At what point is a sin, a mortal sin?

[Sir_Knight]

According to church teaching, in order for something to be a mortal sin, it must be a grave matter. If one commits a sin but does not recognize or is not aware of the grave matter at the time of commission, is it still a mortal sin?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

According to church teaching, in order for something to be a mortal sin, it must be a grave matter. If one commits a sin but does not recognize or is not aware of the grave matter at the time of commission, is it still a mortal sin?

There are actually three requirements for a sin to be mortal. From the Catechism:
1857
For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”

If a sin is committed without full knowledge and deliberate consent then it is not a mortal sin. It can still be confessed and forgiven since confession isn’t limited to mortal sin.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Committed with full knowledge … committed with full knowledge that the object is grave matter at the time of commission?

 

[baltobetsy]

Sir Knight, I think you may be hung up on the difference between material and formal sin.

Material sin is the bad action in and of itself - always bad. Say I give you a hearty slap on the back in greeting, not knowing that you have a bad sunburn. That slap is extremely painful in and of itself because of your burn. No other factor will make it less painful. That’s material.

BUT, I don’t know you have a sunburn, and I’m just being friendly when I slap you on the back. So you are not angry with me, because I had absolutely no intent to hurt you. It is not, therefore, a formal sin.

Switch up the situation a little. I think you have a sunburn, and, wishing to cause you pain, I slap you on the back. In fact, one of our other friends is burned, not you, so the slap causes you no pain. No material sin.

BUT I intended to hurt you, and if that fact came to light, you would be quite upset with me, knowing that I wanted you to suffer. That’s formal.

So a mortal sin must be a formal sin. You must commit it with full knowledge of its gravity AT THE TIME. It wouldn’t be fair to blame you if you found out later, would it? You can commit a material sin without incurring guilt if you are truly uninformed.

Betsy

 

[teachccd]

According to church teaching, in order for something to be a mortal sin, it must be a grave matter. If one commits a sin but does not recognize or is not aware of the grave matter at the time of commission, is it still a mortal sin?

No.

 

[Sir_Knight]

So, if you tell, what you think at the time is a “white” lie, and upon reflection, you don’t see it as so “white” but more gray or black, it wouldn’t be a mortal sin or would it?

 

[rwoehmke]

Seems like no one on the forums mentions the fact that when talking of grave matter, a mortal sin is committed if one mistakenly believes the matter is grave and proceeds with that defective knowledge to freely do the act or make the omission.

A silly illustration might be: I am convinced that intentionally and willfully eating blueberry pie on Friday is a grave sin. If under that delusion I voluntarily eat a slice of blueberry pie on Friday, I have sinned mortally.

In short the matter must be grave or thought to be grave is one of the three conditions.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

So, if you tell, what you think at the time is a “white” lie, and upon reflection, you don’t see it as so “white” but more gray or black, it wouldn’t be a mortal sin or would it?

It has to be a mortal sin at the time you committed it, not by virtue of your reflection later.

On the other hand, telling a “white lie,” especially one that you later realize was more serious, is certainly worth confessing and trying to make reparation for. Lying isn’t a virtue to be developed.

 

[Sir_Knight]

It has to be a mortal sin at the time you committed it, not by virtue of your reflection later.

On the other hand, telling a “white lie,” especially one that you later realize was more serious, is certainly worth confessing and trying to make reparation for. Lying isn’t a virtue to be developed.

Suppose you didn’t want to hurt the person’s feelings but then something else developed as a result of the lie?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Suppose you didn’t want to hurt the person’s feelings but then something else developed as a result of the lie?

That’s a good example of the consequences of sin. Something else develops based on the action you took.

 

[Sir_Knight]

… Something else develops based on the action you took – which was not considered at the time … thus, mortal or venial?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

… Something else develops based on the action you took – which was not considered at the time … thus, mortal or venial?

You’re nit picking about whether it’s mortal or venial. What difference does it make? It’s a sin. Go to confession. Don’t do it again.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Oh, I plan to confess it but if it’s a venial sin I can wait until confession at my parish this coming Saturday. If it’s a mortal sin, I would like to confess it sooner but that would require me to take time off from work during the week so that I could go to confession at the another parish that has confessions during the week.