Conscience of mortal sin

[irom]

I have a question regarding mortal sin. I know that a mortal sin must meet all of the following conditions:

1. its subject must be a grave (or serious) matter;
2. it must be committed with full knowledge, both of the sin and of the gravity of the offense
3. it must be committed with deliberate and complete consent, enough for it to have been a personal decision to commit the sin

But what if someone’s conscience (and knowledge) has changed after let’s say 50 years ? It happens…doesn’t it ? Should such person stop receiving holy communion and go to confessesion or talk to the priest after that 50 years ?

 

[kristie_m]

I have a question regarding mortal sin. I know that a mortal sin must meet all of the following conditions:

1. its subject must be a grave (or serious) matter;
2. it must be committed with full knowledge, both of the sin and of the gravity of the offense
3. it must be committed with deliberate and complete consent, enough for it to have been a personal decision to commit the sin

But what if someone’s conscience (and knowledge) has changed after let’s say 50 years ? It happens…doesn’t it ? Should such person stop receiving holy communion and go to confessesion or talk to the priest after that 50 years ?

Oh my goodness! I was just considering this very thing!

There was a time in my life when my conscience was so badly damaged that I easily convinced myself that what I was doing couldn’t be a sin because God understood my circumstances. It wasn’t until I had been back for quite some time (not 50 years, but 15) that I really became aware of just how sinful my past behavior really was. I felt the need to confess to all of those sins, as well as the sin of receiving communion in an unworthy state for all those years. Was I less culpable for my sins because I honestly believed that my behavior was okay? I don’t know. But I do know that God wanted me to be free from all of my sins, whether I was aware of them or not. And by making me more aware of the sinful nature of my past behavior, through the sacrament of reconciliation, He gave me that freedom. He’s so good!!!

I wonder about the culpability of someone who’s conscience has been all but killed by their constant justification of their sinful behavior. I may start a new thread that addresses this…

 

[JimR-OCDS]

According to my confessor, who is a theologian, the three conditions for a sin to be mortal, are not infallible, but guidelines, in helping us to determine the degree of our sin.

For instance, a person driving along in his car is suddenly cut off, by a wreckless driver. The person, in a fit a rage screams and yells explicitives at the driver.

Now, the person knows that such actions are grave. But did the person act out of free will and consent? Not necessarily. In fact, his/her reaction probably has more to do with biological impulses caused by fear of being killed.

Therefore, the person would not have committed mortal sin.

On the other hand. If a person is tempted to visit a house of prostitution. The person knows that it is a grave sin, and even has time to contemplate over the evil of the act. The person decides that he will suppress his conscience and commits the act. This is mortal sin, for the person acted with full knowledge, and consent.

Jim

 

[irom]

According to my confessor, who is a theologian, the three conditions for a sin to be mortal, are not infallible, but guidelines, in helping us to determine the degree of our sin.

For instance, a person driving along in his car is suddenly cut off, by a wreckless driver. The person, in a fit a rage screams and yells explicitives at the driver.

Now, the person knows that such actions are grave. But did the person act out of free will and consent? Not necessarily. In fact, his/her reaction probably has more to do with biological impulses caused by fear of being killed.

Therefore, the person would not have committed mortal sin.

On the other hand. If a person is tempted to visit a house of prostitution. The person knows that it is a grave sin, and even has time to contemplate over the evil of the act. The person decides that he will suppress his conscience and commits the act. This is mortal sin, for the person acted with full knowledge, and consent.

Jim

I don’t believe that rage screams or yelling at someone could be a mortal sin in any circumstances. It’s typical venial sin. Visiting a house of prostitution ? Well, adultery yes, but not the fact that someone went to such a place, opened the door.

 

[Oscarthecat]

I have a question regarding mortal sin. I know that a mortal sin must meet all of the following conditions:

1. its subject must be a grave (or serious) matter;
2. it must be committed with full knowledge, both of the sin and of the gravity of the offense
3. it must be committed with deliberate and complete consent, enough for it to have been a personal decision to commit the sin

But what if someone’s conscience (and knowledge) has changed after let’s say 50 years ? It happens…doesn’t it ? Should such person stop receiving holy communion and go to confessesion or talk to the priest after that 50 years ?

I think this is an interesting question because one of my professors described the experience of purgatory in a similar way. While we are forgiven our sins through confession, we can never fully understand the gravity of our sins without God’s grace. The pain of purgatory is the experience of realizing the full weight of our sins and how they have offended God- these are the temporal consequences of our sins that we still experience in purgatory even though they have been forgiven.

As I understand it, if you did not meet one of the conditions of mortal sin at the time it was committed, then the sin was not mortal. Sins don’t become mortal sins after the commission of the act itself just because your conscience has progressed beyond your understanding at the time you committed the actual sin. You must meet the conditions of mortal sin at the time you committed the sin.

That isn’t to say that you didn’t commit a sin at all, because an act that is intrinsically sinful is always and everywhere a sin, but not necessarily a mortal sin if you didn’t understand the nature of the act. Of course, this doesn’t diminish the gravity of the act itself in any way whatsoever, it only diminishes your culpability.

If you have confessed the sin in good conscience during the last 50 years, then you have already been forgiven for it. Even so, if your greater understanding of the gravity of that sin is causing it to weigh on your conscience, then it might be a good idea to address it in the light of your present understanding at your next confession.

 

[LilyM]

Yes, our consciences do, and should, get better formed as we get older and more formed in our faith. And no, I dont’ think reconfession is necessary at all.

I don’t think God holds us responsible for things we do out of ignorance or unintentionally faulty conscience, any more than my father holds it against me that I kicked him in the knee when I was a year old. He’d find it odd at least, silly at worst, if I were to come to him 30-some years later and apologise for it.

 

[irom]

Yes, our consciences do, and should, get better formed as we get older and more formed in our faith. And no, I dont’ think reconfession is necessary at all.

I don’t think God holds us responsible for things we do out of ignorance or unintentionally faulty conscience, any more than my father holds it against me that I kicked him in the knee when I was a year old. He’d find it odd at least, silly at worst, if I were to come to him 30-some years later and apologise for it.

I was thinking about more serious sins than kicking my father in the knee. Probably I did it many times, and even told something which hurt him more than this. Same with my son…

But there are more serious sins like sexual relation before marriage, or ‘natural’ birth control. I believe many, specially young catholics don’t immidiately regret and don’t consider them for confession. These sins committed with conscience are probably mortal ,or close to the edge. It makes sense to go to confession when we realize their gravity.

 

[puzzleannie]

I
But what if someone’s conscience (and knowledge) has changed after let’s say 50 years ? It happens…doesn’t it ? Should such person stop receiving holy communion and go to confessesion or talk to the priest after that 50 years ?

if the person has been going to confession during this 50 years, all his sins, including those he has not realized are sins, have been forgiven so there is no need to confess. He may wish to confess them specifically if he has come to understand why those old actions were wrong, for his own sense of spiritual well-being and understanding, but it is not required.

the action did not become grave matter when he recognized, realized, or admitted its gravity, but at the time it was committed.