Admonishing Sinners

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seanom

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Hello I was just wondering when are we supposed to admonish people. I am a high school student and I do fairly often admonish my friends but when I don’t always I don’t know whether I am sinning or comitting a sin of omission. If I were to admonish people all the time it would alwayas be impossible since people sin constantly in your presence and I don’t want to sound judgemental either, any advice??
 
seanom said:
Hello I was just wondering when are we supposed to admonish people. I am a high school student and I do fairly often admonish my friends but when I don’t always I don’t know whether I am sinning or comitting a sin of omission. If I were to admonish people all the time it would alwayas be impossible since people sin constantly in your presence and I don’t want to sound judgemental either, any advice??
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Admonish and be admonished what is the problem?
 
There is prudence that must go into such.

We do not go around all the time…“fault finding” …especially in terms of venial sins. But there can be times when we are to fraternally correct…but also times when one should not…like when it will just make matters worse or often when it will not have any hope of effect etc.

Speak with your confessor …perhaps he can guide you.

blog.adw.org/2009/11/fraternal-correction-the-forgotten-virtue/

blog.adw.org/2010/06/correcting-the-sinner-is-not-being-judgmental-it-is-an-essential-work-of-charity/
 
Admonishing people is a great way to show your holier than thou, and it’s also a good way to lose friends.

Do what you want though. Soon though, if you find that no one wants to be around you, you’ll know why!
 
Rascalking said:
Admonishing people is a great way to show your holier than thou, and it’s also a good way to lose friends.

Do what you want though. Soon though, if you find that no one wants to be around you, you’ll know why!
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Some great article above on the topic…there is a time to fraternally correct in prudence…out of love for ones neighbors…(and a time to not say anything but to pray)

But you are correct that there can be excessive seeking in this regards that will not be good…
 
Bookcat said:
read the above…there is a time to fraternally correct in prudence…out of love for ones neighbors…(and a time to not say anything but to pray)
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Thanks Bookcat! I read the OP, and I still think what I said stands.In the online world, it’s one thing.But in the real world? I cannot imagine spending my time seeking out the faults in my friends and “admonishing” them.

But to each their own.
 
Rascalking said:
Admonishing people is a great way to show your holier than thou, and it’s also a good way to lose friends.

Do what you want though. Soon though, if you find that no one wants to be around you, you’ll know why!
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PLUS, if you’re busy all day admonishing people all the time, you’ll be too tired to do your homework.
 
Rascalking said:
Thanks Bookcat! I read the OP, and I still think what I said stands.In the online world, it’s one thing.But in the real world? I cannot imagine spending my time seeking out the faults in my friends and “admonishing” them.

But to each their own.
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Well you need to read more threads. Where have you been all day my love? Apparently being in everyone’s business all the time about every little thing is being mistaken for evangelism and fraternal correction 😛
 
The articles that Bookcat linked are GREAT reference to your question. I have read somewhere, as well (can’t remember…I’ll try to relocate that and post it here for you… ) that there are times we are obligated to admonish, and times we are not. If a life is in danger, or if you are in a position of authority over someone (a parent to his/her children, for example), then you should give correction for certain behaviors.

ETA: In the first link that Bookcat posted on “Fraternal Correction…the Forgotten Virtue”, there is some dialog between the author and readers at the bottom of that blog. In it, someone quotes the Baltimore Catechism which addressed what I was referring to.
 
seanom said:
Hello I was just wondering when are we supposed to admonish people. I am a high school student and I do fairly often admonish my friends but when I don’t always I don’t know whether I am sinning or comitting a sin of omission. If I were to admonish people all the time it would alwayas be impossible since people sin constantly in your presence and I don’t want to sound judgemental either, any advice??
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You admonish sinners when you believe it will do some real good, or when it would be a sin not to do so. The latter occasion would be, perhaps, when it would be a scandal if you did not admonish them, i.e., others would be misled.

The former case is not always clear. Often enough, you tell them not to do it, it will not register at all on their radar. So, the best thing to do, as with all things in general, is to pray first, that you do it correctly, and try to think of how to put it in a way that might positively influence them instead of just generate a negative reaction.

People always tend to have some level of negative reaction to being told they are doing something wrong, pride playing a large part of it, but one makes the best of it.
 
Rence said:
Well you need to read more threads. Where have you been all day my love? Apparently being in everyone’s business all the time about every little thing is being mistaken for evangelism and fraternal correction 😛
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👍

Thanks Rence! SIlly me, I’m one of those who quietly prays for people and tries to set a good example. Maybe that’s why I’m such a popular guy! :cool:
 
The best thing about admonishing people is that they don’t want to be around you after awhile. Sure, it’s their fault for being sinners, but if you don’t have anyone pay attention to you, who will you admonish? How will you spend your time?

Look, I actually say this in seriousness. I don’t think the best way to spread our faith is turn into Cotton Mather types.
 
Rascalking said:
The best thing about admonishing people is that they don’t want to be around you after awhile. Sure, it’s their fault for being sinners, but if you don’t have anyone pay attention to you, who will you admonish? How will you spend your time?

Look, I actually say this in seriousness. I don’t think the best way to spread our faith is turn into Cotton Mather types.
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I agree to an extent. We should not go around pointing out every fault of others, and praying for people does more good than anything in most situations. But we also cannot forget that there are occassions when we are obliged to correct (i.e. when a mortal sin is involved, when we have an influence on the person committing the sin, and when the correction will not lead them further astray). Let us also not forget that it is one of the corporal works of mercy. There are ways to give fraternal correction charitably to our friends as well, that they won’t simply become angry with us and turn away.
 
The corporeal works of mercy are:
Code: 
To feed the hungry;
To give drink to the thirsty;
To clothe the naked;
To harbour the harbourless;
To visit the sick;
To ransom the captive;
To bury the dead.
The spiritual works of mercy are:
Code: 
To instruct the ignorant;
To counsel the doubtful;
To admonish sinners;
To bear wrongs patiently;
To forgive offences willingly;
To comfort the afflicted;
To pray for the living and the dead.
 
Shin said:
The corporeal works of mercy are:
Code: 
To feed the hungry;
To give drink to the thirsty;
To clothe the naked;
To harbour the harbourless;
To visit the sick;
To ransom the captive;
To bury the dead.
The spiritual works of mercy are:
Code: 
To instruct the ignorant;
To counsel the doubtful;
To admonish sinners;
To bear wrongs patiently;
To forgive offences willingly;
To comfort the afflicted;
To pray for the living and the dead.
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Admonish away my friend!

I stand by everything I said.
 
Rascalking said:
The best thing about admonishing people is that they don’t want to be around you after awhile.
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I think this is true, but I also think it’s just as valid in situations where admonishing someone is a preferred course of action. Regardless of the gravity of their mistakes, people just don’t like being told that they should shape up. I’m sure pride is the main culprit; but to what extent do we respect someone’s pride if they are seriously damaging themselves and others through their actions?

On the other hand, serious situations where we know we should be speaking up, are far fewer than those where we simply have an occasion to be a ‘little saint’, or simply to vent frustration. When my wife tells me to shut up because I’m complaining too much about traffic, I’m sure she’s more interested in quiet than in my spiritual development. :whistle:
 
Rascalking said:
I cannot imagine spending my time seeking out the faults in my friends and “admonishing” them.

But to each their own.
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I didn’t see where anyone was claiming to seek out faults in anyone.

Could you point out where someone stated that? And if not, why bring up something that isn’t being discussed?
 
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