A gentleman called on the radio today to express his life of fear and guilt, which he attributed to his eight years of Catholic upbringing. Can you imagine the plague this man battles? He was feeling guilty for flirting with a costume designer even though he's married. The nerve of that Catholic upbringing.
There is such a thing as guilt, shame, scrupulosity, and Catholicism does not try to eradicate any but the last one. It does, however, teach prudence and temperance. Here are some brief insights:
GUILT is the condition we find ourselves in when we have done a moral wrong.
SHAME on the other hand is the emotion attached to guilt. Shame came after the fall, because innocence had been lost. Shame becomes exaggerated and problematic when it points to the person: "There's something wrong with ME."
SCRUPULOSITY is guilt and shame blown out of all proportion to acts committed. Often attached to nervous, anxious, and/or obsessive temperaments (St. Therese), it has also manifested itself in more choleric souls who have had their first tastes of humility (St. Teresa of Avila). Traditionally the advice of the saints has been to confide in a spiritual director and follow their guidance absolutely.
IN SHORT: Sometimes we are guilty, and feel the appropriate shame for offending the Lord. (The gentlemen felt shame for flirting with another woman, because he had incurred guilt!) However, we do not focus on our faults and failings, but ON HIS MERCY, and continue our journey (He could go to confession, be absolved, and go in peace). We should be ashamed of our actions, but not ashamed of who we are, because we are beautiful children of God. In such a hopeful existence, there is no room for scrupulosity.
SCRUPULOSITY is guilt and shame blown out of all proportion to acts committed. Often attached to nervous, anxious, and/or obsessive temperaments (St. Therese), it has also manifested itself in more choleric souls who have had their first tastes of humility (St. Teresa of Avila). Traditionally the advice of the saints has been to confide in a spiritual director and follow their guidance absolutely.
IN SHORT: Sometimes we are guilty, and feel the appropriate shame for offending the Lord. (The gentlemen felt shame for flirting with another woman, because he had incurred guilt!) However, we do not focus on our faults and failings, but ON HIS MERCY, and continue our journey (He could go to confession, be absolved, and go in peace). We should be ashamed of our actions, but not ashamed of who we are, because we are beautiful children of God. In such a hopeful existence, there is no room for scrupulosity.
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