Are there many sins that cannot be absolved?

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foolishmortal

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what happens, then? Do you die from something? Are absolutions ineffective, but you don’t know that? Do you accept a life of committing that sin, and kind of get to enjoy it, at least on the outside, having despaired of ever being right, again, like Darth Vader almost did, before saving his son?

I know it’s almost taboo to speak of such things as a limit to God’s pardoning in parishes today, and I’m sure certainly not even a topic amongst Protestants, but it’s right in Scripture and plain as day, as a Facebook friend posted:

God, as the Apostle says, “will have all men to be saved” – I Tim. 2:4; but He also wishes us all to labor for our own salvation, at least by adopting the means of overcoming our enemies, and of obeying Him when He calls us to repentance. Sinners hear the calls of God, but they forget them, and continue to offend Him. But God does not forget them. He numbers the graces which He dispenses, as well as the sins which we commit. Hence, when the time which He has fixed arrives, God deprives us of His graces, and begins to inflict chastisement. I intend to show in this discourse that when sins reach a certain number, God pardons no more. Be attentive.
  1. St. Basil, St. Jerome, St. John Chrysostom, St. Augustine and other fathers, teach, that as God according to the words of Scripture, “Thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight” – Wis. 11:21 has fixed for each person the number of the days of his life, and the degrees of health and talent which He will give him, so He has also determined for each the number of sins which He will pardon; and when this number is completed, He will pardon no more.
    Wednesday at 1:37am · Like
Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin to sin" – Eccl. 5:5. Say not then, O sinner: “As God has forgiven me other sins, so He will pardon me this one if I commit it.” Say not this; for, if to the sin which has been forgiven you add another, you have reason to fear that this new sin shall be united to your former guilt, and that thus the number will be completed, and that you shall be abandoned. Behold how the Scripture unfolds this truth more clearly in another place. “The Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come, He may punish them in the fullness of sins” – II. Mac. 6:14. God waits with patience until a certain number of sins is committed but, when the measure of guilt is filled up, He waits no longer, but chastises the sinner. “Thou hast sealed up my offenses as it were in a bag” – Job 14:17. Sinners multiply their sins without keeping any account of them; but God numbers them, that, when the harvest is ripe, that is, when the number of sins is completed, He may take vengeance on them. “Put ye in the sickles, for the harvest is ripe” Joel 3:13.
 
Hello my friend I do not know where you got this idea from and it is certainly not something I have heard of but what is this theory based on?

We have the opportunity of confessing our sins in the sacrament of reconciliation every week in most parishes.Once our sins have been absolved we are clean again.

The basic requirement for a good confession is to have the intention of returning to God like the “prodigal son” and to acknowledge our sins with true sorrow before the priest (who is in persona Christi).We examine our conscience before confession and afterwards we are absolved…forgiven,if we have made a true and sincere confession.

As Catholics we resolve to return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation often. We Catholics are fortunate to have the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is the ordinary way for us to have our sins forgiven. This sacrament is a powerful help to get rid of our weaknesses, grow in holiness, and lead a balanced and virtuous life.

God bless
 
foolishmortal said:
Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin to sin" – Eccl. 5:5. Say not then, O sinner: “As God has forgiven me other sins, so He will pardon me this one if I commit it.” Say not this; for, if to the sin which has been forgiven you add another, you have reason to fear that this new sin shall be united to your former guilt, and that thus the number will be completed, and that you shall be abandoned. Behold how the Scripture unfolds this truth more clearly in another place. “The Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come, He may punish them in the fullness of sins” – II. Mac. 6:14. God waits with patience until a certain number of sins is committed but, when the measure of guilt is filled up, He waits no longer, but chastises the sinner. “Thou hast sealed up my offenses as it were in a bag” – Job 14:17. Sinners multiply their sins without keeping any account of them; but God numbers them, that, when the harvest is ripe, that is, when the number of sins is completed, He may take vengeance on them. “Put ye in the sickles, for the harvest is ripe” Joel 3:13.
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This is from the old covenant. Jesus is the new covenant. Genuine repentance equals genuine forgiveness. Remember, the Father doesn’t want even one to be lost. Christ’s mercy is boundless.

Does make you appreciate the enormous gift He gave us, though, doesn’t it? Think I’ll say a few extra prayers in thanks.
 
God’s forgiveness continues as long as a person lives, so long as they honestly repent, with trust in God’s mercy but without presumption, with the intention to avoid sin in the present and future.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church does not speak of God refusing forgiveness of sin after a certain number.

The Catechism has the imprimatur of the Pope.

What the Catechism teaches regarding Confession is found here:
scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm

1446 Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as "the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace."47

1468 "The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship."73 Reconciliation with God is thus the purpose and effect of this sacrament. For those who receive the sacrament of Penance with contrite heart and religious disposition, reconciliation "is usually followed by peace and serenity of conscience with strong spiritual consolation."74 Indeed the sacrament of Reconciliation with God brings about a true “spiritual resurrection,” restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God, of which the most precious is friendship with God.75

1496 The spiritual effects of the sacrament of Penance are:
  • reconciliation with God by which the penitent recovers grace;
  • reconciliation with the Church;
  • remission of the eternal punishment incurred by mortal sins;
  • remission, at least in part, of temporal punishments resulting from sin;
  • peace and serenity of conscience, and spiritual consolation;
  • an increase of spiritual strength for the Christian battle.
Saint Therese of Lisieux and Doctor of the Church wrote:

“If the greatest sinner should repent at the moment of his death, and draw his last breath in an act of love, neither the many graces he had abused, nor the multiplied crimes he had committed, would stand in his way. Our Lord would see nothing, count nothing, but the sinner’s last prayer, and without delay He would receive him into the arms of His mercy.” (Saint Therese of Lisieux)

God bless you
 
Trishie said:
Saint Therese of Lisieux and Doctor of the Church wrote:

“If the greatest sinner should repent at the moment of his death, and draw his last breath in an act of love, neither the many graces he had abused, nor the multiplied crimes he had committed, would stand in his way. Our Lord would see nothing, count nothing, but the sinner’s last prayer, and without delay He would receive him into the arms of His mercy.” (Saint Therese of Lisieux)

God bless you
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I’m so glad you posted this.
 
Julia Mae, I’m glad. St Therese has many things to share that really help, I’ve found.
God bless you.

From the Catholic Encyclopedia
newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm

"Penance is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest’s absolution to those who with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same. It is called a “sacrament” not simply a function or ceremony, because it is an outward sign instituted by Christ to impart grace to the soul. As an outward sign it comprises the actions of the penitent in presenting himself to the priest and accusing himself of his sins, and the actions of the priest in pronouncing absolution and imposing satisfaction. "…

It is not true that for the Catholic the mere “telling of one’s sins” suffices to obtain their forgiveness. Without sincere sorrow and purpose of amendment, confession avails nothing, the pronouncement of absolution is of no effect, and the guilt of the sinner is greater than before. …

The reconciliation of the sinner with God has as a further consequence the revival of those merits which he had obtained before committing grievous sin. Good works performed in the state of grace deserve a reward from God, but this is forfeited by mortal sin, so that if the sinner should die unforgiven his good deeds avail him nothing. So long as he remains in sin, he is incapable of meriting: even works which are good in themselves are, in his case, worthless: they cannot revive, because they never were alive. But once his sin is cancelled by penance, he regains not only the state of grace but also the entire store of merit which had, before his sin, been placed to his credit. On this point theologians are practically unanimous: the only hindrance to obtaining reward is sin, and when this is removed, the former title, so to speak, is revalidated."

My words: The bolded section answers a question whether or not forgiveness of sin 'runs out". When a person makes a valid Confession, they are restored fully to grace, not a lesser state of grace than before the sin.
 
Pope John Paul 2’s encyclical :
ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2RECON.HTM

“It is a certainty reaffirmed with particular vigor both by the Council of Trent[173] and by the Second Vatican Council: “Those who approach the Sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s Mercy for the offenses committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example and by prayer works for their conversion”.[174] And as an essential element of faith concerning the value and purpose of Penance it must be reaffirmed that our Savior Jesus Christ instituted in his Church the Sacrament of Penance so that the faithful who have fallen into sin after Baptism might receive grace and be reconciled with God.[175]”…

It is an act of honesty and courage. It is an act of entrusting oneself, beyond sin, to the mercy that forgives.[188]…

“And the saving power of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus is also imparted to the penitent as the “mercy stronger than sin and offense”, as I defined it in my Encyclical Dives in Misericordia. God is always the one who is principally offended by sin " tibi soli peccavi!” and God alone can forgive. Hence the absolution that the priest, the minister of forgiveness, though himself a sinner, grants to the penitent, is the effective sign of the intervention of the Father in every absolution and the sign of the “resurrection” from " spiritual death " which is renewed each time that the Sacrament of Penance is administered. Only faith can give us certainty that at that moment every sin is forgiven and blotted out by the mysterious intervention of the Savior."

*I could research further, but In the phrazes that I have bolded it is clear that God’s *mercy stronger than sin and offense" and with genuine repentance and desire for amendment, God’s mercy is complete within every Confession.
 
foolishmortal said:
what happens, then? Do you die from something? Are absolutions ineffective, but you don’t know that? Do you accept a life of committing that sin, and kind of get to enjoy it, at least on the outside, having despaired of ever being right, again, like Darth Vader almost did, before saving his son?

.
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there is no sin that cannot be absolved, except the sin for which you refuse to repent, which you cling to in preference to life with God. That is what “Darth Vader” did and what anyone does in real life who prefers sin to life with God.
 
puzzleannie;8620229**Tthere is no sin that cannot be absolved said:
That is what “Darth Vader” did and what anyone does in real life who prefers sin to life with God.

👍👍
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The only sin that is not forgiven is that sin which is not repented of.
This is what the OT references are really speaking of. The reference that the OP makes in the OT needs to be understood in light of the New…

Yes if we sin presuming on God’s mercy (“As God has forgiven me other sins, so He will pardon me this one if I commit it.”) such that we repeatedly sin, then we will indeed heap up “vengeance” but this vengeance is not an external “punishment” administered by God. Rather, it is a logical consequence of our own sin coming back to us.

The NT clearly shows that we can expect to receive that which we give.
Mt 7:
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.
Luke 6:
*37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” *
Mt 25:
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’.

So - Why should any believe that it is God who stores up vengeance against us, whom He Loves. Rather it is our own perverse natures that store up vengeance against ourselves. We go this by placing ourselves outside of his grace by sin - and even more so by the sin of presumption.

Peace
James
 
It is not true that for the Catholic the mere “telling of one’s sins” suffices to obtain their forgiveness. Without sincere sorrow and purpose of amendment, confession avails nothing, the pronouncement of absolution is of no effect, and the guilt of the sinner is greater than before. …

This is true, BUT BE CAREFUL how you say the above.
Remember, we are responsible for getting into bad HABITS of sin,
but EVEN THEN, theologians teach that if we are seeking God,
with a bad habit of sins (that IS our fault), God still takes into consideration
the habit and how hard it is to BREAK such habits.
Thus, a sinner may seriously sin Friday, be sincerely sorry Saturday and confess
it intending to repent thoroughly, only to fall back into that sin on Monday due to weakness
due to the habit of that sin. This may happen over and over and over again, for years.
If your are repentant and sorrowful AT THE MOMENT OF CONFESSION and have at least “IMPERFECT” (fear of hell) Contrition, your absolution IS valid, EVEN IF
you keep falling into that sin over and over and over again every week due to bad habits.
If you persist in repenting and confessing, God will eventually (if you keep asking for it)
give you the strength to overcome that horrible bad habit(s), and you WILL eventually succeed. The above statement needs to be qualified with this reminder.
Otherwise, it could catapult WEAK PEOPLE WHO READ IT, into utter despair and they
might give up trying. THEN they WOULD be lost.
Also, it is highly unlikely that an UTTERLY unremorseful and unrepentant person,
would bother to confess at ALL. They usually don’t even go to church, unless it’s to be seen in their fine millenary and to put on a pure “show” - a PHONY show (and they know it) of piety.
Love to you,
Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+
 
The official documents of the Church do not support the fear that God’s mercy runs out for those who truly repent, confess their sins with the intention not to sin again, and performing their penance.

“In order to respond to the call of God and start on our journey, it is not necessary to be already perfect. We know that the prodigal son’s awareness of his own sin allowed him to set out on his return journey and thus feel the joy of reconciliation with the Father. Weaknesses and human limitations do not present an obstacle, as long as they help make us more aware of the fact that we are in need of the redeeming grace of Christ.”

Message for the 43rd World Day of Prayers for Vocations
March 30, 2006

In 1966, Pope Paul VI issued an Apostolic Constitution on Penance, Paenitemini, a high-level document on the importance of the sacrament. “By first of all examining more thoroughly the link which binds it to Christ and His salvific action, [the Council] has underlined more clearly how all its members are called upon to participate in the work of Christ and therefore to participate also in His expiation”, he wrote.

vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_19660217_paenitemini_en.html
 
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