Confession and mortal sins

[Theophilos18]

So I’m trying to prepare for confession and I’m making a list of all sins I can remember. After doing some research I’m really discouraged. I feel like every sin is a mortal sin. Lazy? Angry? Miss Sunday? Eat too much because I like the food or yell at my parents or brother? Question something because of an episode of the Discovery Channel? Jealous of someone? Check out a hot girl?

These are everyday things (aside from church on Sundays, which I understand) that I feel like everyone or at least I commit daily. I try really hard to be good, but, if I check out a hot girl at work I’m going to hell? Really? Heck, I’m questioning Church doctrine just by writing this, so tack on another mortal sin. Sounds like I need a personal priest following me around so I can make confession hourly.

If you know the commandments, then you are aware that what you did was wrong and unless someone physically forced you to do it, you consented, right? So therefore, it sounds like literally almost every sin I commit is mortal. How can leaving 15 minutes early from work be a mortal sin…? I feel like I’d need to go live in a convent, avoid all forms of social interaction in general and swear a vow of chastity in order to not commit daily mortal sins…

Can anyone shed some light on this? I hope I’m simply misunderstanding something here. It sounds almost impossible to not commit daily mortal sins.

 

[Lavenderson]

You might have to give your question a sharper edge. What exactly are you asking? If you’re wondering what differentiates mortal sins from venial sins, there are many resources available online to help clear this up.

However, if youre simply pointing out how difficult it is not to do sinful things, dont be discouraged by it. A wise priest once said when temptations increase, God is giving you (as your restitution to Him) the opportunity to say yes to Him for all the times you said no. Its really a blessing to be bombarded by temptations, or to be given the realization of how fallen our natures really are. Its the beginning of healing.

God bless!

 

[po18guy]

Get a catechism - even a compendium or pocket catechism. In them, you will see the reasons why so many “everyday” occurrences are actually sin. For example, missing mass means that you love something more than you do God. It means that you do not, or refuse to offer yourself as a living sacrifice in atonement for the sins of the world. It is a refusal to obey the command of Jesus. It’s not like missing a dental appointment.

“Checking out a hot girl”? If her parents or your grand parents were watching, would you check her out? If it was your sister, would you check her out? When you do this, you are not considering her human dignity and the content of her soul. You are checking her body, like shopping for a piece of meat.

There are ways in which you can control or eliminate all of these. It takes time, spiritual guidance and God’s grace - but you can become a far better person than you are now, or used to be.

 

[poche]

Lazy and anger are not necessarily sins. If you are angry and you do not act on it then it could really be an opportunity to grow in virtue.
Checking out the hot girl at work may not necessarily be a sin if your intentions are honorable. Is she married? This could be a sign of your vocation to marriage.
Leaving work 15 minutes early from work may not necessarily be sinful. did they send you home early? Did you sneak off? Did you have permission?

 

[shom-bms]

All wrongdoing is sin, but not all sin is mortal. (1 Jn 5:17)

For a sin to be mortal, it has to be a grave matter. (Catechism 1855) Things like “leaving work 15 minutes early” most likely don’t qualify as a “grave violation of God’s law.”

But you should get into the habit of confessing all of your sins (not just the ones you think are mortal) because some of your sins may be more serious in God’s eyes than you realize. Plus, it’s good to purify your soul from every sin you can think of so that you’re better prepared to receive Holy Communion.

 

[jimXroberts]

Examine your conscience and identify those things that are separating you from God. Then go and tell a priest about it. Many of the topics mentioned in your question are things you should be discussing with your confessor. The Sacrament of Penance is not about rattling off a list of sins and waiting for absolution. It is an opportunity to discuss with a priest your relationship with God - and unlike an analyst, there’s no fee. I did once go to confession and had to ask the priest if he’d mind putting down his magazine.

 

[rosejmj]

Not everything is a mortal sin. Mortal sins are grave. You need to consent fully and know that the act is a sin. Most sins against purity are mortal sin if you give into them. Other than that missing mass, doing grave harm to someone, and some others are mortal sin, but I would guess they are harder to commit at a grave level. Just do your best to do what is pleasing to God and avoid sin, but don’t focus on it so much and the distinction between venial and mortal. You don’t want to become scrupulous. As long as you are trying and turning to God when you fall, I’m sure you are on the right track. Unless you know for sure you committed a grave sins don’t stress about whether it was mortal or venial

 

[Unique_name]

Jesus said that the entire law can be summed up in two commandments: love of God, and love of neighbor.

When you find yourself struggling against sin, look back and ask yourself, “what is the root sin here?”

And to put your mind at ease, anger isn’t always sin. Christ was angry, and Paul said to “be angry but do not sin.”
Questioning what you know is not a sin. Paul commended the Bereans because they did not just accept what he told them, but questioned them and searched them out in the Scriptures to see if they were true.
If I didn’t question things, I’d still be a Protestant.
Yelling at your parents or brother has a deeper root. Are you honoring your parents? Or are you considering yourself more important than them?
I’m married and when I see someone I think is attractive, I thank God that He made such beauty on Earth and then thank God for my husband and the joy and sanctification he brings me.

If you’re getting caught up on multiple, individual sins, you’re missing the forest for the trees.
Christ called you to freedom! Only do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh.

I highly recommend reading through the book of 1 John.