Does one have to know the sin is of grave matter for it to be mortal?

[Vittorio23]

A question I have thought about for a while…

The three conditions for a sin to be mortal:

1. Full knowledge
2. Full consent
3. Grave matter

Does one have to know that a particular action is grave matter for the sin to be mortal? Take for instance someone who knows a particular decision is sinful and completely consents to this decision, but does not necessarily know if the sin is of grave matter or not. Come to find out later the sin is of grave matter. Does the requirement of “full knowledge” include knowledge beforehand that matter is grave?

Or what if one believes that a sin is of grave matter before committing it, and then does so anyway, while it turns out the sin was not of grave matter?

Lastly… how does one determine grave matter? For the scrupulous minded, any conscious decision to sin against God is a grave matter… How do you know when something is grave or not?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

A question I have thought about for a while…

The three conditions for a sin to be mortal:

1. Full knowledge
2. Full consent
3. Grave matter

Does one have to know that a particular action is grave matter for the sin to be mortal? Take for instance someone who knows a particular decision is sinful and completely consents to this decision, but does not necessarily know if the sin is of grave matter or not. Come to find out later the sin is of grave matter. Does the requirement of “full knowledge” include knowledge beforehand that matter is grave?

Or what if one believes that a sin is of grave matter before committing it, and then does so anyway, while it turns out the sin was not of grave matter?

Lastly… how does one determine grave matter? For the scrupulous minded, any conscious decision to sin against God is a grave matter… How do you know when something is grave or not?

One does not have to believe that it is a grave matter, it just needs to BE a grave matter.

 

[allhers]

A good rule to use for grave matter is:
Does it go against one of the ten commandments?
(we aren’t suppose to act on something if we don’t know for sure, but I also learned that the hard way, acted before I knew, so I confessed that too even though I didn’t know that beforehand.)
Sometimes we are in situations that we just really don’t know and then its just best to do the best you can do and trust that God understands. Then do better the next time and learn from it.
I’m not endorsing mortal sin or anything but sometimes we just get into situations beyond our control and if we had known better to begin with we wouldn’t have done that, you know? But you can’t beat yourself up for not knowing something to begin with that you kind of know now.

 

[scaron]

One does not have to believe that it is a grave matter, it just needs to BE a grave matter.

I believe the person must understand that the sin is grave matter, and with full knowledge of this, give consent and commit the sin anyway, for the sin to be a mortal sin.

The matter is grave matter either way, but the sin is only mortal if the sinner knows the matter is grave.

 

[ClaireS]

I think that if you thought a sin was mortal (grave matter) even tho it wasn’t, then did it anyway, you might be guilty of a mortal sin. This would assume you were of an age to understand the seriousness of mortal sin. If your intention was to do an act that you really believed would sever your loving relationship with God but you freely chose to do it anyway, well, I think it would badly damage that relationship and you should confess it before receiving comunion.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I believe the person must understand that the sin is grave matter, and with full knowledge of this, give consent and commit the sin anyway, for the sin to be a mortal sin.

The matter is grave matter either way, but the sin is only mortal if the sinner knows the matter is grave.

The action is a mortal sin if they know it is wrong on some level and choose to do or not do it anyway. You don’t get off the hook because you don’t believe it’s a serious matter. It’s either a serious matter or it’s not, you don’t get to make it so or not.

 

[Brendan]

I believe the person must understand that the sin is grave matter, and with full knowledge of this, give consent and commit the sin anyway, for the sin to be a mortal sin.

The matter is grave matter either way, but the sin is only mortal if the sinner knows the matter is grave.

That would be incorrect, as that would mean that the only persons capable of Mortal Sin would be educated Catholics.

Those like Pol Pot or Hitler get a ‘free pass’ on all that they did.

The requirements of Mortal Sin include that the matter be grave, this is an objective determination not dependant on the sinner.

An action is either objectively grave or it is not, if it is, the condition is met.

 

[twf]

Brendan and Br. Rich SFO: How does your definition of mortal sin not totally contradict the Church’s teaching that “full knowledge” is a requirement for a sin to be mortal? You don’t determine what is or isn’t grave MATTER, but you may not be fully culpable.

 

[LilyM]

Brendan and Br. Rich SFO: How does your definition of mortal sin not totally contradict the Church’s teaching that “full knowledge” is a requirement for a sin to be mortal? You don’t determine what is or isn’t grave MATTER, but you may not be fully culpable.

Exactly. If my baby pulls my hair hard I don’t punish him or her severely, not because what they did didn’t seriously hurt me (pulling my hair ALWAYS causes serious pain) but because they didn’t KNOW they were seriously hurting me. If they understood on some level that they were hurting me I might punish them lightly, but I’d only punish them severely if they knew it seriously hurt.

 

[LilyM]

That would be incorrect, as that would mean that the only persons capable of Mortal Sin would be educated Catholics.

Those like Pol Pot or Hitler get a ‘free pass’ on all that they did.

The requirements of Mortal Sin include that the matter be grave, this is an objective determination not dependant on the sinner.

An action is either objectively grave or it is not, if it is, the condition is met.

No ‘free pass’ at all. I think even non-Catholics or uneducated Catholics can understand that things like mass murder are serious offenses against God (ie de facto grave matter, even if that isn’t the label they give to it) and thus would be falling into mortal sin if they willingly and with full consent did them.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

No ‘free pass’ at all. I think even non-Catholics or uneducated Catholics can understand that things like mass murder are serious offenses against God (ie de facto grave matter, even if that isn’t the label they give to it) and thus would be falling into mortal sin if they willingly and with full consent did them.

And mass murder is repugnant to the law of nature, of which the knowledge is planted in the human heart - so knowledge of the law of naturei is not derived from revelation. And this knowledge cannot be erased.​