Are grave sins committed out of habit mortal?

[Holly3278]

Some people have habitual things that are gravely sinful such as masturbation. Let’s say you are a 20 year old man but you have the gravely sinful habit of masturbating every day. Does that mean that this 20 year old man is committing a mortal sin every time he gives in to his habit and masturbates? Or is his culpability reduced because the sin is habitual? Thanks!

 

[bmullins]

It’s a very fine line. Only the person committing the act and God are aware if it’s mortal. If the person is truly out of control of his faculties, then there is rightly a less grave nature… but if he/she is using the knowledge that they might not be able to control it as an excuse, then it’s even more of a grave nature.

 

[Nigel7]

And what if a person used to do it every day but now they pray a lot about denying self but still do it maybe once every 8 or 9 days? Then what?

 

[bmullins]

And what if a person used to do it every day but now they pray a lot about denying self but still do it maybe once every 8 or 9 days? Then what?

Then he is making progress. He’s not where he was, but he’s also not where he needs to be… so he keeps walking. We are saved, we are being saved, we hope to be saved. We keep walking, we keep working on it, and we keep praying about it.

 

[JRKH]

The issue of overcoming a bad (sinful) habit is inversely proportional to growing in holiness.

When we begin our journey, we are not very holy but are very sinful. Through the infusion of grace, prayer and commitment we begin to overcome our sinfulness, grow in holiness and move closer to God.
So long as we remain focused on God, on Holiness, on the journey toward the narrow gate - and - on killing off bad habits and sin, we will not sin gravely.
There will be times though when we slip up…When we lose our focus on Loving God and we sin - maybe even gravely.
This is a bad thing…
We know it is a bad thing …
We are in danger…
We know we are in danger…
We hurt God and ourselves…
We recognize that we hurt God and ourselves…
SO - - -
We pick ourselves up as fast as we can, turn to God in humble and abject repentance, begging His forgiveness and recommitting Love to Him and promise to “sin no more”.
…And, of course, we commit to getting to confession as soon as you can.

bmullins and Nigel, you guys have a nice exchange above.
Our growing in Holiness and overcoming our sinful nature I like to equate to things like dieting or training to run a marathon. Consider what goes into each of these things - starting from a “couch potato” lifestyle. It takes hard work and commitment. It takes the help of others. Slipping up is expected, but at the same time hated. But one must remain focused on the goal and measure progress, not failures.

So long as one remains firmly and truthfully committed to the goal of Loving God with their whole heart, their whole mind and their whole strength…They will, by the grace of God, prevail…

Hope this helps

Peace
James

 

[Nigel7]

Slipping up is expected, but at the same time hated. But one must remain focused on the goal and measure progress, not failures.

So long as one remains firmly and truthfully committed to the goal of Loving God with their whole heart, their whole mind and their whole strength…They will, by the grace of God, prevail.

Then he is making progress. He’s not where he was, but he’s also not where he needs to be… so he keeps walking. We are saved, we are being saved, we hope to be saved. We keep walking, we keep working on it, and we keep praying about it.

Brings to mind;

Philippians 2:12

**Therefore, my dear friends, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. **

Amen

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