How long do Catholics normally go without committing mortal sin?

[Jeanne_S]

Missing Mass on Sundays and Holy days of obligation without a valid reason are mortal sins.I suspect a lot of Catholics are guilty of this.

 

[GospelOfMatthew]

Personally, I don’t like talking about mortal sin, it is too much a divisive and difficult conversation. We cannot know who has or hasn’t committed mortal sin based on the knowledge they had. In theory, nobody ever has committed mortal sin considering knowledge and compulsion of habit.

What matters is that we identify our sinful ways and try to do better, there are infinite mercies with God

 

[nunsense]

Missing Mass on Sundays and Holy days of obligation without a valid reason are mortal sins.I suspect a lot of Catholics are guilty of this.

Actually, this is another example where intent matters. I once confessed to a priest because I had missed Mass and he asked if I had intended to purposely separate myself from God and I said no. So he told me me that without intent to commit this serious and grave sin, then it was not a mortal one. Intention is very important. Intention and full knowledge and consent. So the key words in your statement are ‘valid reason’. I still say that to commit a mortal sin takes effort!

 

[Jeanne_S]

Yes I can’t disagree

 

[Wesrock]

If you “don’t realise it” then it’s not a mortal sin because an essential element of a mortal sin is that you know it’s grave and freely choose to commit it anyway.

It may still be a grave sin, but not mortal. So what you mean to say is that some (not all ) people may have committed unconfessed serious sins without realizing their sinfulness. I’ll agree with that but you cannot say these people have all committed mortal sin. Nor would confession help because they don’t think what they have done is a sin and so wouldn’t confess it.

I don’t want to be a complete stickler, because I agree many Catholics can go a long time without mortal sin. Still, there are those who know the Church’s teaching on artificial birth control or abortion and either totally or partially reject those positions but consider themselves Catholics.

I am not one bemoaning everyone going up to communion, mind. And I think it isn’t as easy to sin mortally for a faithful Catholic as some seem to imply. We do, however, have some responsibility for making effort to learn certain truths and assent to Church moral teaching. Some people take the idea of “full knowledge” and define it in a way that nobody could sin mortally. I’m not accusing you of saying that! Writing this response just brought it to mind.

 

[Dan_Defender]

At my age, pretty much all the grave stuff I used to do looks very unappealing. Sure it was a struggle giving it up at first, but with God’s and Mary’s help it’s possible to get past that. And I haven’t developed any new bad habits to replace the old vanished ones, thank God.

I can relate to that. One key thing that people underestimate is the sense of inner peace when one is in a state of grace. The peace that this world cannot give. The Imitation of Christ says that when people are living in sin, it is only with difficulty that they enjoy it. When I look back at my sinful period, I agree 100%. The enjoyment one gets from sinning is but an illusion.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Still, there are those who know the Church’s teaching on artificial birth control or abortion and either totally or partially reject those positions but consider themselves Catholics.

Being wrong, confused or even in mortal sin doesn’t suddenly make you “not a Catholic”. Once baptized Catholic, you are Catholic. Forever.

Also, unless you’re in confession with those people or there’s been some public notice of an excommunication or similar, you have zero idea of a person’s inner spirituality or what they are struggling with or what they talk to their spiritual advisor about.

It’s rather distasteful how some Catholics presume.

 

[Wesrock]

Wesrock:

Still, there are those who know the Church’s teaching on artificial birth control or abortion and either totally or partially reject those positions but consider themselves Catholics.

Being wrong, confused or even in mortal sin doesn’t suddenly make you “not a Catholic”. Once baptized Catholic, you are Catholic. Forever.

Of course. My point is that there are those who consider themselves Catholics but don’t adhere to Catholic moral teaching. I am not saying “they are not Catholic,” I’m saying that their profession shows more culpability for a knowing rejection of Catholic moral teaching, moreso than an atheist who wouldn’t consider the Church authoritative to begin with.

Also, unless you’re in confession with those people or there’s been some public notice of an excommunication or similar, you have zero idea of a person’s inner spirituality or what they are struggling with or what they talk to their spiritual advisor about.

It’s rather distasteful how some Catholics presume.

And you go on and mistake me and my intent.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

You’re the one who took “some Catholics” personally. If it doesn’t apply to you, then it’s not the shoe that fits you.
There are plenty of others on here whom the shoe does fit, and this line of discussion was referring to that group from the start. Like I said, if you’re not in it, no need to complain about mistaking your intent.

 

[SergiusPaulus]

I wasn’t taking it out of context–you assumed what my argument was, actually. I’m not talking about the Mosaic law or circumcision, and my comment was never concerned with that.

I’m referring to Paul’s statement that all have mortally sinned in the past (at least once). This is found in Paul’s catena of texts in Romans 3:10-18. That’s literally all my claim amounted to.

That’s actually wonderful to hear that you’ve abstained from mortal sin for many years. A big one I usually fall into are impure thoughts that I dwell on for too long.

 

[SergiusPaulus]

post removed by me

 

[Sirach2]

I cited Romans 3:10-18. Paul literally says that all of us are guilty of turning from God. I don’t know how that could possibly be an interpretation.

Verse 10 says, “as it is written.” He quotes the verses up to 18 from the Old Testament Psalms and Isaiah (it should be in your footnotes). These verses are NOT Paul’s. But then he concludes in verse 19 that by the works of the Law, no human being shall be justified. Once again, he is referring to those who insist on circumcision in obedience to the Jewish Law.

He argues in other epistles as well, that circumcision is of the heart, not keeping the old Law, by which no man is justified. Protestants usually take Paul’s epistles out of context to say many things contrary to our faith. It is common for them to quote from this epistle. This is not saying what you have understood from these words, i.e., that there is no just man. After a baby is baptized, it is possible that he may remain innocent of sin and be called righteous. He is not unjust unless he willfully commits mortal sin.

I hope this is more clear, but if not, I apologize, for I don’t know any better way to explain it to you.

 

[SergiusPaulus]

I know they’re not Paul’s–that’s why I said it was a catena of passages. Also look at verse 9, Paul is saying that both Jews and Gentiles fall into the category described in verses 10-18, so it definitely doesn’t only encompass those who insist on circumcision in obedience to the Jewish Law.

I never said there is no just man. Again, that’s not my argument. I only use it to show that all have sinned mortally before (at least once in the past).

Again, that’s ALL I’m saying. It’s a very modest claim, and I’m not claiming that we’re irremediably mortal sinners or anything of the kind. I’m not saying we can’t be delivered from our mortal sins.

I’m not making the argument you’re attributing to me. I hope I’m being as clear as I possibly can.

 

[Sirach2]

No problem, Sergius. Happy Easter to you. Be assured, many Catholics really do have peace with God. There is no better way than with a conscience free of mortal sin and an intimate relationship with the Trinity,.

 

[SergiusPaulus]

assured, many Catholics really do have peace with God. There is no better way than with a conscience free of mortal sin and an intimate relationship with the Trinity,.

Thanks for the response. Have a wonderful Easter as well. I’ll try better to live in a state of grace from now on, by God’s grace.

 

[nunsense]

And you go on and mistake me and my intent.

See why intention is so important when discussing mortal sins? No one knows the intention of another person unless they are in the confessional with them, and even then, the person might not reveal or even understand their own intention completely. So perhaps it is best we just don’t judge others or their moral state?

 

[Dourbest]

these are all very common sins. I do get confused on the “you have to know it was wrong not gravely wrong” which I’ve heard something like before.

 

[Arwing]

You do have to know it was gravely wrong, not simply wrong. I think she was just referring to attempting to rationalize one’s behaviour by trying to feign ignorance. I know I’ve done it before.

 

[Dourbest]

Thank you I have heard it both ways.

 

[Canvas]

Knowing something is wrong and choosing to do it anyway dies not make it a mortal sin if the sin is not grave matter.
If your gossip was going to ruin someone’s reputation, get them fired, break up their marriage etc then that’s grave.

Exactly. Saying negative things about someone, gossiping, etc is not a mortal sin usually. When the gossip turns to detraction or calumny, with the intent of causing real and serious harm to a person, then we get into “grave matter” territory