Bad thought - mortal sin?

[iloveGod143]

Today was not a very good day for me…I’ve just been stressed out about a lot of things and to make matters worse my friends were bothering me because they ruined plans. My mom told me today in the morning that my aunt had said her daughter who’s pregnant (she had a miscarriage previously) is having some pregnancy problem and is on bedrest. Later on in the vevening I just got frustrated and my mom annoyed me . I had a quick thought thinking that I’d hope something bad happens w the baby …I am not exactly sure about the thought, but that was basically it. I feel so horrible and can’t even say it bc I think that’s one of the worst thoughts possible. I don’t know if I meant it or not bc to me most ppl’s life seems to be going good except mine and maybe that’s why I said it … There’s no excuse but I sometimes can’t help the thoughts I get. That’s the one thing I struggle most with. I plan on going to confession and confess this thought to a priest, but do you think this is a mortal sin?

 

[bobballen_18]

Unless you entertained the thought willfully, then it most certainly is not a mortal sin; at worst it would be a venial sin. Otherwise, you can discuss this with your priest as you mention you are planning on doing.

Bad thoughts can be a tough thing to deal with. Many of us probably get them a lot (well, at least I do) and over time you learn to find out the best way to work with them. Just don’t dwell on them; perhaps say some prayers if the thought(s) won’t go away. I’ve heard it said that thinking about how bad the thought is and how you may have sinned and worrying a lot about it, etc., can make it worse, so try to avoid that.

Anyway, you know best what you were thinking and if you were entertaining the thought, so I think you would know best if you have sinned mortally (if at all).

 

[Trishie]

There is a difference between actually wishing and intending harm to others,
than in not being able to cope with intense feelings at a particular time.
You don’t actually wish harm to your cousin and her baby.
I think you weren’t coping well with your feelings, and I don’t think it was a mortal sin, but more of a temptation that you rejected.

Maybe you need to learn ways of coping with your feelings, your disappointments and frustrations. Can you think of practical ways to defuse them?

 

[iloveGod143]

Thank you both! Trishie, you are so right… I don’t cope well with my frustration and stress. Lots of times if someone annoys me I start saying rude things about them in my head --nothing like wishing harm upon them or anything, and that’s why I thought this thought was really bad. It came really quick, and than I just realized what I thought and felt horrible. I don’t even know how to explain the thought I had exactly to the priest because I don’t want to make it sound better then it was or worse then it was either, if that makes sense. I prayed the rosary and I actually feel better. I def need to try and cope with my frustration better…I am going to start praying the rosary daily because I feel much more relaxed after. Thnks for your responses and advice, God Bless you both