Did I commit a mortal or venial sin?

[desiringhim]

I have looked everywhere and can’t find an answer to this – please help!

My husband and I are Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick and Homebound. We visit a nursing home every week with our young children. On a visit about a month or month and a half ago we forgot to consume the remaining consecrated host until the next morning. This means it was in our home overnight! I was just sick when I realized it. I feel so bad that we were so careless and disrespected Jesus like that. It was definitely not something intentional.

I have been to confession since but I must admit I chickened out and did not confess that event (mostly out of embarrassment…really dumb I know). I know we don’t have to specifically confess all our venial sins to a priest but ever since I have felt guilty and wondered maybe I feel so guilty because I committed a mortal sin. That would make my confession invalid and mean that every time I’ve taken the Eucharist since, I’ve been in a state of mortal sin.

I need another person’s perspective on this because I tend toward scrupulosity and since I can’t find anything specific on the subject, I don’t know what to think about what transpired. Thanks.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

It’s not mortal. For a sin to be mortal, the perpetrator must commit it with “full and deliberate consent.” That clearly does not describe you or your husband. If you’d failed in your obligation purposely, that would be completely different. But your sin was definitely not mortal, if in fact it even was a sin. Failing in a responsibility by complete accident, even when it involves a Sacred Host, might not even be a sin at all depending on the circumstances.

If I were you, I’d confess this because it could very possibly be a venial sin (as opposed to not a sin at all), and the Church teaches that it’s valuable to confess venial sins, even though it’s not essential. I love the peace this practice gives me personally.

Anyway, that’s completely up to you. But don’t worry about this being a mortal sin. It definitely isn’t.

1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."131

 

[The_Chops]

Hi! I’m not sure what sin was committed here, but I will say that i commend you & your hubby for doing what you do for people who aren’t as fortune it as most…

Now! about chickening~out at confession.I can’t blame you, l.o.l. Confession is a tough thing to abide too. You & I both know what was done & so does GOD. So! really what your doing is just letting him know face~to~face (sort of)…

So! what I would do is go to a Priest (at another church) that (does not know you) & spill your guts-out. Let him & Jesus know what you feel & did. They will decide what your fate is… & I’m sure your intentions will justify your actions…

Hope this helps…

The Chops:thumbsup:

 

[CarrieH]

I don’t think you committed even a venial sin, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask a priest, just to put your mind at ease. It’s certainly understandable how such a thing could happen, esp. when you are trying to watch young children at the same time as you are making your visits. Honest mistakes are not necessarily sins, esp. considering the good you were doing at the time this happened. Thank you for what you do – those nursing home residents are very blessed by your visits!

 

[thistle]

I have looked everywhere and can’t find an answer to this – please help!

My husband and I are Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick and Homebound. We visit a nursing home every week with our young children. On a visit about a month or month and a half ago we forgot to consume the remaining consecrated host until the next morning. This means it was in our home overnight! I was just sick when I realized it. I feel so bad that we were so careless and disrespected Jesus like that. It was definitely not something intentional.

I have been to confession since but I must admit I chickened out and did not confess that event (mostly out of embarrassment…really dumb I know). I know we don’t have to specifically confess all our venial sins to a priest but ever since I have felt guilty and wondered maybe I feel so guilty because I committed a mortal sin. That would make my confession invalid and mean that every time I’ve taken the Eucharist since, I’ve been in a state of mortal sin.

I need another person’s perspective on this because I tend toward scrupulosity and since I can’t find anything specific on the subject, I don’t know what to think about what transpired. Thanks.

Personally I don’t think you committed any type of sin (certainly not a mortal sin). Put yourself at ease and talk to the priest.

By the way, as a separate issue, you and your husband are not Eucharistic Ministers. Your priest is the Eucharistic Minister. The non-ordained cannot be Eucharistic Ministers.
You and your husband are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

 

[desiringhim]

Thanks for the advice and reassurances. I think I will go talk to a priest about it.

Also, thanks for informing me of the correct term, Extraordinary Ministers. Our parish materials as well as the priest calls them Eucharistic Ministers.

 

[thistle]

Thanks for the advice and reassurances. I think I will go talk to a priest about it.

Also, thanks for informing me of the correct term, Extraordinary Ministers. Our parish materials as well as the priest calls them Eucharistic Ministers.

Sorry but your priest is wrong. However, he might simply be misunderstanding another name which is Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist, not used much now. However whether a person is called an EMHE or EMHC, neither is a Eucharistic Minister. Only the ordained can be that.
You should mention this to him. We would be interested to hear what he has to say on this.