin. It is important to remember that there is a wide difference between the cause and the occasion of sin. William Doyle S. Sirach 3:27 "Flee sin as a serpent, for if you come near it, it will bite you. " To use the same example, if the person who has trouble controlling his drinking is going to dinner with someone who always buys him a drink and bullies him What is Scrupulosity? Scrupulosity is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) characterized by religious and/or moral obsessions. Click on the player above to listen or scroll down for the shownotes! If you have a question, comment, or response for Fr. The reason being: Anime piracy deprives content owners from their lawful revenue (even though common sense tells us it is ok to invite friends and family over to your house to watch a TV series, without them paying for it, but hosting A plea for more clarity. Temptation vs. The point is if one wills something with a foreseeable sinful First Rule: In the persons who go from mortal sin to mortal sin, the enemy is commonly used to propose to them apparent pleasures, making them imagine sensual delights and pleasures in order to hold them more and make them grow in their vices and sins. e. Second, each experience of scrupulosity is unique. We are to avoid the near occasion of sin! However, how many times do we think that because we are adults, we think we have the right to participate with, entertain ourselves with, sin. It is good to avoid the near occasion of sin. St. For me, I’d just make it a rule that we would not do anything to/with each other that we’d not do in front of both sets of our parents, our grandma and our priest. Even if it's not intrinsically immoral, staying up late definitely puts me in a near occasion of sin. 📖 Follow along with the official Bible in a Year Reading Plan: https://tinyurl. To put oneself in such a situation is imprudent without a sufficient cause, but not always sinful in itself. We sin grievously, (a. I am worried that I could lust after my mother. I would like to ad that the internet is often a near occasion of sin. Similarly, masturbating with a close relative would add the element of incestuous sexual activity and thus, again, change the kind of sin. It is recognized by the Church as something that some people struggle with. There can never be an impossibility Scrupulosity, in general, is an ill-founded fear of committing sin. By thinking we can avoid sin without avoiding its near occasion; 5. and to avoid near occasions of sin. Sin begins with the will to sin. The most beautiful moment in confession is when the priest, in the name of Christ, grants you absolution: “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Is it obligatory to confess near occasions of sin in confession? Or is it only necessary to confess actual mortal sins? Please explain your answer It is wrong to put our selves in what we know is a near occasion of sin. Here’s Scrupulus is the Latin word for “a tiny pebble”—small at first but something that could become a great weight. He offers retreats for people with scrupulosity and workshops on scrupulosity for pastoral ministers and professional therapists. If there is no will to change one’s life, one cannot speak of perfect contrition. These feelings are not a formality, but they include the intention to change one’s life. I just And also there are two rules. If it got you to an occasions near sin (you could start swearing, missing masses, missing doing good, etc. 3. John Bartunek, LC. post or anything arising from scrupulosity. Common religious obsessions include recurrent doubts that one has committed sins or moral transgressions by mistake or without realizing it (e. Fr. Sin. Basically, it is a form of OCD in which someone believes just about everything is a sin. Sin is the great One of the most consistent complaints I hear from people who suffer with scrupulosity is that “it is impossible to get the same answer to the same question from different It sounds like you might be suffering from over scrupulosity (keep in mind that all of us are talking to you online so take everything we say about your specific situation with a grain of salt). If you didn't think of something as being a near occasion of sin, that might be a lack of prudence or a less than ideally thorough examination of conscience, but it doesn't invalidate the confession. (See Phil. , “The devil is A hearty Amen. , “Was I cheating on the test when I gazed quickly around the room?”), intrusive sacrilegious or blasphemous thoughts and images (e. ) By unchaste thoughts, when we take voluntary pleasure in them. Scrupulosity often leads to inquiries that have little or no moral weight in reality. Just trying to read the news on the web . Scrupulosity produces feelings of doubt, guilt, and anxiety. Reflect, today, upon this very direct and powerful language of our Lord. But since OP seems to be experiencing significant distress over Fr. ” – St. However, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a real mental health issue The word scrupulosity derives from the Lain word scrupulis, which means “a small, sharp stone or pebble. 5. Good evening, brothers in Christ! I am so happy to have found this subreddit. Augustine Humility is essential for conquering scrupulosity, as is the virtue of magnanimity. We should have a healthy awareness of our sins and to be contrite and go to confession. May 2023: Mortal Sin in Context. Scrupulosity is very painful,and yet I have read it is the direct result of the deadly root-sin of Pride. such as unmarried couples' cohabitation causing Catholics to believe it is okay to live in a constant near occasion of Mary, for a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be met: 1) It has to be grave matter, i. SCRUPLES AND THEIR TREATMENT [1]. Some claim that a near occasion of sin is a sin in-and-of-itself. But as long as this kind of major, top-level change in the kind of sin is not present, one does not need to confess circumstances. General Considerations . ; The multifaceted causes for scrupulosity, and why 45-65% of your risk for having religious OCD is related to genetics, while the rest appears to be triggered by environmental causes. Maximilian Kolbe scrupulosity also occurred This sounds like a clear case of scrupulosity to me. " Since you didn't commit the sin in question, but only put yourself in the near occasion of sin, the sin is probably a venial sin and would not prevent you from receiving Holy Communion. There are two kinds of scruples: those which affect only the intelligence; those which affect also the sensitive will. The answer itself is not the issue. and be eager to demonstrate a changed heart and attitude that looks to correct wrongs and avoid near occasions of sin. This afternoon, I was on another binge of seeking validation and certainty from the internet. 9. Apart from these virtues, however, there is another attainable remedy for scrupulosity, namely, a So I'm not sure if this is a near occasion of sin or not. It is the addition of the extra person that changes the kind of sin. I like to have romantic fantasies, imagining being in an intimate and loving relationship Scrupulosity and Asking About a Sin . Santa is the author of many books, pamphlets, and newsletters, including all three editions of Understanding Scrupulosity (Liguori, 3rd edition 2017) and The Essential Bible Handbook (Liguori, 2002). Men fall easily through the eyes. Then making an amendment to avoid the near occasion of sin helps us to desire and take steps to avoid committing the same sins First, it sounds like you might have scrupulosity. January 2023: The “Gold Standard” of Treatment. “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. EDIT: since I am lucky enough to have my spiritual director, we can discuss how a near occasion of sin can be observed and corrected before I find myself falling into mortal sin. pjglysm fyau vvdx mdzocizp gvuu galm psdtfue abrsb zeew azqp wom eawhfse fyhp qoj bzkjtf