Fasting/penance while in mortal sin

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hawksnest23

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Hello, so I read somewhere that fasting while in mortal sin is not meritorious, so here’s my question: if you’re in mortal sin, should you still follow all the fasting and abstinence obligations? Like would fasting on ash Wednesday or something like that mean anything, or must you confess beforehand?
 
hawksnest23 said:
Hello, so I read somewhere that fasting while in mortal sin is not meritorious, so here’s my question: if you’re in mortal sin, should you still follow all the fasting and abstinence obligations? Like would fasting on ash Wednesday or something like that mean anything, or must you confess beforehand?
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Yes you should continue even in a state of mortal sin. You do not want to add more sins to confess. Even though not meritorious, such good works prepare one for justification.
 
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What do you mean by “in mortal sin”?
If you mean without sanctifying grace, without the love of God in your heart…then why would anybody want to fast. It would only be for vain reasons surely?

Or it could mean that despite having engaged in “grave matter” one is actually still in a state of grace. Just as Pope Francis says of many 2nd marriages.

All good works are meritorious in some sense - though not always wrt to sanctifying grace.
Hence performing good works when lacking sanctifying grace will benefit the soul - enabling it to bounce back to God more quickly (disposing one to repentance) or may strengthen one’s good habits more once grace is restored than if not done.
 
hawksnest23 said:
Hello, so I read somewhere that fasting while in mortal sin is not meritorious, so here’s my question: if you’re in mortal sin, should you still follow all the fasting and abstinence obligations? Like would fasting on ash Wednesday or something like that mean anything, or must you confess beforehand?
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As far as I know, all the more that you should fast and pray as a sign or endeavor of your repentence. King David did that after he committed sin.
 
WHY pray tell would you choose to remain in a state of mortal sin?
I would say “Get thee to a confessional!” Go to church during scheduled
times of confession or call a priest and make an appointment for confession.
IF the issue is you would like to confess but there is absolutely no way for
you to reasonably get yourself to a priest then make a perfect act of contrition
and do penance and our Lord will forgive you of your sin. Although forgiven,
one is OBLIGED to confess it the next time one is able to go to confession
AND it is remembered.
 
Herculees said:
WHY pray tell would you choose to remain in a state of mortal sin?
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Well the Church itself encourages this in some unusual situations. Eg a couple in a 2nd marriage for the sake of the children. Yes it encourages them to live as brother and sister but does not insist they split if they choose not to.

A state of mortal sin as you put it is an ambiguous expression.
It does not always mean being without sanctifying grace.
 
Someone who falls to mortal sin would still do well to avoid other sins if they really wish to he forgiven. It would be wrong to fail to follow the Church’s precepts when one is under obligation.
 
It may be worth it to force yourself on some strict penance?
You need not to stop praying, and hoping.
 
It’s meritorious in terms of offering some repentance for your acts. You can’t earn an indulgence with it until you go to confession and get back in a state of grace, but that doesn’t mean it is not useful at all.
 
Hi! I read in the Baltimore Catechism that good deeds done in a state of sin help us towards repentance. So it’s worthwhile to go ahead.
 
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