Have I committed mortal sin?

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Johnathanmc

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I know this is an uncomfortable thing to talk about but I feel I have to know the answer. I watched pornographic content many times last year. I was always aware it was a sin but I didn’t know how severe it was. I don’t know why I didn’t stop doing it. One day I researched it and found out it was grave matter. This made me realise that I really shouldn’t have been doing it so I immediately stopped. After about a month without doing it I encountered a link that would bring me to a site that contained graphic pictures. Without thinking about it much I clicked it! I really shouldn’t have. I stayed in the site for about 30 seconds. I tried to suppress any lustful thoughts. Im not sure if I did commit lust. I was enjoying viewing it(unfortunately) but I tried to suppress any sexual thoughts. After 30 seconds I realised the severity of what I was doing and closed the website. Did I commit lust? . I’m now going to force myself, no matter what to stop myself from viewing such content again but I fear I’ve committed a mortal sin.
 
Simply confess it before you next receive Communion. Don’t dwell on it, and try to do better–don’t click, pray.
You’re human (and a male). Lust is sin #1 for us boys. Sigh.
 
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Go to Confession and keep going no matter how long it takes to get over this. It’s important that we repent. Hopefully you can get to a place where you don’t desire this anymore, but I realize it is tough. rosarypoet is right, this is a struggle especially for us males. Just keep fighting and never give up, relief will come, just be patient and keep doing the next right thing. Think and pray before making any rash decisions (I know it is easier said than done). At least you recognize the issue…that’s better than most.
 
I feel I have it under control now. I’ve gotten used to suppressing any sexual thoughts or temptations but now I’m just worried that I’ve already committed mortal sin. Is there a way to define lust? I enjoyed seeing what I was watching but I suppressed my sexual thoughts. Does this count as lust? The reason I enjoyed it was probably for a sexual reason but I wasn’t consciously thinking anything sexual about the images.
 
Johnathanmc said:
I feel I have it under control now. I’ve gotten used to suppressing any sexual thoughts or temptations but now I’m just worried that I’ve already committed mortal sin. Is there a way to define lust? I enjoyed seeing what I was watching but I suppressed my sexual thoughts. Does this count as lust? The reason I enjoyed it was probably for a sexual reason but I wasn’t consciously thinking anything sexual about the images.
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You can read the Catechism on lust, paragraph 2351. No one online can really answer your questions with any kind of certainty. We don’t know what was going through your mind. I also think it’s too easy to confuse ourselves into thinking these kinds of sins are not sins. You need to talk to a priest in confession.
 
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I would say that by clicking the link you started from a place of lust, however it is sounds like the sin did not come “full circle”, if you will. I am sorry but I am not in a place to determine whether you committed a mortal sin here or not, but what I do know is that it is enough to need Confession. Also, I pray that you won’t have to suppress these thoughts and desires anymore, as suppression by our own efforts only takes us so far for so long before we crack again. The goal is the healing of the entire human person and coming to a place where the thought doesn’t even enter us in the first place. Please know this brother, that I am by no means claiming to have achieved this state! But I do know what the end goal looks like and I do know that if we continue to repent, then that goal is attainable.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 3:12-14
 
Thank you for your helpful words. Jared2914 is right there is no way to be certain. All I can do is repent and try to do better in the future.
 
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There are two questions, objective grave matter and subjective mortal sin.

It is objectively grave to deliberately intend or voluntarily consent to any sexual pleasure outside marriage. It is likewise grave to voluntarily placing oneself in proximate danger of consenting or to engage in acts which by nature tend to cause great sexual pleasure. Engaging in acts which tend to cause sexual arousal but don’t meet those criteria is venial.

As for whether you personally committed a mortal sin, it comes down to, did you at any point choose to do something (or voluntarily continue a situation) which you knew to be grave matter? If you chose an action which you weren’t sure was grave matter or not then it’s more complicated.

In any case, the best remedy is to simply go to confession and explain your situation.
 
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