Did I commit a grave sin?

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MarcusAndreas

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I found myself tempted to a grave sin and more or less did it on autopilot, and even though my conscience screamed briefly that I was doing something wrong it didn’t really smack me in the face until I stopped a few seconds later, and then it hit me I committed a grave matter on more or less autopilot. Would this not be full consent of the will since I wasn’t really putting myself into it and consciously deciding against God?
 
You will have to judge…

(though I should note that one does not have to decide against God to commit a mortal sin…it can for any reason…).

–did you have full knowledge and deliberate consent??? (in addition to the grave matter).
 
We are told that our age of reason starts at the age of seven.

If you were aware of what you were doing was wrong, than,you are responsible for your actions and shopuld be confessed.

If you knew it was wrong, why did you do it?
 
The way you describe it you sound like you may not have really reflected on the sinful nature of the action and made a personal choice to do it anyway. If so it would have been a venial sin despite being grave matter.

That said, it can be very dangerous business trying to decide for yourself whether you met the subjective requirements for mortal sin when you have committed an objectively gravely sinful action. It’s easy to talk yourself into believing it was not a mortal sin, then later on suffering from a nagging doubt about whether you are in a state of grace, receiving the Eucharist worthily or not, etc. That’s not a good way to live, with the possibility of damnation constantly hanging over your head. Then there is the possibility of committing the sin again, more or less willfully keeping yourself in “autopilot,” because you essentially got away with it the first time. It’s highly unlikely, in my opinion, that you could do that for long without truly committing a mortal sin.

For this reason I would recommend confessing the sin before receiving communion again, whether it was actually mortal sin or only venial.

Obviously don’t let this advice overrule any direction your priest has given you though. For example if you suffer from what is commonly called “scrupulosity” then a less, well, scrupulous policy towards confessing sins whose gravity you are unsure of might be wiser. If you are like me though your natural inclination is in the opposite direction, and we have to be tougher with ourselves than we are initially inclined to be.
 
We are told that our age of reason starts at the age of seven.

If you were aware of what you were doing was wrong, than,you are responsible for your actions and shopuld be confessed.

If you knew it was wrong, why did you do it?
Because no human being has been perfect; none except the Blessed Virgin. Popes go to Confession weekly: their choice to. If in doubt, do go to Confession. Confession is one of the greatest Sacraments, and Psychologists say it is the best to prevent mental problems, because we are Fully Forgiven by the Lord. Many of us feel the clear conscience after. 👍
 
I found myself tempted to a grave sin and more or less did it on autopilot, and even though my conscience screamed briefly that I was doing something wrong it didn’t really smack me in the face until I stopped a few seconds later, and then it hit me I committed a grave matter on more or less autopilot. Would this not be full consent of the will since I wasn’t really putting myself into it and consciously deciding against God?
Hi Marcus Andreas,

To me, the phrases underlined seem to contradict each other. If your conscience informs you and you continue to perform a grave act, that’s probably a mortal sin.

However, later you say on autopilot, which to me seems to suggest your conscience didn’t inform you and you were just sort of subconsciously doing it without being fully aware of it. If it’s that, then probably not mortal sin.

In any case, the safest thing to do is just go to confession and be as honest as possible about it. Never any harm in confession!

I will say a prayer for you that the Holy Spirit will guide you to the correct answer.
 
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