Grave...?

[Arkadin]

This morning, I asked my mother if she had change for a bigger bill I had. It was for the Church collection. When she didn’t have the correct amount, I said don’t worry about it. I didn’t want her to know how much I was putting into the collection. Then she asked if I was going to put in the amount I intended. However, I said “No, don’t worry about it” and shortly afterward felt bad since I said no. So, almost immediately I told her that was the amount I was putting in and she simply said okay.

I struggled with this all throughout mass. I tried to tell myself it is not a mortal sin and I did receive Communion. However, I am still beating myself up over it. I asked my dad about it and he told me not to stress over this and that it was not mortal.

I’m pretty scrupulous at times and fear I’m just falling into that again.

I reason it wasn’t grave, but then I feel it was.

I feel like a ding-dong…

 

[Arkadin]

I’m being silly. I know it.

 

[srlucado]

Relax. If you’re feeling bad about how much you did or didn’t give, there’s always next week.

 

[Arkadin]

Oh no, it was about lying.

 

[Bookcat]

The nature of a scruple is as you say…you reason that it was not grave but you *fear *it was.

At the time you acted…what did you think? Did you think I will lie and this lie is a grave matter…and then give complete consent to the lie?

Or did you lie not even thinking it was a grave matter …and then worry was it a grave matter after wards?

From what you describe …it was the second.

Now…could it be a mortal sin then?

From the Compendium of the Catechism:

1. When does one commit a mortal sin?

1855-1861
1874

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.

1. When does one commit a venial sin?

1862-1864
1875

One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.

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On the full knowledge level…you did not even think it was grave when you did it…only later did you question it …

So how could it be mortal???

…

now for the future…a lie is generally objectively a venial matter…unless you are lying under oath in court or something grave like that…or you lie and say that your friend sam killed somebody and he did not…things like that. Grave lies.

now for scruple…

Once you find something is a scruple …remember scruples are to be dismissed…passed by like a barking dog…one does not stop and try to reason with a barking dog does one? (this is from a 15th century Carthusian)

 

[Arkadin]

I forgot about the barking dog quote, thanks.

Yes, it was certainly the second.

Thank you, Bookcat.

 

[Bookcat]

From the Catechism;

1778 Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed.

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A Scruple is an unreasonable doubt…a fear…etc…

 

[Bookcat]

I forgot about the barking dog quote, thanks.

Yes, it was certainly the second.

Thank you, Bookcat.

Your welcome.

ah…so you have read my answers before

yes …the actual quote is about a barking dog or a hissing goose

and it is a great way to think of scruples…and how to treat them…

and makes one see them as the humorous things they can be…

 

[Flame4]

Forget about it, it wasn’t grave. I understand it can be hard, having struggled with scurples myself, but trust me, you will know for sure when it is grave. Forget about it, there was nothing wrong in receiving communion. In fact it is good you did.