grave matter

[little_flower_1]

i’m a bit scrupulous, and am a little caught on distinguishing what constitutes grave matter.

i know that direct dissobedience of the precepts of the church- going to Church every Sunday and Holy Day, recieving once a year, etc is grave matter. i know murder, lying under oath, etc is grave matter. but what else? when does a lie turn into grave matter? if we can sin in thought, word, deed, and omission, when do our thoughts of anger or such turn into grave matter?

thank you!

 

[Catolico]

little_flower:

when does a lie turn into grave matter?

couple on examples on this one:

If you tell a friend that you liked the birthday gift he/she gave you when you actually didn´t. NOT grave matter.

If you tell your boss that you caught a co-worker you don´t like stealing and that lie causes your co-worker to loose his/her job. GRAVE matter.

 

[riverman]

I heard it like this, If you saw a $100 bill drop out of Warren Buffets pocket and kept it not Grave Matter. If you saw a homeless mother of 8 kids drop $1 and you kept it Grave Matter! Hope I am right here!

 

[Catolico]

riverman:

I heard it like this, If you saw a $100 bill drop out of Warren Buffets pocket and kept it not Grave Matter. If you saw a homeless mother of 8 kids drop $1 and you kept it Grave Matter! Hope I am right here!

So if you steal from the rich is ok?
I don´t believe that´s right :nope:

 

[AlanFromWichita]

If the wages of sin is death, than all sin is “grave” matter it would seem.

Since Jesus paid for our escape from that inevitable sentence to everyone with original sin (and His own Mother, through the Immaculate Conception) then as long as we turn to Jesus and get to confession if we believe a sin is mortal, then we have chosen life over death. No more “grave” matter.

I recognize that doesn’t answer the theological question. I’m just the guy that Makes Stuff Up, so take it FWIW.

Alan

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Catolico:

So if you steal from the rich is ok?
I don´t believe that´s right :nope:

No, it would still be wrong–just not a serious matter.

Scott

 

[Catolico]

Scott Waddell:

No, it would still be wrong–just not a serious matter.

Scott

If you mean in this particular example, yes.
My point was it can be a serious matter to steal, even if it is from the rich.
What if you repeat this example many times? If you steal “only” $100 from a millionare but you do it a thousand times, would that no be a serious matter?
What if you steal $1,000,000 from a Wal-mart? They probably wouldn´t go bankrupt or anything but it´s still a serious matter.
If not when does the criteria stop?

 

[AlanFromWichita]

It sounds like “grave matter” is really a relativistic, subjective judgment that has to be made as a personal call based on the situation and the parties involved.

I think it is no more right or wrong to keep money dropped by a rich person as a poor person. You find, you try to give back, if you can’t find the owner than you do with it what you think appropriate, including keep it. If dude drops $100 bill out the car window and it lands by me, than it is a gift from God because I’m not going to get in my car and try to chase them down, chances are.

Alan

 

[Jennifer123]

The best thing is to go to your Catholic bookstore, there are pamphlets that are handy in the use of examining your conscience. They usually have a few pages summarizing what is grave, what is the difference between a mortal and venial sin.

Grave matter basically is defined by the Ten Commandments and the violation thereof. The gravity of those sins against the commandments is basically defined by which is greater, lying to harm one’s feelings or reputation would probably be graver than lying to save one’s feelings.

Grave matter is necessary for a sin to be mortal, along with complete knowledge and consent. Venial sins are such because the matter is not grave enough to be mortal, and/or the sin is of a habitual nature.

Here’s info on examination of conscience:
catholic-forum.com/catholicteacher/relig_penance.htm