Can one really go a week without committing a mortal sin?

[Joannm]

That is not what I’ve previously read/heard. My understanding was that a *venial *sin can be committed without full intent, although not without some degree of consent. I.e., one may have an angry or lustful thought and not fully consent to it, but there’s something in you that responds to it and perhaps you don’t push it away quite as quickly as you might. That, as I understand it, would be a venial sin. I am certainly willing to be instructed better. . . .

I believe that the Council of Trent said that no one could go through life without committing some venial sins, but anyone could (with the grace of God) go without mortal sins.

In Christ,

Edwin

I believe it was St Therese’s spiritual director who stated that it was his opinion that she never in her life committed a mortal sin.

 

[hambrf]

Thanks for your reply…it helps me alot even though you replied to someone else. You make perfect sense to me.
How do you gain more trust in God then?

 

[Pug]

Does anyone else experience this? how do I get my confessor to understand me? And finally,where do I go for the answers?
There are many catholic sites and places to ask a priest,etc. There really would not be a need for all this if we all had a resource that taught us. Deeper then the Cathecism. Maybe a book to go along with the Cathecism??
What do you all think?
Thanks for your time.

I found it easier to handle my confessions and such once I had a better grasp of moral theology. I stumbled upon a moral theology text in a bookstore one day and bought it out of curiosity. It made a difference for me, even though it did not answer all of my questions. Of course, it is theology, and is not what I think you are asking about. You want something with the equivalent authority of a CCC. The only thing that comes to my mind at the moment is Veritatis Splendor, by John Paul II. The second half of it talks about moral reasoning, a bit, if I recall. You won’t find it being specific, though.

The theology book I read was by Germain Grisez. I’ll try to give an amazon link, if it exists…here. Actually, I read the first three volumes, but one and two are the ones that elaborate his thinking and norms. I’ve also heard good things about May as theology author. May would have something shorter than what I read.

I think it helped because it cleared out some of the last cobwebs of my old thinking. Little reservoirs of confusion drained dry. Thus, the good stuff that I had was less obfuscated.

In your post, you may be talking about a near occasion of sin. Failure to avoid these is a sin if you don’t have a just reason not to. It’s been so long since I’ve read this thread, I don’t recall if it has been addressed on it.

 

[hambrf]

“I think it helped because it cleared out some of the last cobwebs of my old thinking. Little reservoirs of confusion drained dry. Thus, the good stuff that I had was less obfuscated.”

Thank you. This is exactly what I am talking about. Near occasion of sin is one topic,also just knowing the nuts and bolts of daily morality guidelines. I am not sure how to copy and paste on here to make it look like it is in box…so I " " you.
Thank you for your book suggestions. I will check into them.
I am so thankful for book suggestions because there are a million books out there and I didn’t know where to begin.

 

[Pug]

I am so thankful for book suggestions because there are a million books out there and I didn’t know where to begin.

The Grisez book is an actual seminary text. They use it for training priests, I believe. So it is not a beginning book. May would be better for beginning.

 

[hambrf]

ok, I understand. However, I took years of theology and I am tested as borderline genius. NOT to toot my own horn. God is the one who gave me my talents and brain. So, I would be able to “get it”. I think one reason for my frustrations on this subject is that I get answers that are not satisfying to me and I NEED material that can go deep. I am not much for dry reading,yet I can tolerate it for this purpose.

 

[hambrf]

This is definitely an interesting and important subject. As we can see by the posts, not everyone has the same perspective.However, when it comes to the so called Big “T’s” in Our Churches teaching it is suppose to be the bottom line and absolute truth we are to follow. The Cathecism can be read to where one is confussed if they commited a mortal sin or not.
One post said you would know if you commited a mortal sin, this is not necessarily true. That is a personal statement that may fit the one who posted it but not true for everyone. This is the problem in my opinion. Us Catholics need clear teaching. Also, one thing that adds to our confussion is generally priests to not get up and preach the teachings. I have known good priests and when they did do that, many parish members often wrote complaints to the Bishop about the priest. We need strong priest and Bishops to tell it how it is.
Also, I think a book to go along with the Cathecism for further explaination would be a great help. Take lust for example, I have ask many many people recently what is mortal and what is venial and what is normal for us sexual human beings to think and act.
It is difficult to get any 2 people that think the same,even priests once you go beyond…that it is normal to be attracted to your boyfriend,fiance and husband. But go beyond that there are many different thoughts.
Ours is a religion of absolutes,yet now a days, individually there is alot of confussion and no absolutes. We need unity. We need practicality. Spirituality in the sky needs to be brought home to our hearts and soul and therefore our thoughts and actions. The original person who started this thread has a very valid question.
And I think many of us have experienced where they are coming from.
Generally speaking,doing our best we can,letting go and letting God is a nice reply.However,it does not show us the steps or teach us how. We all need more clearity on how and why questions.
The cathecism teaches that if you do not know you are doing a mortal or venial sin you are then not guilty of it. So you can not know…according to the Cathecism. I am at the stage that I want to know if I am or is I am not on all matter because I want to love God as much as I possibly can. Love is more then emotions,it is thinking and doing regardless of our emotions that go up and down. It is important to KNOW and that is in the brain.
Forgive me for going on and on…this issue has been “UP” for me lately.
It is wonderful to have a place to vent and discuss.

 

[blessedtoo]

I found this book very helpful when I came back to the Church.
amazon.com/Catholic-Replies-Annulments-Contraception-Absolution/dp/0964908794/ref=sr_1_2/103-1062121-3449416?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191914965&sr=1-2

 

[blessedtoo]

The sense I am getting is that many Catholics rationalize their sins to fit the venial category even when they are mortal - just to get by and be happy. I don’t want to live my life in self delusion. Anytime I have minimized my sins the results were very bad. When I realize just how sinful I truly am I do much better.

I think it’s a great grace when the Holy Spirit begins to reveal the extent to which we are prone to sin. I understand what you are saying as I feel myself finely tuned to the many moments of each day when I make the decision to allow a thought to continue even when I know it is not what God wants of me.

I work with a gal that, I believe, God put in my life to challenge me. There are days when the thoughts that come into my head about this woman are absolutely shocking. And there is always a moment when God intervenes and asks me if I really want to continue down that awful road. It is at that point that I choose if I wish to refrain from enteraining the awful thoughts, or have a jolly old time maligning another child of God in my head. If I choose the latter, that’s my sin. No question in my mind.

And this happens every day. Most days, I choose God. The days I do not, I repent and get to Confession ASAP.

I want to know that if I slip up God still blesses me and my family in between my sins and my next confession. How do I lead my family in prayer, trust he answers me and blesses my labours if I am in a state of mortal sin even though I am repentant and have confessed to Him.

You lead your family the way we all do - as sinners who are trying to be saints. Consider it a grace that God is revealing your shortcomings so that you might perfect yourself before you go to meet Him. How much worse for those who are still in the dark?

 

[hambrf]

Thank you Blessedtoo
That books look like what I want.

I was told by MANY priests that those thoughts you have about your girlfriend or boyfriend that seem shocking are normal and not a sin. BUT…when I think those thoughts I feel that I am not seeing the other as a child of God and therefore,a sin.
So many prespectives it really gets annoying!

 

[blessedtoo]

Thank you Blessedtoo
That books look like what I want.

I was told by MANY priests that those thoughts you have about your girlfriend or boyfriend that seem shocking are normal and not a sin. BUT…when I think those thoughts I feel that I am not seeing the other as a child of God and therefore,a sin.
So many prespectives it really gets annoying!

The unbidden thoughts are not a sin. However, when we hang onto them, entertain them, feed them and “enjoy” them, that is sinful.

 

[drforjc]

This one is excellent also:

ISBN 1890177296 (1-890177-29-6) · Our Moral Life in Christ: A Basic Course in Moral Theology by James Socias and Aurelio Fernandez

 

[turtle18]

Well, Jesus said the First Commandment was to Love the Lord your God with all your mind, all your heart all and all your soul. So if I ever feel that I put anything else first in my life (and I frequently do, there are probably some things I don’t even recognize) I often use the Sacrement of Reconciliation to say I am sorry.

Now is that required? Apprarently not. Is it a mortal sin under Church guidelines? Apparently not, because if you look at most human behavior, just about everyone puts other things, commitments, and people before God.

 

[The_Catholic]

Yes.

The sacraments and prayer guard against sin.

You are being scrupulous. Thoughts which you desire not to have, but which arise in your mind are not mortal sin. They are venial.

i.e. Thinking about inflicting physical harm on those who are financially or emotionally harming your loved ones is not a mortal sin. Dwelling on it and fantasizing about it may be.
But having thoughts and then, maybe even much later, saying to oneself, “That isn’t right and I shouldn’t think that” is not a mortal sin, it is venial.

I don’t think gossip is a mortal sin. I believe that it can lead to mortal sin, but in and of itself, it is venial.

As for being in the state of Grace, it’s simple. God is not playing a pedantic little game of gotcha with humanity. Even those who commit mortal sin may die without confession without being consigned to hell if they are contrite and repentant in their hearts.

God isn’t going to say, “Well, you sinned on Tuesday and died on Thursday, but confession wasn’t until Saturday evening, so it’s eternal damnation for you. Sorry but that’s the rules.”

I mean, c’mon!

I live as a Catholic who believes in and avails himself of Confession. I do not live in fear in between Confessions because I know that God is love, He is reasonable, He is merciful. He is not a legalistic jerk.

In short, God loves me so I am not afraid (most of the time!)!

I was living in fear but recently I am not. I’m happy, content. Also, while we are to go to confession, still, God forgives if we for some reason miss it. It’s not a magic trick, it’s in the heart. God is not bound by confession niether.

Wow if I were to die and God showed me a sin I committed and never spoke it to a priest I would fall to my facr begging Him over and over to forgive me, probaly drown myself with tears. I don’t want to be cast away from Him. He’s my true love, THAT would be hell. Like the way you feel when you love someone, a woman, whose your wife, and can’t stop thinking about her. That’s how I am with the Lord lately. I’m His, no one else may have me. No other god.

Sorry, I went off topic. But please just trust Him, and strive to live the best way that you can. He’ll help you.

 

[happyseppy]

Hello,

To the OP and friend hambrf; I want to offer you a brief word of experience and encouragement, and perhaps a bit of caution. My husband stuggles with scrupulosity, and many things we have had to face have been issues that he has had to completely “figure out” before we could go forward. There is such a thing as integrity, but if you are not careful, it can border on a demand that everything be spelled out in black and white. To say that a sin is mortal or venial depends upon the motives and will of the sinner is very clear. To do a thing out of ignorance,habit or fear or even accidentally is a pit we can all fall into. God is a very fair, loving Father. But if we start wanting the Church to draw up a hard and fast list of specifics so that we can pin down every action is not only unrealistic, but in a way, prideful. The fact that we will continue to live with our tendencies to sin and have to rely on God in His Church with all the wonderful resources She offers, makes us humble! We have to submit ourselves to our Lord and trust Him in an ongoing way as long as we live.

Our pastor once said in a homily, “holiness is found in the struggle.”

The fact that we are struggling with our sinfulness is the very thing that is purifying us. It is a process that we simply have to embrace.

God Bless,

Peace,

Kelly