Confirmation and Mortal Sin

[Skyhighblue34]

Hi,
My mom just signed me up for Confirmation and she told me that she also grabbed an application for my cousin. What she doesn’t know is that he has been stuck in Mortal Sin with regards to an addiction to Masturbation. I just recently had a deep talk about God with him last night. He seems to have given up on himself a little bit but I can tell deep down he still believes. I nearly converted him this past year, but he fell back into it harder than before. With regards to Confirmation, I’ve heard that you shouldn’t receive it while in a state of Mortal Sin… So I’m somewhat lost on what I should do. If I convince him to do it, there might be a chance he will fall back to it midway through Confirmation. Any thoughts would help, thanks!

 

[underacloud]

You should continue to encourage your cousin towards confirmation.

The struggle with masturbation is just that; a struggle. The fact that he is stuck committing this sin of grave matter (objective mortal sin) does not mean he is neccessarily in a state of mortal sin (personal mortal sin). As he works towards confirmation, you could encourage him to discuss this with a priest. Priests know how hard this problem is for young men to overcome this, can provide great advice on how to avoid and resist the temptations, and importantly get to know the person and through the sacrament of confession determine whether these sins constitute personal mortal sin or not. A regular confessor can help your cousin continue to fight this sin, remain accoutnable to someone, but importantly hear about the love God has for him and the forgiveness that is always available to us.

Regardless, a confession fairly immediately before the confirmation service would obviate this concern.

 

[1ke]

My mom just signed me up for Confirmation and she told me that she also grabbed an application for my cousin. What she doesn’t know is that he has been stuck in Mortal Sin with regards to an addiction to Masturbation.

You know what, that isn’t her business or yours. You cannot assess whether or not your cousin is in “mortal sin”. You can assess the objective grave matter, but not whether or not this person is sinning mortally.

I just recently had a deep talk about God with him last night. He seems to have given up on himself a little bit but I can tell deep down he still believes. I nearly converted him this past year, but he fell back into it harder than before.

Encourage your cousin to go talk to his priest and to go to confession.

Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit.

With regards to Confirmation, I’ve heard that you shouldn’t receive it while in a state of Mortal Sin… So I’m somewhat lost on what I should do. If I convince him to do it, there might be a chance he will fall back to it midway through Confirmation. Any thoughts would help, thanks!

You should mind your own business, actually. Leave spiritual formation to the priest in charge of the program.

Stop talking about this topic with your cousin.

 

[Skyhighblue34]

Woah, sorry if I offended… You have a point, I shouldn’t meddle as much. And it probably isn’t any of my business. We’re just really close friends, and he chooses to confide in me about it. And the reason I want to help him get away from it is just because I’ve been there myself and I know what a terrible thing it can be… If Confirmation can strengthen him against it, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to offer it to him. I just don’t want to see him disappointed from joining Confirmation if he does goes to confession first, and then falls back into it. That just sounds like a hard thing.

 

[underacloud]

If Confirmation can strengthen him against it, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to offer it to him. I just don’t want to see him disappointed from joining Confirmation if he does goes to confession first, and then falls back into it. That just sounds like a hard thing.

With this particular sin, which too often becomes a habit, it will be a process, not a one-off confession, that will be needed. It sounds like a hard thing because it is hard. Frequent confession and reception of the Eucharist are the best means of obtaining the grace needed. Confirmation is a great step for anyone who wishes to dedicate themselves more fully to the faith and the grace offered may be invaluable to your cousin.

Confirmation isn’t a Catholic rite for people who have become good enough to be confirmed; it’s a sacrament for sinners who want to do better.

 

[Skyhighblue34]

With this particular sin, which too often becomes a habit, it will be a process, not a one-off confession, that will be needed. It sounds like a hard thing because it is hard. Frequent confession and reception of the Eucharist are the best means of obtaining the grace needed. Confirmation is a great step for anyone who wishes to dedicate themselves more fully to the faith and the grace offered may be invaluable to your cousin.

Confirmation isn’t a Catholic rite for people who have become good enough to be confirmed; it’s a sacrament for sinners who want to do better.

Hmmm that’s a pretty good way of putting it.