Complete Consent of the Will

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For a Mortal Sin 3 requirements must be met.
  • Grave Matter
  • Full Knowledge
  • Complete Consent
I have a question regarding the Complete Consent requirement. Would I know if I consented?

For example if I was sort of focusing on something else, and I had a bad thought run through my mind, and I had it for a while, then got rid of it, would I have already consented?

Or even if I was focusing on that thought, and I completely realized it was wrong and got rid of it, would that be a mortal sin? Even if I just “sort of” consented? Without thinking much of it?

I feel like when I have bad thoughts and dwell on them for a few seconds, and my conscience realizes what I’m thinking and tells me to stop, I can’t tell if that’s me realizing I’ve committed a mortal sin, and I’ve already consented, or if that’s my chance to consent or not.

So could I completely consent to a bad thought and not know it?
And then my conscience tells me I’ve committed a mortal sin?

I don’t know if I should ask this online, or my priest. I was hoping maybe someone could give me some advice.
 
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This could be just a huge gaping hole in my conscience, but it seems like thoughts would be unlikely to constitute a grave matter. What you’re describing sounds like some of my more OCD moments about thoughts, so yes talking to a priest is advisable.

I’ve been told by patient priests in confession, “feelings aren’t sins” (when it comes to thinking grumbly thoughts about people) but hearing the specifics of your question they can counsel you much better.
 
I maybe feel like this thought I had was a mortal sin, but I’m not sure.

It was likely intrusive as i have no intentions on acting out on it. And if it wasn’t intrusive it was one of those hypothetical thoughts I get, like the ‘What if this happened, then I did this, and that.’ Sometimes they’re completely mindless, though very rarely they can be violent. Even if I could act out on this thought consequence free, I know I would not.

I always had these hypothetical thoughts and situations, most were mindless daydreaming, but some were violent. I never gave them much credit because I knew I would not ever act out on the violent ones. I maybe told myself, “wow that’s awful.” Then it was over, and gone. Until I came back to the church, then my scrupulously kicked in full force. And now I obsess over these thoughts because I now think everything is a mortal sin.
 
Thoughts can also be a grave matter. I’m just not sure when, is it when we dwell on them? Think about them, or when we consent to do, or strongly desire to do the subject matter of the thought?

For example;

if I’m thinking about robbing a bank, and I consent to the thought after meeting the first 2 requirements, and get stuff ready to rob the bank, and plan it out with the intention on doing it, then that’s probably a mortal sin.

Or if I’m thinking of a hypothetical situation like if this doesn’t go my way, I’m going to rob a bank, then I dwell on it for a while, and realize what I’m doing thinking is wrong then is that a mortal sin?
 
You’ve called them what they are, intrusive thoughts. They’re a symptom not a sin. Find a priest who knows about scrupulocity and OCD if you can.
 
Yeah, but my problem is telling wether they’re intrusive or not.

I know intrusive thoughts are not a sin.
 
A priest in Confession told me as long as I don’t dwell on them and don’t take pleasure in them the thoughts are not sinful. We can’t control what thoughts pop into our mind. I try to keep that in mind and keep it simple. If I think further about it I get confused, scrupulous, and am over thinking it.
 
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Did he say what he means by dwell on them? I don’t believe I took pleasure in my thought, but I did dwell on it.

I did get pretty disgusted that I had that thought, and a little wound up after, so I guess maybe that proves I didn’t take pleasure in it?

But I did hold onto it, until I had the ‘this is terrible thought’ go through my mind.
 
He just said try to think of something else as soon as possible. That’s really all I can offer. If you aren’t sure talk to a priest either in Confession or somewhere else.
 
Ok, thanks for the advice.

I’m meeting with a psychologist tomorrow, they can give me some scientific advice, and I’ll ask my priest sometime for the spiritual side of things.
 
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