God's mercy, mortal sin, and Hell

[Matthew91]

I am having difficulty reconciling God’s mercy and God’s justice. The fear of Hell has caused me much anxiety in my life, not only fear for my own soul, but fear for the souls of those dearest to me, and I can’t help but wonder in times like this how God’s mercy is supposed to be viewed, because it seems so far off when taking into consideration Church teaching on mortal sin.

It is my understanding (please correct me if I am wrong on anything) that the Church teaches that one single mortal sin that is not absolved in confession or forgiven by the extraordinary means of perfect contrition damns someone eternally. Now if this isn’t the most terrifying doctrine in the Church, I don’t know what is. But when facing these circumstances, it is so hard for me to reconcile God’s mercy with such a reality. We believe God is love, that God exhibits greater love than any creature, and yet how do we reconcile this with the stark realities of the effects of mortal sin?

Under this teaching, someone who committed a grave sin, was sorry, was on their way to confession to be absolved sacramentally, but wasn’t able to make perfect contrition and died on the way would still be damned to Hell for eternity. I just don’t understand how this could be the case for God who we often characterize in the phrase “God is love”. The person was sorry, wanted to repent, but just wasn’t able to get to the sacrament in time. Thinking that such a person would be in Hell is incredibly unnerving to me, because it just seems like the fact that such a person who was sorry (but not perfection contrition level-sorry) would end up in hell anyway seems like they fell through the cracks so to speak, in spite of a willingness to repent and be reconciled to God, doing what was in their power to do acknowledging that in the end their forgiveness is ultimately in God’s hands, there is nothing we can do to earn that forgiveness.

The very concept of being forgiven by perfect contrition rather than imperfect contrition is one that has puzzled me. Perfect contrition from what I’ve read is contrition that is motivated not by fear of punishment but by love of God and sorrow for offending God. and imperfect contrition is contrition that is motivated primarily by fear of punishment. (It seems that the inability to discern what are contritions are (perfect or imperfect) is problematic on a separate level, but that’s a whole other issue)

Now the difficulty with this is that it seems that for a person in a state of mortal sin, bereft of sanctifying grace, that their contrition has to come from something external. If as we believe, mortal sin kills our relationship with God, then the ability to even make perfection contrition (or willingness to repent in general) has to come from God. The grace to repent has to necessarily be a gift from God does it not? If this is true, then it seems to me that making perfect contrition is a matter of the willingness to do so derived from the grace of God that inspires repentance and grants the person the ability to express and will such sorrow.

But when I hear perfect contrition spoken of, people often say, “oh don’t rely on perfect contrition if you are in mortal sin, perfect contrition is extremely hard to make” I agree we shouldn’t be presumptuous in such instances and get ourselves to confession ASAP, but I don’t see how a perfect contrition can be thought of in such terms, if such people are saying it is “hard” to generate this contrition, it seems that they are essentially saying that making such a contrition is a matter of skill rather than the will of the person motivated by the grace of God. I don’t see how Person A in mortal sin can have an advantage over person B in mortal sin when it comes to making a perfect contrition, it seems to me that the grace for such contrition has to come from God and surely a loving God would not refuse such grace to any sinner seeking forgiveness would He?

This concerns me because… although as of now, as I examine my conscience daily, I do not detect any grave sin on my conscience since my last confession I worry that perhaps I forgot, or was mistaken about a certain instance. I do try to go to confession frequently anyway. Even when I pray my act of contrition before I go to bed I try to pray for the grace to express that sorrow indicative of perfect contrition. But I do get anxious that I might “fall between the cracks” as it were, that perhaps there is a grave sin on my soul that I might be unaware of or mistakenly thought as venial, and that my contritions are not perfect, and that if I were to die in such a state that I would be damned in spite of my love for God, my sorrow for my sins even those long forgiven, and my willingness to live for God and do His work until my Earthly life runs its course.

I was hoping someone here could shed some light on my concerns and offer some consoling advice to a worried soul such as mine. I believe that God is love and merciful, but I suppose my disposition is such that it is very hard for me to associate such things with my view of God, in other words, I believe that God is love and merciful, but I don’t feel that way, in part because of the concerns expressed in this thread.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church states;

Only God forgives sin

As soon as you ask God for forgiveness, he gives it.

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, reconciles us to the Church, and through grace heals our souls.

As the Catechism also states;

1443 During his public life Jesus not only forgave sins, but also made plain the effect of this forgiveness: he reintegrated forgiven sinners into the community of the People of God from which sin had alienated or even excluded them. A remarkable sign of this is the fact that Jesus receives sinners at his table, a gesture that expresses in an astonishing way both God’s forgiveness and the return to the bosom of the People of God.

In all, God is merciful and he knows the heart of the individual. Those who turn to God for his compassion and mercy will receive it.

A person who is condemned to hell because of mortal sin, is one who has rejected God.

As Pope John Paul II taught, God does not send souls to hell, but rather, they go there on their own by rejecting God’s love and forgiveness.

So, if you have faith in God and ask for his mercy, he will give it.

Don’t give into despair which the evil one tries to lead us into.

God Bless
Jim

 

[HansTrappist]

I am having difficulty reconciling God’s mercy and God’s justice. The fear of Hell has caused me much anxiety in my life, not only fear for my own soul, but fear for the souls of those dearest to me, and I can’t help but wonder in times like this how God’s mercy is supposed to be viewed, because it seems so far off when taking into consideration Church teaching on mortal sin.

It is my understanding (please correct me if I am wrong on anything) that the Church teaches that one single mortal sin that is not absolved in confession or forgiven by the extraordinary means of perfect contrition damns someone eternally. Now if this isn’t the most terrifying doctrine in the Church, I don’t know what is. But when facing these circumstances, it is so hard for me to reconcile God’s mercy with such a reality. We believe God is love, that God exhibits greater love than any creature, and yet how do we reconcile this with the stark realities of the effects of mortal sin?..

…I was hoping someone here could shed some light on my concerns and offer some consoling advice to a worried soul such as mine. I believe that God is love and merciful, but I suppose my disposition is such that it is very hard for me to associate such things with my view of God, in other words, I believe that God is love and merciful, but I don’t feel that way, in part because of the concerns expressed in this thread.

The Church teaches that Hell is a real place with real suffering, both physical and spiritual.

The Church also teaches that it is possible for people to go to Hell.

The Church also teaches that Satan and the Demons are in Hell presently, but beyond them we cannot say if there are any other souls there. It is quite possible that in the end no one will end up in Hell. Part of the present mystery of suffering and evil is that God uses the obedient, patient suffering of the innocent to bring about the salvation of the wicked. In fact, we are all called to unite our sufferings with Christ’s offering of Himself to the Eternal Father in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, to bring about the salvation of all souls. Of course, the wicked still have free will and can choose to accept or reject God’s freely given graces.

In the final analysis, I find hope in the prayer we say during the Rosary: “Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins and save us from the fires of hell. Lead ALL SOULS to Heaven, especially those who are in most need of Thy Mercy.”

 

[vames]

It is my understanding (please correct me if I am wrong on anything) that the Church teaches that one single mortal sin that is not absolved in confession or forgiven by the extraordinary means of perfect contrition damns someone eternally. Now if this isn’t the most terrifying doctrine in the Church, I don’t know what is. But when facing these circumstances, it is so hard for me to reconcile God’s mercy with such a reality. We believe God is love, that God exhibits greater love than any creature, and yet how do we reconcile this with the stark realities of the effects of mortal sin?

You gave a perfect description of the fundamental vicious circle that impedes us to live our faith without falling into the trap of endless scruples and damaging our minds.

The distinction between perfect and imperfect contrition was introduced not only because Catholic theologians have a particular penchant for dichotomies and classifications, but because if we really think that God is a kind of robot - computer, i.e. that He is mechanically bound by this inflexible Rule (one single mortal sin before death + imperfect contrition or no contrition at all => hell, completely regardless of how the person has lived all the rest of his life), then perfect contrition really becomes very hard to attain and therefore is regarded like a special prize for the few. In other words, if God is a mechanism designed to punish people according to the Rule, we can’t love Him, we can only fear Him and feel puzzled and humiliated by a divine justice that automatically sends a good man to hell for one single sin. But God is not a mechanism and when we understand that, perfect contrition becomes possible.

So we need grace not only to attain contrition (any kind of), but, before that, to understand His love towards us and to respond to this love. We pray “Deliver us from evil” because we correctly assume that His intention is to maximize our chances to be with Him. And He does this by grace. The thief on the cross received grace. It takes God’s grace for an obstinate sinner to open his eyes and change his life. It takes God’s grace to preserve from death a good man who by accident finds himself in mortal sin. It takes God’s grace to preserve that man from hell if indeed the man dies before having the chance to repent. And we can’t really pray for grace if we basically don’t trust God’s love and mercy.

 

[fred_conty]

Mathew,
anyone who makes a good confession, where they do not deliberately hide unconfessed mortal sins, is forgiven for all the mortal sins, even those they forgot they had committed. Once the priest gives the absolution then all mortal sins are forgiven. No need to worry if any have been overlooked.

But after confession if a mortal sin is remembered that was forgotten and that was not confessed, then in the next confession, this sin must be mentioned, by telling the priest that the sin was unintentionally not told in the last confession.

They are all forgiven, unless one intentionally omits a known mortal sin.

As for perfect contrition, it shouldn’t be that difficult if you think about Jesus on the Cross suffering for you.

But one thing that is very important. Keep praying every day in God’s love.

As far as the mercy and love of God, God showed us his love on that cross, he went to extremes.

Diary of St. Faustina p.139
“O how much I am hurt by a soul’s distrust. Such a soul professes that I am holy and just, but does not believe that I am mercy and does not trust in my goodness. My heart rejoices in the title of mercy. Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. My heart rejoices in this title of mercy.”

Some thoughts to ponder, such as, “Have mercy on me O Lord, for I am a sinner”.

 

[LaSainte]

Don’t forget that we can always pray that God will grant us perfect contrition at the moment of death if we are in sin. We can even pray for this for our loved ones who have already died, because God works outside of time. The prayers and masses we pray for the dead today can be applied to them at the moment of their death.

Also, try the 5 first Fridays devotion as well. I believe one of the promises is the grace to enter Heaven at our death.

 

[Sirach2]

Don’t forget that we can always pray that God will grant us perfect contrition at the moment of death if we are in sin. We can even pray for this for our loved ones who have already died, because God works outside of time. The prayers and masses we pray for the dead today can be applied to them at the moment of their death.

That is so true, my friend. I liken it to a thought God gave me in prayer – that our masses, prayers, etc., can be accumulated in God’s heavenly bank, and applied all at once at the moment of death, though we may see no outward evidence of contrition. St. Therese had such confidence in her prayers for condemned criminal, Pranzini, that even had he shown no sign of contrition, she believed God heard her prayers for his conversion. God allowed her to learn that, at the very last moment before his execution, Pranzini reached for the crucifix and kissed it three times. It was a singular moment of grace that spurred her to trust in God’s mercy and dedicate her life to praying for sinners.

 

[Sirach2]

It is my understanding (please correct me if I am wrong on anything) that the Church teaches that one single mortal sin that is not absolved in confession or forgiven by the extraordinary means of perfect contrition damns someone eternally. Now if this isn’t the most terrifying doctrine in the Church, I don’t know what is.

Would Our Merciful Savior, Jesus, who teaches that if anyone offends us we are to forgive 70x7 times, fail to forgive when us we ask forgiveness?

The teaching that dying unrepentent in mortal sin will cause eternal damnation is true. However, the keyword to understand is “unrepentent.” Many have taught that we know not the hour of our death, and should not die unprepared. Hopefully, we reconcile with God even though we do not have access to sacramental confession. He sees the heart, and knows our true motive.

I don’t see how a perfect contrition can be thought of in such terms, if such people are saying it is “hard” to generate this contrition, it seems that they are essentially saying that making such a contrition is a matter of skill rather than the will of the person motivated by the grace of God.

I’m thinking about Zaccheus’s conversion. Zacchaeus should have known that there was no hope for him. After all, he had done a particularly good job of extorting money from his countryman, for Luke 19:1 says he was a wealthy man. Yet in his moment of “contrition” he promised that he would make restoration fourfold, as evidence of his good faith and restitution. He did not have access to confession, yet Jesus tells him “salvation has come to your house today.”

The heart is moved to love and sorrow with a desire never to sin again. THAT is perfect contrition and is salvific - with or without confession.

It may be helpful to read the gospel accounts of all the sinners whom Jesus touched and ministered to, and how their lives turned around after hearing His words of assurance, “go, your faith has saved you.”

 

[Matthew91]

I feel somewhat reassured from some of the things said in this thread, but on the other hand certain anxieties remain. One such anxiety is understanding how God is merciful in spite of the issue that the Church’s defined avenues for receiving God’s forgiveness seem cut and dry. We can either go to confession, or make a perfect contrition with the condition that we intend to go to confession as soon as possible. Now, to me it seems that a lot of people may theoretically “fall through the cracks” with these regulations; now, how do we reconcile such instances with a merciful God?

Concerning someone who sinned mortally, and subsequently is sorry as a matter of will and a matter of the heart, and let us go further and say that this person would be willing to die for God, if such a person is unable to seek reconciliation through the 2 avenues defined by the Church (confession or perfect contrition) for whatever reason, are they condemned to Hell in spite of their sorrow?

If this is the case, I find it so hard to reconcile this with the belief that God is merciful and loving, because it just seems to give the appearance that God’s mercy and love have limits; if a loving and merciful God wants to forgive, and the sinner wants forgiveness, what possible disparity is there between the two sides to prevent forgiveness? If the sinner couldn’t make it to confession or make a perfect contrition before death, in spite of being sorry, and they are still condemned anyway because of this, why is this the case? It’s not an issue of what God can do, for God can do anything. Is it an issue of what God will do? Does God choose not to forgive because the contrition was not perfect and the person was unable to make it to confession? If this is the case, then why is this the case with a God who loves unconditionally and whose mercy endures forever?

Right now, in my heart of hearts I believe I would willingly die for God if I was called to, and I am sure many of us feel the same way, with this being the case, even in instances when I have sinned mortally, this desire doesn’t seem to change for me, I still believe I would die for God in my heart. Now, is such sentiment perfect contrition? I don’t know, but as for me, such sentiment arises from love and duty, you could perhaps say that duty is a manifestation of love, in that if I was forced into a situation where at gunpoint I was told to deny my faith or die, I would choose death as a matter of duty to God, that is love for God, and as I said, even in times where I had fallen into grave sin that sentiment doesn’t change I think, but surely it is only by the grace of God that such sentiment exists at all. So naturally, my question is: could someone, who even though they had the will and desire in their heart to give their life for God be damned if they didn’t make it to confession or profess perfect contrition in the manner the Church prescribes?

If I am misunderstanding a Church teaching please correct me! If I’m in error please correct me, I’m earnestly trying to be satisfied with the truth.

 

[funion987]

This is what I suggest. Listen to this piece:

youtube.com/watch?v=yRXrgkrDfYE

Then reflect on the text:

Spem in alium nunquam habui præter in te, Deus Israel:
qui irasceris et propitius eris,
et omnia peccata hominum in tribulatione dimittis.
Domine Deus, Creator cæli et terræ,
respice humilitatem nostram.

English translation

I have never put my hope in any other but in you, God of Israel,
who will be angry and yet become again gracious,
and who forgives all the sins of man in suffering.
Lord God, creator of heaven and earth,
look upon our lowliness.

By the way, the image on the video isn’t really fitting for the song, but it was an HQ recording, so I chose it among others.