How to live in Mortal Sin

[Mr_Friscus]

It’s very difficult, and not something I would advise anyone to do.

However, I just can’t help myself.

It separates me from God. It has stopped me from going to weekly Confession. I can’t in good conscious continue to take confession for granted, and say I intend to sin no more when I know I can’t control myself, and I won’t be able to fulfill my promise, nor will I even try. I actively seek the sinful behavior, and I have a proven disconnect between what my soul wants and what my body desires.

I have a love for the theology of Catholicism and the unity of the Catholic church. However, I simply cannot upkeep the standards of being a Catholic.

Thus, I worry every day about my death. I worry every time I get a panic attack that I’ll die in Mortal Sin. I worry about driving, that I may die, and die in Mortal sin. I know my sins, and yet, I still seek them. I’ll never say they’re the right thing to do, I’ll simply disconnect myself, as I’ve long done.

We are all sinners, but I feel my issue is beyond that line. I’m a defeated man. I don’t seek God like I used to because of this. I don’t pray every night. I don’t pray to Mary as often.

However, when I do pray, I beg that even though I knowingly and maliciously sin, that He may remember me, just as Barrabus did next to Jesus on the cross. I need to go to Confession, but like I said, how do I make a promise I know I cannot keep?

I’m just a mess. I haven’t taken the body in blood in many months, because I’m not allowed to.

I’m a slave to sin, it’s a viscious cycle. Being sinful harms my relationship with God, and my disconnected relationship with God allows me to more easily sin.

How do you guys do it?

 

[Della]

If you sin is habitual, it may not rise to the level fully culpability. God isn’t waiting to pounce on you to destroy you. He loves you and wants to heal you. You need to discuss this problem with you confessor, not give up. The devil is delighted when we throw in the towel due to discouragement. Your sins aren’t as horrible as you are making them out to be. Even if you sin mortally every day (again you may not bear full culpability for your sins), Jesus is waiting to forgive you. Keep on keeping on, my friend. God is waiting for you and able to help you.

 

[Cone]

It’s very difficult, and not something I would advise anyone to do.

However, I just can’t help myself.

It separates me from God. It has stopped me from going to weekly Confession. I can’t in good conscious continue to take confession for granted, and say I intend to sin no more when I know I can’t control myself, and I won’t be able to fulfill my promise, nor will I even try. I actively seek the sinful behavior, and I have a proven disconnect between what my soul wants and what my body desires.

I have a love for the theology of Catholicism and the unity of the Catholic church. However, I simply cannot upkeep the standards of being a Catholic.

Thus, I worry every day about my death. I worry every time I get a panic attack that I’ll die in Mortal Sin. I worry about driving, that I may die, and die in Mortal sin. I know my sins, and yet, I still seek them. I’ll never say they’re the right thing to do, I’ll simply disconnect myself, as I’ve long done.

We are all sinners, but I feel my issue is beyond that line. I’m a defeated man. I don’t seek God like I used to because of this. I don’t pray every night. I don’t pray to Mary as often.

However, when I do pray, I beg that even though I knowingly and maliciously sin, that He may remember me, just as Barrabus did next to Jesus on the cross. I need to go to Confession, but like I said, how do I make a promise I know I cannot keep?

I’m just a mess. I haven’t taken the body in blood in many months, because I’m not allowed to.

I’m a slave to sin, it’s a viscious cycle. Being sinful harms my relationship with God, and my disconnected relationship with God allows me to more easily sin.

How do you guys do it?

Going to confession is not a promise not to sin any more. It requires only that you are sorry for your sins.

 

[Monica4316]

Confession is not a promise not to sin again but it does need an intent to not sin.

If you do not have a firm intention of this, I think the way to get it is through prayer. The first mistake is to forsake prayer and its a temptation that leads to other things, because without prayer we have less strength.

This is just a guess, but I’d say what maybe happened is you got discouraged because of repeated sins, and then got tempted to distrust in God, reliance on self, and lack of prayer. You need to turn to prayer and rely on God in your heart, without confidence in your own strength. But we shouldnt despair or give up. Trust God, not yourself. Christ said without Him we can do nothing.

Trust in God, prayer, hope. That is the only way to do it. Hopelessness, giving up, all comes from self reliance, and lack of prayer. Hope that helps… Its just my understanding. God bless you!

 

[1neophyte]

Oooh! I love this post!

I understand that you feel like you are separated from God, because you have been conditioned by the mantra that mortal sin destroys the relationship, but that is a flat out lie. Or rather, a flat out half-truth. God loves you, or better stated, is CRAZY about you, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to change that. Separation from God is possible, but only if you give up. Your words here indicate that you have not given up. Your awareness of your slavery and your clear exhaustion from the vicious cycle that you describe are exactly where you need to be. The moment that these words poured from your heart, you were justified. I guarantee you. If you don’t want to take my word for it, read Luke 18:9-14. Jesus is talking about you there.

God loves you in this moment, exactly as you are, even amidst the mess that you’re in. Period, end of story. You are NOT separated from Him, and He is NOT looking at you with the same disgust with which you look at yourself. He expects more failure from you than you expect from yourself, and His only desire is to grant you the mercy that you are so desperately thirsty for.

Your statement that you cannot keep up with the standards of being a Catholic is a lie straight from the pit of Hell. Stop saying it to yourself immediately. Never say it again. You are turning it into a meditation that is poisoning your heart. Replace that meditation by meditating on Romans 8. Read that chapter over and over again for as long as you need to.

Does God’s mercy mean that you can just go on sinning without a problem? Of course not. Get to a confessional immediately with the same disposition that drove you to write these words. Do not get trapped into the lie that it is meaningless because you don’t trust yourself not to sin again. If you were covered in mud, would you skip taking a shower just because the shower wouldn’t keep you clean for the rest of your life? Of course not. But starving yourself of the sacraments will get you absolutely nowhere.

God loves you. I’ll say it again. God loves you. He does not reject you, abandon you, or despise you. Meditate on Psalm 51. Offer your broken spirit to God as a sacrifice. Do not keep it for yourself. God desires, with great urgency, to give you peace. You don’t want to make a promise you won’t keep? Then don’t. Rely on God’s promise to you, not on your promise to Him.

Anyone who tells you anything even slightly different is lying to you.

 

[Monica4316]

Oooh! I love this post!

I understand that you feel like you are separated from God, because you have been conditioned by the mantra that mortal sin destroys the relationship, but that is a flat out lie. Or rather, a flat out half-truth. God loves you, or better stated, is CRAZY about you, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to change that. Separation from God is possible, but only if you give up. Your words here indicate that you have not given up. Your awareness of your slavery and your clear exhaustion from the vicious cycle that you describe are exactly where you need to be. The moment that these words poured from your heart, you were justified. I guarantee you. If you don’t want to take my word for it, read Luke 18:9-14. Jesus is talking about you there.

God loves you in this moment, exactly as you are, even amidst the mess that you’re in. Period, end of story. You are NOT separated from Him, and He is NOT looking at you with the same disgust with which you look at yourself. He expects more failure from you than you expect from yourself, and His only desire is to grant you the mercy that you are so desperately thirsty for.

Your statement that you cannot keep up with the standards of being a Catholic is a lie straight from the pit of Hell. Stop saying it to yourself immediately. Never say it again. You are turning it into a meditation that is poisoning your heart. Replace that meditation by meditating on Romans 8. Read that chapter over and over again for as long as you need to.

Does God’s mercy mean that you can just go on sinning without a problem? Of course not. Get to a confessional immediately with the same disposition that drove you to write these words. Do not get trapped into the lie that it is meaningless because you don’t trust yourself not to sin again. If you were covered in mud, would you skip taking a shower just because the shower wouldn’t keep you clean for the rest of your life? Of course not. But starving yourself of the sacraments will get you absolutely nowhere.

God loves you. I’ll say it again. God loves you. He does not reject you, abandon you, or despise you. Meditate on Psalm 51. Offer your broken spirit to God as a sacrifice. Do not keep it for yourself. God desires, with great urgency, to give you peace. You don’t want to make a promise you won’t keep? Then don’t. Rely on God’s promise to you, not on your promise to Him.

Anyone who tells you anything even slightly different is lying to you.

The Church teaching is that mortal sin destroys the relationship and state of grace. It doesn’t mean that God stops loving the person in mortal sin, or helping through actual graces. Its wrong to give up or to think that God’s love has ended or to distrust it. Its also incorrect though to say that mortal sin doesn’t cause a separation. When we commit a mortal sin, we are the ones who leave God - and then He gives actual graces to help us come back, out of His Mercy which we don’t deserve. I just thought I’d clarify this …

God loving us doesn’t mean we don’t get separated from Him by mortal sin. Rather it means God doesn’t want to give up on us.

 

[1neophyte]

The Church teaching is that mortal sin destroys the relationship and state of grace. It doesn’t mean that God stops loving the person in mortal sin, or helping through actual graces. Its wrong to give up or to think that God’s love has ended or to distrust it. Its also incorrect though to say that mortal sin doesn’t cause a separation. When we commit a mortal sin, we are the ones who leave God - and then He gives actual graces to help us come back, out of His Mercy which we don’t deserve. I just thought I’d clarify this …

God loving us doesn’t mean we don’t get separated from Him by mortal sin. Rather it means God doesn’t want to give up on us.

I figured someone would. That’s why I included my last sentence.

 

[e_c]

Prayer for the grace to change is the way to go, together with serious spiritual direction and confession as you are directed therein. Finding others with similar struggles can also help.

You don’t want to be where you’re at and are seeking ways to grow - and, as the old spiritual adage goes, once begun, half done. Don’t despair.

 

[Mr_Friscus]

If you sin is habitual, it may not rise to the level fully culpability. God isn’t waiting to pounce on you to destroy you. He loves you and wants to heal you.

It may not, but it also may.

The Catholic Cathecism certainly seems to spell out what is mortal and what isn’t.

I understand that there are different levels in this scenario, and people who have a mental condition, or tempted at different levels perhaps aren’t all judged at the same standard.

I also know that it’s quite a comfortable thing to fall back on for someone who might be making excuses for themselves. The thing is, I don’t know if I am or not. I’ve never lived in another body, and had another mind. I have a few issues in my life mentally that I deal with that effect all aspects of my life. It creates a lot of confusion for me.

You’ve pointed the difference of two extremes in Catholicism. Of course, I wouldn’t call it God wanting to “pounce on and destroy”, but can we always get “lovey dovey” about God’s grace when someone like myself is willingly and knowingly sinning?

If I were God (what a way to start a sentence), just from the outside looking in, based on Catholic theology… If I died today, I’d send me to hell. I mean, why would I not?

It’s a tough pill to swallow… to feel like you’re powerless to stop the thing that keeps you from being faithful and pure.

 

[1neophyte]

If I were God (what a way to start a sentence), just from the outside looking in, based on Catholic theology… If I died today, I’d send me to hell. I mean, why would I not?

It’s a tough pill to swallow… to feel like you’re powerless to stop the thing that keeps you from being faithful and pure.

But you’re not God. God’s ways are far above your ways.

As for feeling powerless, God’s answer to you is the same as to St. Paul’s. His grace is sufficient. To say that your sin is bigger than God’s grace is nothing but error.

 

[Mr_Friscus]

Oooh! I love this post!

I understand that you feel like you are separated from God, because you have been conditioned by the mantra that mortal sin destroys the relationship, but that is a flat out lie. Or rather, a flat out half-truth. God loves you, or better stated, is CRAZY about you, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to change that. Separation from God is possible, but only if you give up. Your words here indicate that you have not given up. Your awareness of your slavery and your clear exhaustion from the vicious cycle that you describe are exactly where you need to be. The moment that these words poured from your heart, you were justified. I guarantee you. If you don’t want to take my word for it, read Luke 18:9-14. Jesus is talking about you there.

There are multiple things going on through the Catholic definition of Mortal sin, and this passage… to me they collide in a way.

I don’t think the parable addresses me.

1. The parable suggests the faithful one is overconfident, and separates himself from other sinners because of his deeds. Being thankful he’s “not like them”. Even when I’m faithful, I’m thankful I’m not doing bad things. However, I don’t separate myself from “them”. I simply look at the internal struggle, of what I do that is evil or holy.
2. The parable suggests the tax collector is righteous in acknowledging his sin, but never insinuates that this man who beat his breast planned to change. Simply acknowledging your sin, from what I know, isn’t necessarily good enough. Or at least it isn’t long term. Sinful human nature certainly causes man to abuse such things.
3. Did this tax collector know his sins were sins? If not, and he was finding out then and now, and making his first dedication, then I can understand. But if he knew his sins were sins, and did them anyways, he’s like me, in Mortal Sin, and thus, going to hell, right?

God loves you in this moment, exactly as you are, even amidst the mess that you’re in. Period, end of story. You are NOT separated from Him, and He is NOT looking at you with the same disgust with which you look at yourself. He expects more failure from you than you expect from yourself, and His only desire is to grant you the mercy that you are so desperately thirsty for.

I should be more specific. God will never separate from me, but I can walk away from God through my sinful choices. I realize this.

Your statement that you cannot keep up with the standards of being a Catholic is a lie straight from the pit of Hell. Stop saying it to yourself immediately. Never say it again. You are turning it into a meditation that is poisoning your heart. Replace that meditation by meditating on Romans 8. Read that chapter over and over again for as long as you need to.

Is it a lie?

Being a Catholic isn’t easy by the modern, secular standards in American culture (where I’m from). Things that are worthwhile rarely are easy.

By all means, it SHOULD be difficult, at least for those who are conflicted between the two, or have converted, and have tasted the fruit of it all.

Right?

But starving yourself of the sacraments will get you absolutely nowhere.

I have a difficult time going to Confession to the same priest and failing over and over. I guess I feel like I let him down, because he helped me become a Catholic, and sped up my process to become one, which I did last year. However, that’s just another factor, much less than what I feel is inappropriate to confess when you’re even not objecting to or planning on doing the sin you’re confessing to. Doesn’t that seem messed up?

And, as long as I’m in this state, I can’t take the body and blood, obviously.

God loves you. He does not reject you, abandon you, or despise you.

I know this, and I never said as much, although it’s good to hear everytime.

My issue is hopelessness to change myself, and my end of the bargain. God is there for me if I want Him, which I do in intention and word. However, given the expectations of lifestyle, and things you aren’t supposed to do, I don’t seem to be able to “want” him through action, or in my case, being inactive in sinful actions.

 

[Mr_Friscus]

But you’re not God. God’s ways are far above your ways.

As for feeling powerless, God’s answer to you is the same as to St. Paul’s. His grace is sufficient. To say that your sin is bigger than God’s grace is nothing but error.

Dare I say, but you’re sounding rather Protestant here. (I could have you wrong, but I’m quite acute to Protestant rhetoric, I used to be one).

However, the “grace alone” can have two different meanings.

1. By grace alone can you be saved, because nothing but grace can save you.
2. However, just God’s grace, and no participation, intent, or standard from you, won’t punch your ticket to heaven (so says the church).

 

[Vico]

It’s very difficult, and not something I would advise anyone to do.

However, I just can’t help myself.

It separates me from God. It has stopped me from going to weekly Confession. I can’t in good conscious continue to take confession for granted, and say I intend to sin no more when I know I can’t control myself, and I won’t be able to fulfill my promise, nor will I even try. I actively seek the sinful behavior, and I have a proven disconnect between what my soul wants and what my body desires.

I have a love for the theology of Catholicism and the unity of the Catholic church. However, I simply cannot upkeep the standards of being a Catholic.

Thus, I worry every day about my death. I worry every time I get a panic attack that I’ll die in Mortal Sin. I worry about driving, that I may die, and die in Mortal sin. I know my sins, and yet, I still seek them. I’ll never say they’re the right thing to do, I’ll simply disconnect myself, as I’ve long done.

We are all sinners, but I feel my issue is beyond that line. I’m a defeated man. I don’t seek God like I used to because of this. I don’t pray every night. I don’t pray to Mary as often.

However, when I do pray, I beg that even though I knowingly and maliciously sin, that He may remember me, just as Barrabus did next to Jesus on the cross. I need to go to Confession, but like I said, how do I make a promise I know I cannot keep?

I’m just a mess. I haven’t taken the body in blood in many months, because I’m not allowed to.

I’m a slave to sin, it’s a viscious cycle. Being sinful harms my relationship with God, and my disconnected relationship with God allows me to more easily sin.

How do you guys do it?

Everyone sins. To be mortally culpable requires a few conditions:

1. a grievous matter,
2. sufficient reflection, and
3. full consent of the will.

So one does not accidentally sin mortally, nor without full willful consent.

So when the temptation to sin occurs, is there at least mental resistance to it?

Factors that modify culpability:

• affective immaturity, (i.e., emotional immaturity)
• force of acquired habit,
• anxiety or other psychological conditions
• social factors

 

[Mr_Friscus]

Everyone sins. To be mortally culpable requires a few conditions:

1. a grievous matter,
2. sufficient reflection, and
3. full consent of the will.

So one does not accidentally sin mortally, nor without full willful consent.

So when the temptation to sin occurs, is there at least mental resistance to it?

Factors that modify culpability:

• affective immaturity, (i.e., emotional immaturity)
• force of acquired habit,
• anxiety or other psychological conditions
• social factors

Thank you for that second list. However to answer your question:

There’s a disconnect. I leave the part of me that wishes to uphold pleasing God. There is a habitual nature to it, but I also can recognize that the flesh is simply overpowering the will of my soul. I simply conveniently put my spiritual concerns and conscious on pause in order to fulfill the sin, and get it out my system. I’ve been even known to utter out loud “forgive me God for the sin I’m about to commit”. I know it’s a sin. There’s always a sadness inside of me after.

I simply don’t like making excuses. I wish I could just uphold the basics, and my issue is pretty much one of the more basic ones, even if it’s everywhere in American Culture (you can probably guess).

 

[1neophyte]

There are multiple things going on through the Catholic definition of Mortal sin, and this passage… to me they collide in a way.

I don’t think the parable addresses me.

1. The parable suggests the faithful one is overconfident, and separates himself from other sinners because of his deeds. Being thankful he’s “not like them”. Even when I’m faithful, I’m thankful I’m not doing bad things. However, I don’t separate myself from “them”. I simply look at the internal struggle, of what I do that is evil or holy.
2. The parable suggests the tax collector is righteous in acknowledging his sin, but never insinuates that this man who beat his breast planned to change. Simply acknowledging your sin, from what I know, isn’t necessarily good enough. Or at least it isn’t long term. Sinful human nature certainly causes man to abuse such things.
3. Did this tax collector know his sins were sins? If not, and he was finding out then and now, and making his first dedication, then I can understand. But if he knew his sins were sins, and did them anyways, he’s like me, in Mortal Sin, and thus, going to hell, right?

I should be more specific. God will never separate from me, but I can walk away from God through my sinful choices. I realize this.

Is it a lie?

Being a Catholic isn’t easy by the modern, secular standards in American culture (where I’m from). Things that are worthwhile rarely are easy.

By all means, it SHOULD be difficult, at least for those who are conflicted between the two, or have converted, and have tasted the fruit of it all.

Right?

I have a difficult time going to Confession to the same priest and failing over and over. I guess I feel like I let him down, because he helped me become a Catholic, and sped up my process to become one, which I did last year. However, that’s just another factor, much less than what I feel is inappropriate to confess when you’re even not objecting to or planning on doing the sin you’re confessing to. Doesn’t that seem messed up?

And, as long as I’m in this state, I can’t take the body and blood, obviously.

I know this, and I never said as much, although it’s good to hear everytime.

My issue is hopelessness to change myself, and my end of the bargain. God is there for me if I want Him, which I do in intention and word. However, given the expectations of lifestyle, and things you aren’t supposed to do, I don’t seem to be able to “want” him through action, or in my case, being inactive in sinful actions.

Wow, a lot to respond to. But I first have to say that you really made me smile when you said I sound Protestant. I’ve always thought the effort to label something “Catholic” or “Protestant” is pretty silly…Why don’t we just try to figure out what is “true”? And anyway, if I was Protestant, I certainly wouldn’t suggest that you get to confession ASAP.

Regarding your #2, are you really breaking down the parable to try to point out that Jesus is wrong? The entire point is that the tax collector never insinuates a resolve to do better. That is why the gospel is so scandalous. That is why Jesus was crucified. If Jesus was going around saying forgiveness is only for the repentant, there would be nothing particularly remarkable about His words, and He may not have even been killed. If you want to move over to the Prodigal Son parable, consider the Prodigal Son’s intention. He just wanted something to eat. There was no holiness in him. Only selfishness and hunger, and his father threw a party just because he showed up. Why are we so afraid to accept that God is this way?

Being a “good Catholic” is not only difficult. It is impossible. Jesus says as much in Matthew 19 and Mark 10. (And please consider the point I’m actually trying to make rather than straying off into a discussion about sola scriptura because I actually pointed to something in the scriptures. ) This is why I said you have to rely on God’s promise to you rather than your own promise to Him.

There is a MASSIVE problem in the Church right now (though I certainly don’t think it’s unique to our time) where so many worry about all the wrong things. What instruments are used at mass, whether an idea is “Catholic” or “Protestant”, whether or not the pope is really the pope because “Oh my gosh he said something that made me uncomfortable and dared to shake up my comfortable worldview, and this is unacceptable because I already have everything figured out.” And on and on and on and on.

You are worrying about all the wrong things. Feeling like you’re letting a priest down? No. Any priest worth his salt responds with nothing but tenderness when hearing a confession. He is administering God’s mercy, which I guarantee you NEVER gets old, no matter how tedious and boring our sins are. Don’t ever make the mistake of projecting your own self-hatred onto a priest and assume that he’s disappointed in you. Even if he is a bad priest and IS disappointed, it doesn’t matter. You’re dealing with God, not the priest.

 

[1neophyte]

(cont.)

Whether you believe it or not, you still have a relationship with God. It is injured, certainly, but it is not destroyed. The damage caused by the lie that our sins are so mighty and powerful that they can end our relationship with God hurts my heart so much. The only thing that can end the relationship is if you give up. Falling into sin out of weakness is not giving up. Giving up is giving up. Like I said in my other post, anyone who tells you anything different is either a liar or simply misinformed. Look at the other poster who tried to correct me. Out of EVERYTHING I said, the only thing they felt compelled to comment on was to try to convince you that you indeed have ended your relationship with God. We all agree that you should get back to confession so you can get back to the Eucharist, we all agree that your sin is destructive and you need to work towards putting a stop to it, and yet someone wants to come along and be contentious because they think this is a 4th year Theology class instead of the encounter with Jesus that you so desperately need. It’s utterly ridiculous, and you should really steer clear of such toxic thinking.

As you said in another post, it’s pretty easy to guess what your struggle is. I hope this isn’t rude, but may I ask how old you are? All sin is simply a distortion of something good. Rather than just continuing on in compulsive behavior and hating yourself for it, have you considered working towards restoring the “something good” that you’re distorting, and using God’s gift for its intended purpose?

 

[Monica4316]

I figured someone would. That’s why I included my last sentence.

The one about liars? I said the Church teaching. It is not a lie. It is infallible, while both of us are not.

God indeed loves each person, but at the same time mortal sin separates us from Him until we repent and confess, or have perfect contrition (in which case we should still confess after).

If someone struggles with a sin, it depends if they are truly sorry and don’t want to do it again. If they don’t want it and don’t intend it again, it is forgiven. If they don’t intend to stop, they need to pray for greater contrition. I believe God would give it if they seek, as He desires salvation and holiness for us. If a person is sorry and forgiven of the sin but keeps struggling, Jesus wants them to have hope in His help and turn for help. We also need to cooperate with this help, but God can grant strength for this too. We need to trust.

God’s Mercy being greater than our sins doesn’t mean we don’t need to repent. Repentance is how we receive this mercy. God does not force us because then our response would not be love, it would not be the response of a free rational person, but a robot.

Grace being greater than our sinfulness means with God’s grace we can overcome sin, but our will needs to cooperate.

If this all seems very difficult, it is because we were meant in this to rely on God, not on our own strength. But even relying on God’s strength, we still respond and cooperate. Salvation needs our consent.

 

[1neophyte]

God’s Mercy being greater than our sins doesn’t mean we don’t need to repent. Repentance is how we receive this mercy. God does not force us because then our response would not be love, it would not be the response of a free rational person, but a robot.

Are you trying to say that you’re under the impression the OP is not repentant? Do you not recognize that this is a soul reaching out for help? Does it make you feel better to try to make it abundantly clear that the OP has no relationship with God at the present time? I would love to debate this point with you, but can it be in a separate thread? Can’t there be at least ONE discussion where we try to be helpful to someone in need rather than being like the ones who objected to Jesus healing on the Sabbath?

 

[tweedlealice]

Dear Brother in Christ,
I responded w a note full of scripture and the love of God and my spirit. And it wouldn’t submit and blanked out. The Devils handiwork surely. This will be a test submit.
Let me leave you w this thought. Jeremiah 29 / 11 Mr. Friscus, I have a plan for you. It is a good plan. It has no evil. It has a purpose and a future.
in Christ’s love
Tweedlealice

 

[Della]

Mr Friscus, you are doing the same thing that many a hypochondriac does when he reads a medical book–he decides he must have the worst disease listed because he thinks he has the symptoms. Instead of reading a book or looking online, he needs to consult a doctor not make such decisions for himself because he doesn’t have the training to know what he has based on what he thinks he has because he read it in a book/read it online.

It’s the same with mortal sin. And it’s why, Christ, in his wisdom, gave us confessors to help us sort through what our sins are, and perhaps more importantly, what they aren’t. Go to your confessor ASAP and stop being your own confessor–especially when you are telling yourself you must be damned when, most likely, you are nothing of the kind. Don’t diagnose yourself–that not yours to do, not when you believe you are committing mortal sin. Don’t just read a list of mortal sins and then decide you must be fully culpable without consulting your confessor. You wouldn’t plaster up your own broken leg, so why avoid seeing your confessor for your sins? If you think he’ll be hard on you or scandalized, he won’t be either. He’s heard it all–and he’s there to help you not condemn you, for he stands in Jesus’ place to tell you that you are forgiven and to help you with your habitual sin. Go now!!!