Asking to Take Another's Sin

[jmfiore]

I work in healthcare and when I see a patient dying or about to die or had just died, I ask God to give me their sins because I don’t know the state of their soul, so that they might have a better chance of receiving salvation and/or having a shorter stent in purgatory.

Then today for some reason it hit me, is this a good thing, is it licit, or am I just bringing harm upon myself?
I can’t confess their sins because I don’t know them so by asking for someone else’s unknown sins, couldn’t I be putting myself in danger if I go unrepent(ed)ant?
Is it even possible to take on someone else’s sin?

My original intention/ thinking behind it was that I would carry their cross as it were, take on their sin/s as to make penance for them, not to be judged by them.

Is this a bad practice, should I stop or is there another way of doing it without possibly bringing harm upon myself?
I’m a sinner as is, but I wanna help them, I want to save souls for Christ and for the people themselves… Inspired by how St. Faustina helped save people from the edge of the Abyss!

What do you think? Is this bad, should I keep doing it, or should I just stick with saying prayers and intentions for people?

 

[mVitus]

I’m not fully certain on the matter so I’ll refrain from comment there toavoid confusion.

You might consider praying the Divine Chaplet of Mercy however. From a little reading I did, St. Faustina says she was told that praying it in the presence of the dying would have Christ stand between the dead person’s sould and the Father as the merciful Redeemer as opposed to the jist Judge.

 

[hu324b]

I agree Divine Mercy is for you - you can read St Faustina Kowalska Diary online or purchase the book - it fit for exactly what you are asking for.

Learn the chaplet of Divine mercy - its very easy to learn and say it at the death bed of the people you encounter - who knows maybe Jesus is calling you to do this because you are in the position to do it.

 

[seagal]

What you’re doing sounds to me a lot like the pagan practise of sin-eating, although I know you mean it sincerely. As others suggested, praying the Divine Mercy would be more appropriate, asking Jesus to have mercy on them.

 

[TK421]

“Taking sins” is sometimes used in Catholic writing, but it is when it comes to Jesus’ desire to take sins. St Jerome is said in a vision to have wanted to give Jesus his writings, his preaching, his penance… but Jesus kept saying, “It is not enough”. Having been exasperated, St Jerome asked, “Then what is it that you want?” Jesus said, “Give me your sins”.

It’s impossible to repent on behalf of another soul: after earthly life, a soul goes to wherever it is they belong. But you can provide spiritual works of mercy by praying for them in life or for their repose in death. Because sins belong to each of us, only we can give them to Jesus. Nobody else can do that.

If a soul is in hell, the prayers are transferred to those who need them. If a soul is in Heaven, the prayers are transferred to those who need them. You can pray for a soul at any given time and it will not be too early or too late. St Padre Pio prayed for the soul of a great grandfather who he had never met before: when asked about this because it seemed curious, he said that it makes no difference because time is only bound to Earthly life. So there is never an instance where praying for the dead could be done in vain.

 

[porthos11]

It is not possible. You cannot take the guilt of one person and bear it (and its consequences). What you can do is pray, do mortifications and penances for the sake and intention of this soul, and this is best done in the state of grace. This can merit great graces for the soul being prayed for, but that soul, as does every other soul will find its salvation or damnation in its free response to God’s grace.

You can help by your prayers and sacrifice, but you cannot take his guilt upon you.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Hi jmfiore,

I agree with those who said that you can pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

You can also pray the Rosary for another’s intention if you so desire, or you can just offer prayers on their behalf, too.

Here is a link to the Marian’s website on how to pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, if you haven’t prayed it before and would like to see how to do it. You use a regular rosary:

thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/praythechaplet.php

 

[RosyAnne]

That sin-eating link was interesting and new for me to read, thanks for that!

To the OP, this sounds to me too like your impulse is to offer yourself up as a Victim Soul. You can read about that on this article: What is a Victim Soul? Witnesses to the mystery of redemptive suffering.

"To be a victim necessarily implies immolation, and as a rule, atonement for another.

"Although strictly speaking one can offer oneself as a victim to give God joy and glory by voluntary sacrifice, yet for the most part God leads souls by that path only when He intends them to act as mediators: they have to suffer and expiate for those for whom their immolation will be profitable; either by drawing down graces of forgiveness on them, or by acting as a cloak to cover their sins in the face of divine justice.

“It stands to reason that no one will on his own initiative take such a role on himself. Divine consent is required before a soul dares to intervene between God and His creature. There would be no value in such an offering if God refused to hear the prayer.”

This is treading in waters, very choppy, difficult waters, that only a holy Spiritual Advisor can guide you on.

The recommendations above about praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the dying is the best advice (and the safest) IMO.