How Heinous Is Sin?

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Just how heinous is sin? I think we all have a tendency to either excuse ourselves or try to convince ourselves that it isn’t all that bad.

But something shocking that St. Faustina wrote in her diary really got me thinking, so I thought I would share it.

It’s a short, little blog post about how what she said put the whole matter into perspective for me: reflections911.wordpress.com

I hope it will be as eye-opening for you as it was for me.
 
I can sin based on doubt… idk about the other reasons, I asked that on a post. I in my imaginings imagine that without doubt I would foresake sin as I can not reconcile sin with any element of logic other than doubt… so should God present himself to me in a real undeniable fashion, I imagine I’d feel this way since I almost do as of now…
 
Just how heinous is sin? I think we all have a tendency to either excuse ourselves or try to convince ourselves that it isn’t all that bad.

But something shocking that St. Faustina wrote in her diary really got me thinking, so I thought I would share it.

It’s a short, little blog post about how what she said put the whole matter into perspective for me: reflections911.wordpress.com

I hope it will be as eye-opening for you as it was for me.
St. Faustina’s terrifying vision, recorded in entry 741:

Today, I was led by an angel to the chasm of hell. It is a place of great torture; how awesomely large and extensive it is! The kinds of tortures that I saw; the first torture that constitutes hell is the loss of God; the second is perpetual remorse of conscience; the third is that one’s condition will never change; the fourth is the fire that will penetrate the soul without destroying it — a terrible suffering, since it is a purely spiritual fire, lit by God’s anger; the fifth torture is continual darkness, and a terrible, suffocating smell, and despite the darkness, the devil and the souls of the damned see each other and all the evil, both of others and of their own; the sixth torture is the constant company of Satan; the seventh torture is horrible despair, hatred of God, vile words, curses and blasphemies. These are the tortures suffered by all the damned together, but that is not the end of their sufferings. There are special tortures destined for particular souls. These are the torments of the senses. Each soul undergoes terrible and indescribable sufferings, related to the manner in which it has sinned. There are caverns and pits of torture where one form of agony differs from another. I would have died at the very sight of these tortures if the omnipotence of God had not supported me. Let the sinner know that he will be tortured throughout all eternity, in those senses which he made use of to sin. I am writing this at the command of God, so that no soul may find an excuse by saying there is no hell, or that nobody has ever been there, and so no one can say what it is like.
 
Just how heinous is sin? I think we all have a tendency to either excuse ourselves or try to convince ourselves that it isn’t all that bad.

But something shocking that St. Faustina wrote in her diary really got me thinking, so I thought I would share it.

It’s a short, little blog post about how what she said put the whole matter into perspective for me: reflections911.wordpress.com

I hope it will be as eye-opening for you as it was for me.
Lets keep things in perspective.

First, you are a person of faith and so Jesus in his mercy, will protect you.

Second, the ancient Hebrew meaning for for sin is, “to miss the mark.” Its akin to an archer aiming at his target, but misses.

So it is when we as people of faith sin. We try to avoid sin, but often fail.

Our failures are understood by Jesus and we need to turn to him and ask for forgiveness.

St Faustina, saying she would rather suffer great agonizes than offend God, was merely expressing the level of love she had for Jesus.

Remember that St Faustina had union with Jesus and he appeared to her.

She had a far greater experience of Jesus revelation, which is what faith is, than most of us.

Don’t try to compare yourself to her, just stay centered on Jesus and trust in his love and mercy for you.

Jim
 
Hello.

As I understand things, when I sin, I offend God infinitely.

So grateful for the sacrament of confession.

Thank you for your post.
 
Just want to quickly say I also really like your post The Second Greatest Act of Mercy–wonderful how you put those two acts together!
 
St. Faustina’s terrifying vision, recorded in entry 741:

Today, I was led by an angel to the chasm of hell. It is a place of great torture; how awesomely large and extensive it is! The kinds of tortures that I saw; the first torture that constitutes hell is the loss of God; the second is perpetual remorse of conscience; the third is that one’s condition will never change; the fourth is the fire that will penetrate the soul without destroying it — a terrible suffering, since it is a purely spiritual fire, lit by God’s anger; the fifth torture is continual darkness, and a terrible, suffocating smell, and despite the darkness, the devil and the souls of the damned see each other and all the evil, both of others and of their own; the sixth torture is the constant company of Satan; the seventh torture is horrible despair, hatred of God, vile words, curses and blasphemies. These are the tortures suffered by all the damned together, but that is not the end of their sufferings. There are special tortures destined for particular souls. These are the torments of the senses. Each soul undergoes terrible and indescribable sufferings, related to the manner in which it has sinned. There are caverns and pits of torture where one form of agony differs from another. I would have died at the very sight of these tortures if the omnipotence of God had not supported me. Let the sinner know that he will be tortured throughout all eternity, in those senses which he made use of to sin. I am writing this at the command of God, so that no soul may find an excuse by saying there is no hell, or that nobody has ever been there, and so no one can say what it is like.
Keep in mind though, just like many many other visions and bible verses, they are not necessarily literal, her description sounds like its filled with symbolism or metaphorically actually.

Plus, those terrible things ‘happening’ mean that time is present, as for things to happen, time must be present and pass, there is no time in the afterlife.
 
Just how heinous is sin? I think we all have a tendency to either excuse ourselves or try to convince ourselves that it isn’t all that bad.

But something shocking that St. Faustina wrote in her diary really got me thinking, so I thought I would share it.

It’s a short, little blog post about how what she said put the whole matter into perspective for me: reflections911.wordpress.com

I hope it will be as eye-opening for you as it was for me.
I already feel great guilt and shame for my sins! According to Julian of Norwich, feeling this is the punishment for having sinned.
 
Just want to quickly say I also really like your post The Second Greatest Act of Mercy–wonderful how you put those two acts together!
Thank you. Glad you like it. That was one of those insights that came to me in a flash, a realization that really opened my eyes. 🙂
 
Lets keep things in perspective.

First, you are a person of faith and so Jesus in his mercy, will protect you.

Second, the ancient Hebrew meaning for for sin is, “to miss the mark.” Its akin to an archer aiming at his target, but misses.

So it is when we as people of faith sin. We try to avoid sin, but often fail.

Our failures are understood by Jesus and we need to turn to him and ask for forgiveness.

St Faustina, saying she would rather suffer great agonizes than offend God, was merely expressing the level of love she had for Jesus.

Remember that St Faustina had union with Jesus and he appeared to her.

She had a far greater experience of Jesus revelation, which is what faith is, than most of us.

Don’t try to compare yourself to her, just stay centered on Jesus and trust in his love and mercy for you.

Jim
I liked your answer. We will be measured in proportion to how much God has measured out to us. Like the parable of the talents.
 
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