A question about sinning and realizing it

[SaintSaintSaint]

Does it ever happen to you where you are committing a sin, and as you are in the middle of it you realize what you are doing and, while not wanting to sin and give consent, you end up still continuing to do it as if it doesn’t register quick enough for you to stop what you’re doing until it’s too late? I don’t think it’s a mortal sin but it’s still frustrating.

 

[mommamaree]

Yes, I have had this happen to me when I was trying to break myself of the sinful habit of taking the Lord’s name in vain, during the time of my conversion to the faith. At first, I would realize after the fact, then later I would realize in the middle of commission of the sinful language, and finally, after much struggle, I began to have the ability to redirect my speech before the words came out of my mouth. Now, I do not even feel tempted to use such words, and it is very jarring to hear others take the Lord’s name in vain. I feel like I wish that there was some sort of reparation that I could do, to offer to Jesus, because most people are so careless with such sinful language. Now if only God will give me the grace to stop using certain impolite words, too!

P.S. I did go to confession for this, despite the fact that much of my early slipups were accidental and careless, because it is grave matter to take the Lord’s name in vain. Now of course, not all sins are grave matter, but for those that are, even if we might have reduced culpability, confession can be enormously helpful in overcoming the sin.

 

[teachccd]

Does it ever happen to you where you are committing a sin, and as you are** in the middle of it** you realize what you are doing and, while not wanting to sin and give consent, you end up still continuing to do it as if it doesn’t register quick enough for you to stop what you’re doing until it’s too late? I don’t think it’s a mortal sin but it’s still frustrating.

I am confused. What does “realize what you are doing” mean in the context of the act? If I start to steal and while picking up the object I realize what I am doing that is where the sin begins. I can say, “I really don’t want to do this” but that does not lessen the culpability since you continued in the sin once you realized what it is that you are doing. Please clarify and/or correct me if I misunderstood. Thank you and God bless you.

 

[Bookcat]

because it is grave matter to take the Lord’s name in vain.

Note:

One can distinguish between blasphemy (and other grave offenses) and profanity /disrespectful use of the Holy name such in anger or pain etc in a way -say out of a bad habit -that is not blasphemy --not said -say out of contempt for God or directed at God etc.

That such in itself while certainly NOT to be done (we are Christians --we love and reverence the Holy Name of Jesus etc-as Paul says --let no evil talk come from your mouths…) - such can be said to be ordinarily* venial*.

Let us praise and bless the Holy Name!

Praised be Jesus Christ of Nazareth --now and forever!

 

[mommamaree]

Let us praise and bless the Holy Name!

Praised be Jesus Christ of Nazareth --now and forever!

Actually, these two short phrases would be wonderful little prayers to say whenever I hear people taking the Lord’s name in vain. Thanks.

Regarding the rest of your post, which I removed so I could focus on the wonderful phrases, it reminded me that another thing that helped me overcome the bad habit was to regularly read the detailed lists of mortal and venial sins, broken down by commandment, to understand what was certainly very serious, and what was less serious and more accidental.

 

[SaintSaintSaint]

I am confused. What does “realize what you are doing” mean in the context of the act? If I start to steal and while picking up the object I realize what I am doing that is where the sin begins. I can say, “I really don’t want to do this” but that does not lessen the culpability since you continued in the sin once you realized what it is that you are doing. Please clarify and/or correct me if I misunderstood. Thank you and God bless you.

I was talking and said something. In the middle of the sentence I realized that what I was saying was wrong, but I couldn’t process in my head that I had to stop until after the sentence. It was like a disconnect between realizing what was happening and actually stopping.

(note: this is different from another thread I started)