We’ve all been there, haven’t we? That persistent, nagging feeling that something is just a bit off. It’s not necessarily a dramatic crisis of faith, but a subtle, yet powerful, sense of spiritual misalignment. Our position in life, our outward actions, and the inner workings of our mind just don’t seem to be matching up with the peace we know we ought to have in Christ.
Perhaps you feel an unshakeable inner conviction that you need to put a relationship right, make amends for a past action, or confess a particular sin. You know what needs to be done, yet for practical reasons—a busy schedule, an inability to get to a priest for Confession just yet, or waiting for the right moment to speak a difficult truth—you can’t execute it right now.
This is often where the internal debate can for many of us begin.
The Call to Repentance and the Struggle Within
As Anglo-Catholics, we are wonderfully grounded in a tradition that takes the call to holiness and the reality of sin very seriously. The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) masterfully articulates this tension. Consider the Exhortation before the General Confession, which reminds us to “humbly confess our sins before almighty God.” This liturgical rhythm underscores that our life is a continual process of turning back to God.
Why do we need this rhythm? Because we easily forget ourselves. We are all prone to the spiritual “self-forgetfulness” that St. James describes:
“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:23-24)
The Word of God acts as a spiritual mirror. It shows us who we truly are in Christ, revealing both the beautiful image God has placed within us and the flaws—the sins, the misalignments, the neglects—that need attention.
However, we must immediately balance this conviction with a generous dose of self-compassion, anchored in the profound spiritual wrestling described by St. Paul in Romans 7. Paul understood that dichotomy between the desire of the heart and the failure of the will:
“For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing… Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:19, 24)
This powerful passage reminds us that the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit is a very real, constant battle for every baptised Christian. That feeling of being “off” is often the very sound of this spiritual warfare. The Christian walk is not about achieving perfect alignment in this life, but about constantly seeking forgiveness and striving with the help of grace.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), a text we often look to for clarity, speaks beautifully on conscience. It describes it as a “secret core and sanctuary” where we are alone with God. A properly formed conscience moves us toward what is good and true (CCC 1776-1794). If the feeling you have is leading you toward reconciliation, justice, and charity, it is very likely a true prompting of the Spirit—a prompting that also understands your human weakness.
Discerning Scrupulosity
We must also be honest about our human psychology. For many, that inner ‘nudge’ can become twisted into scrupulosity – an “inner Pharisee” which just wont do. This is an excessive, pathological concern about sin, where a person worries they are in a state of mortal sin or is plagued by obsessive guilt about actions that may be minor or even imaginary…The reformer Luther had this very problem!
How can you tell the difference?
| Prompting of the Spirit | Scrupulosity / Obsessive Thought |
| Peaceful Conviction: Leads to quiet resolve, even if the task is difficult. | Anxious Compulsion: Leads to panic, circular thinking, and deep, draining anxiety. |
| Focuses on God’s Grace: Recognises the sin, but primarily trusts in God’s mercy. | Focuses on Self: Primarily worries about one’s own purity, worthiness, or damnation. |
| Leads to Action (when possible): Motivates constructive steps toward resolution. | Leads to Paralysis: The worry itself becomes the focus, preventing effective action. |
What to Do When You Can’t Put It Right Yet
If you are certain the feeling is a genuine spiritual prompting, but practical circumstances delay your ability to act—whether it’s getting to the Sacrament of Penance/eucharist or having that difficult conversation—hold fast to the means of grace you can access right now.
- Offer a Prayer of Contrition: Use the words of the BCP’s General Confession: “We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness… We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings.” Make an act of perfect contrition (sorrow for the sin out of love for God) and place your trust in Christ’s merits.
- Make a Firm Resolution: Tell God that you fully intend to confess, make restitution, or right the wrong as soon as you possibly can. This intent is a powerful spiritual commitment.
- Remember God’s Patience: As members of the Society of Our Lady of Walsingham, we look to Mary as a model of faith. She knew trust, but also uncertainty. God knows your heart and knows your current limitations. He does not hold you to a timeline you cannot meet. God is kind, patient and full of Love for you, his child.
The path to holiness is never perfectly straight. May the peace of Christ settle your heart as you continually strive to align your life with the powerful, loving promptings of the Holy Spirit.
At TitusOneNine.org we have developed the below liturgy which you can work through with God alone…
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