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Cradle
Guest
Is failing to do any kind of penance (abstinence from meat, praying the rosary, etc.) on a Friday grave enough to require sacramental confession? Is it a mortal sin? 
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MamaSusie
Guest
Oh dearā¦this is a new one to me. Am I doing something else wrong? I need an Excel spreadsheet to keep up with myself!
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clarkbmiller
Guest
I was wondering this myself - I usually try not to eat meat on friday (though this can vary, sometimes I give blood as my penance, sometimes I do some other work) but yesterday at dinner I was having cream of potato soup when I realized there was bacon in it.
I finished my soup so as to not let it waste and made another penance for myself.
I finished my soup so as to not let it waste and made another penance for myself.
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MamaSusie
Guest
Sometimes it just floors me that I went all through Catholic school, taught CCD, and study SO muchā¦and still donāt know about some of these basic things. What am I missing? Perhaps I just need to memorize the Catechism.
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puzzleannie
Guest
this kind of thinking is exactly why the disciplines and rules surrounding fast, abstinence and other penitential practices has been relaxed. I already know nobody wants to hear it, so I warn you in advance if you are a tender flower who pouts anytime somebody speaks plainly, do not read any further. These practices are intended to foster spiritual growth because they are tried and true by generations of saints. They are meant to be undertaken out of love for Jesus Christ and desire to conform oneself to Christ. If they are undertaken solely due to fear of hell their merit is diminished if not entirely eliminated.
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Andreas_Hofer
Guest
Whether or not fear might spur on āimperfectā observance, the question remains. I donāt have a good answer to it, but hereās two cents:
On the one hand, as the current discipline is a commutation of the abstinence days bound up in a precept which, AFAIK (Iām too young), carried the penalty of mortal sin.
On the other hand, penance on all Fridays is a discipline that I had to find for myself, never once hearing about it for 20 years of my life, 10 of which were in Catholic schools, so I wouldnāt be able to tell you anything based on what Iāve been taught. The USCCB document enjoining acts of penance doesnāt carry within it any explicit obligation, but it seems to be only a recognized deviation from the form of observation of days of fasting and abstinence, and not an abrogation of the obligation to observe all Fridays as penitential days. From this perspective, it could possibly be considered a mortal sin
Itās hard to make an informed judgment when the very people to whom you should turn for guidance have omitted even informing you of the obligation to begin with. I think thatās been a tremendous pastoral failure and it severely undermines credibility when teachers withhold information.
Given that Iāve already ranted for a paragraph, Iāll conclude by saying that thereās also a generational gap in what Catholics have been taught constitutes sin and even grave sin. Iāve heard that it was once considered a venial sin to talk (I presume unnecessarily) in church; now Catholics my age carry on rather loud conversations on all topics in church even when people are trying to pray. Theyāve never been told itās inappropriate and definitely not that itās sinful. That regards venial sin, but I think on the whole my generation has less of an awareness of sin and a higher (or lower, depending on the perspective) bar for grave matter, and this based upon our Catholic instruction.
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slewi
Guest
Hereās another one for ya then:
A few weeks ago, I was told during confession with a monsignor that things I know for sure are mortal sins are not. I was told not to become guilty, and to get away from the whole āvenial - mortal thingā, and to stop thinking of sin in this way.
To say I was floored is an understatement. I would have forgotten the words to the Act of Contrition. If I had been asked to offer it, that is.
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A few weeks ago, I was told during confession with a monsignor that things I know for sure are mortal sins are not. I was told not to become guilty, and to get away from the whole āvenial - mortal thingā, and to stop thinking of sin in this way.
To say I was floored is an understatement. I would have forgotten the words to the Act of Contrition. If I had been asked to offer it, that is.
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netmilsmom
Guest
Wow!
That is just wrong all the way around.
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Madia
Guest
Colin Donovan discussed this a few weeks back on the 10/14 open line programs if you listen to it (about 2 minutes in):
ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?pgnu=2&SeriesID=6725
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Cradle
Guest
Thank you for the link.
So, according to Colin Donovan (and Iām supposing heās trustworthy and orthodox), it is not a grave sin unless there is blatant disregard for the obligation or even the notion of penanceā¦ But is he right? Isnāt failing to uphold a precept of the Church a mortal sin (which is, I think, what Andreas Hofer was trying to get at)?
Tomorrowās Sunday and I donāt want to receive our Lord if I am not in a state of sanctifying graceā¦ but itās been a week since my last Communion so Iām really hoping I can get this cleared up before Massā¦
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thistle
Guest
Its my understanding that intentional failure to fast or abstain on appointed days is a mortal sin against the Third Commandment.
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Cradle
Guest
It was intentionalā¦ I was too lazy to pray the rosary and went to sleep insteadā¦
Thank you everyone for your replies. I think, considering everything, it would be better if I did not receive tomorrowā¦
Although Iām dreading what the priest is going to say when I go on Monday and say āmy last Confession was on Fridayāā¦ :banghead:
Thank you everyone for your replies. I think, considering everything, it would be better if I did not receive tomorrowā¦
Although Iām dreading what the priest is going to say when I go on Monday and say āmy last Confession was on Fridayāā¦ :banghead:
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Madia
Guest
First, I want to note that I struggle with scrupulousity. This site might help:
mission.liguori.org/newsletters/scrupulosity.htm
Now, there are three requirements for a sin to be mortal (grave matter, full knowledge/firm belief, fully consent). Lets look at the situation. Is not doing penance/charitable works on Fridays outside of Lent grave matter? From what Iāve heard no. Iāve never seen it in writing or remember hearing someone talk about it being grave matter. Obviouslly you donāt have full knowledge of this or you wouldnāt be asking. Now comes the firm belief part.
Hereās a question scrupulous people should ask themselves: Do I firmbly believe that what I did is wrong or do I fear that what I did is wrong?
Hereās my advice: Talk to the priest before Mass and ask him what to do. Whatever he tells you obey him and act without fear. For scrupulous people obedience to their confessor is probably one of the best remedies.
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Jaypeeto4
Guest
Is Karl Keating around for this one?
The reason I ask is that I subscribe to THIS ROCK, and I think it was in THIS ROCK that I read that in the United States Catholics are not ārequiredā to do any penance on Friday, but rather that we are āexhortedā or āurgedā to do a Friday penance.
I donāt remember what issue it was in, forgive me.
God bless,
Jaypeeto4 (aka Jaypeeto3)
The reason I ask is that I subscribe to THIS ROCK, and I think it was in THIS ROCK that I read that in the United States Catholics are not ārequiredā to do any penance on Friday, but rather that we are āexhortedā or āurgedā to do a Friday penance.
I donāt remember what issue it was in, forgive me.
God bless,
Jaypeeto4 (aka Jaypeeto3)
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Jaypeeto4
Guest
usccb.org/dpp/penitential.htm
Go to the link above and scroll down the page till you find
Friday penitential practices or something along those lines.
It merely says we are āurgedā to perform acts of penance on a Friday.
Love,
Jaypeeto4 (aka Jaypeeto3)
Go to the link above and scroll down the page till you find
Friday penitential practices or something along those lines.
It merely says we are āurgedā to perform acts of penance on a Friday.
Love,
Jaypeeto4 (aka Jaypeeto3)
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Sam88
Guest
Here is the link Jaypeeto4 was probably recalling: jimmyakin.org/2004/07/more_on_friday_.html
The bottom line as I understand it, is that the ārulesā give the national conferences of bishops very broad discretion to determine how traditional pennance will be observed. In the U.S. there are specific rules for the Lenten season, but outside of Lent there are just āreccomendationsā.
The bottom line as I understand it, is that the ārulesā give the national conferences of bishops very broad discretion to determine how traditional pennance will be observed. In the U.S. there are specific rules for the Lenten season, but outside of Lent there are just āreccomendationsā.
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MamaSusie
Guest
Maybe Iām a lil too conservative, but I think that in order for there to be unity, Catholicism canāt be practiced different ways in different countries.
That said, if other countries are required to do this on Fridays, and Americans are ENCOURAGED to do this on Fridays, then I feel I ought to do it.
Also, in consideration of fasting, weāre one the most āblessedā countries in the world when it comes to food. Seems silly that the US would have discretion, and a country with a shortage of food might not. I know itās not about that, but reallyā¦what would the reason be for rules to be so drastically different? It canāt be a mortal sin in one country and not in another, IMO. On issues of posture, etcā¦I could see that, but regarding a potentially grave matter? How can that be subjective?
That said, if other countries are required to do this on Fridays, and Americans are ENCOURAGED to do this on Fridays, then I feel I ought to do it.
Also, in consideration of fasting, weāre one the most āblessedā countries in the world when it comes to food. Seems silly that the US would have discretion, and a country with a shortage of food might not. I know itās not about that, but reallyā¦what would the reason be for rules to be so drastically different? It canāt be a mortal sin in one country and not in another, IMO. On issues of posture, etcā¦I could see that, but regarding a potentially grave matter? How can that be subjective?
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Scott_Waddell
Guest
As far as I know, praying the rosary is entirely optional and not even a venial sin can be attached to not praying it. Obviously, there are many graces to be gained by saying it.
Scott
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puzzleannie
Guest
I am at a loss to find anything in the laws of the Church which obligates you to pray the rosary, and would make it a sin if you got tired and did not do so. To separate yourself from the Eucharist for something that is not a sin seems to me to devalue and misunderstand the sacrament of Eucharist as well as the sacrament of penance.
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Luvadoxi
Guest
I was told by a representative of our archdiocese (Atlanta) that Friday penance is still a requirement in the United States, under penalty of venial sin. (I didnāt think to ask whether itās any different during the season of Lentāwonder if itās more serious during Lent?) Iāve decided to do it, for this reason, and also for the reason of growing closer to Christ. I decided to abstain from meat, because it seemed like it would be easier to segue into Lent that way. However, I forget alot. This last Friday I had to quick do two decades of the rosary at 11:55 p.m. as a substitute penance (I can relate to the too-tired to do a whole rosary!).
Thereās so much confusion surrounding this issue. I think itās because the bishopsā statement is worded in a confusing way, maybe. And obviously, Jimmy Akin and This Rock have a different view. But there can be only one right answer. I tend to think the archdiocese is more likely to be correct.
Thereās so much confusion surrounding this issue. I think itās because the bishopsā statement is worded in a confusing way, maybe. And obviously, Jimmy Akin and This Rock have a different view. But there can be only one right answer. I tend to think the archdiocese is more likely to be correct.
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