Ever since I became a Christian last week I’ve been feeling like I cannot make a moral judgement without running first to a priest to ask what our Dogma says about it. Do I need to memorize the Catechism and all the Papal encyclicals before I can think again without the fear of offending God?
Some good Posts in this thread to date. Certainly to offend God one needs to have the motivation to commit a sin/to offend God and you have exactly the opposite desire - so try to rest easy in God who is Loving of us and Forgiving…not at all the Big Judge in Heaven very touchy and easily offended.
I think that our hearts are a pretty good indication of what would be sinful and what would not be sinful. And do remember that we cannot commit a sin accidentally. Sometimes I may do or say something, even think something, and after the event suddenly aware it was potentially sinful. If I then persevere in those words, acts or thoughts, then I am probably committing some sort of sin…and if I dont know whether it is grave matter or not and mortal sin, then I mention it all to Father in Confession.
In those moral matters that are not at serious matters, strive to love your neighbour as yourself and to love yourself as a child of God with a holy and sacred dignity to preserve. If a matter is serious, then you can consult the Catechism, see below, certainly you can ask questions here on CAF on moral matters, and certainly consult with a priest, either in Confession or by making an appointment.
Those sins that are not serious or mortal sins are forgiven outside of the Confessional in many ways, certainly by attending Mass and Holy Communion humbly and sincerely…we are not bound to confess less serious or venial sins although it is a very good a fruitful spiritually habit to do so, and to get into the habit of doing so. But do remember that sins that are not grave and serious do not prevent us from attending Holy Communion, though we have not confessed them.
I find the online Catechism the best, as it is so easy to search it and this particular translation has its own Search Facility.
Online Catholic Catechism with Search Facility
scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
The Compendium to the Catechism is excellent also and the online Vatican edition is quite easy to search with a computer - and far easier than searching the written edition, or at least I find this.
Online Compendium of Catholic Catechism
vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html
I hope that this thread will bring you consolation and you can rest easy and do ask any questions at all that you may have. There is no such thing as a silly question. If I have a question, any question, or anyone else has, then it deserves an answer. If you are still troubled, then mention it to Father in Confession or make an appointment with a priest…the prime role of our priests is to be a Loving Shepherd of The Lord’s flock. Very especially in the Confessional.
The Confessional is also the place of spiritual direction, to sort out, ask advice about, our quandries, questions and difficulties re our journey with God.
May your journey with The Lord be rich in many blessings:thumbsup: …and as another poster said, it is a journey of growth and of knowledge and I am 62yrs a Catholic and still very much learning…Barb
