Can one be absolved of mortal sins if they are still attached to venial sins?

[x1980x]

Clearly, by definition, venial sins do not result in damnation, and, per CC teaching, need not be confessed to be saved (though, it can be of help).

It seems pretty clear that if a Catholic has a mortal sin on their soul, in order for them to be forgiven and returned to a state of grace, they must repent of EVERY mortal sin on their soul (i.e. you can’t be forgiven for murder now if you repent of it but are still not repentant for fornication), and have a firm intent not to commit those mortal sins again.

Can a person receive absolution, either through sacramental confession or a perfect act of contrition if they are firmly repentant of all their mortal sins but are not fully repentant of venial sins? E.g. if a person is truly sorry for committing adultery and doesn’t intend to do it again but is not ready to stop using swear words (venial sin), can they receive absolution for the adultery and accept that they may have some time to serve in purgatory over the venial sin?

 

[Bookcat]

Yes.

(and the forgiveness the person receives with the grace of perfect contrition prior to confession (one needs to intend such confession …) is not “absolution”)

 

[Barbkw]

In the example you gave (murder as mortal, swear words as venial - which is an anger issue due to emotional lack of control ) the answer is yes.

Reconciliation should be a complete acknowledgement of all defects.

Acknowledging various actions as sin, is often the mental block that people must come to recognize. Most people don’t make a conscience decision to continue committing venial sin.

Attachments to particular sin or sins is very common and are often those most intertwined with behaviorial compulsions.

We often find ourselves, day after day, month after month confessing to the same venial sins.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Also, perfect contrition comes with the requirement that one must make a firm resolution to seek confession as soon as possible.

 

[Bookcat]

One need not even confess venial sins…or one may say concentrate on certain ones for a time etc etc etc.

Though it is recommended to confess venial sins --even though one ought not wait for confession to seek forgiveness (they can be forgiven in many ways).

 

[Barbkw]

Can a person receive absolution, either through sacramental confession or a perfect act of contrition if they are firmly repentant of all their mortal sins but are not fully repentant of venial sins?

Rereading your statement I actually have to stop and think about that.

If a person in Reconciliation tells a priest they have no intent to control their anger or the outbursts which result in the use of swear words…

I actually don’t know the answer to that.

 

[Bookcat]

Yes one may be absolved if one confesses and is contrite for ones mortal sins and yet one is not yet repentant for a particular venial sin…

 

[Bookcat]

One can also confess that venial sin if one is sorry for it and will seek to work on it…

The confession of venial sins is very different than that of mortal sins.

 

[Bookcat]

Of course we are to continually convert our lives…conform ourselves more and more to Christ! Seek to be more and more holy in him.

But venial sins…especially long “habits” may take some time to change. Though hopefully such things as “venially sinful” sware words will be changed more quickly…as Paul notes we need to attend to such things.

(I would not put it as “serve time” in purgatory by the way (makes it sound like prison…)…but yes it may be that some things must be purified by the love of God in other ways)