I feel like I'm abusing Confession

[CentralFLJames]

Leaving aside thomfra’s Campus Crusade for Crassness, I want to address something that was said a bit earlier:

** James**,

I might be misreading you here, but I think you possibly made a misstatement regarding merit.

While it is true that merit acquired before falling into mortal sin revives after we obtain the state of grace again, it is not true that those good actions done while in mortal sin revive also.

In other words, any good actions we do while in mortal sin will never be meritorious for ourselves, regardless of whether we reattain the state of grace.

The reason? Because while our already acquired merits can revive after we obtain the state of grace again (merit to which we have a claim that God honors) our good actions done while in the state of sin were never alive to begin with, and thus cannot be revived.

What do you think? If I read your original statement wrong, please accept my apology!

VC

This is not my understanding - but I admit its a newer area that I have just started exploring since its coming up more often now in life. I believe I had heard this scenario on a EWTN sponsored discussion. I’d like to find out definitively if you have reason to suspect it is not correct. Maybe we should submit this up the food chain for an official Church position on it.

James

 

[Verbum_Caro]

I’d like to find out definitively if you have reason to suspect it is not correct.

Hi James,

I can give one source right at the moment. I’ll look for more later, how does that sound?

The Catholic Encyclopedia article Sacrament of Penance, under Effect:The reconciliation of the sinner with God has as a further consequence the revival of those merits which he had obtained before committing grievous sin. . . .So long as he remains in sin, he is incapable of meriting: even works which are good in themselves are, in his case, worthless: they cannot revive, because they never were alive.
VC

 

[CentralFLJames]

oh…I just read. It’s not a mortal sin anymore. That’s some progress.

You are incorrect and misinformed.
Masturbation is a grave matter. That meets the first criteria. It becomes mortal if the other two criteria are present:

1. It must be a grave matter (masturbation is)
2. Mortal sin is committed with full knowledge of the sinner
3. Mortal sin is committed with deliberate consent of the sinner

If one enters this sin without knowledge that it is a grave matter and becomes habitually addicted in a way that the person can not control their consent (#3) due to that addiction then its possible if they later learn it is a grave matter (#1) they can not commit a mortal sin - but its always sin and very dicey as to degree and one should not even think to claim their wimpy control of depraved personal passions are an excuse to sin. We are required to resist.

By the same token - no one should permit themselves to despair over being unable to overcome this sin since that is a grave matter as well. So one should resist, and when one fails one should still take confidence that God wants them to repent, pray and to have confidence in His grace being sufficient.

This sin is widespread as you say. But sin is not nullified by any valid principal of popular consent to it - it only proves how widespread and common sin is and why humanity is exceedingly depraved and in need of complete reawakening to God’s grace, repentance, prayer and self denial.

James

 

[ComputerGeek25]

Hi James,

I can give one source right at the moment. I’ll look for more later, how does that sound?

The Catholic Encyclopedia article Sacrament of Penance, under Effect:The reconciliation of the sinner with God has as a further consequence the revival of those merits which he had obtained before committing grievous sin. . . .So long as he remains in sin, he is incapable of meriting: even works which are good in themselves are, in his case, worthless: they cannot revive, because they never were alive.
VC

This may be the normal case - and normal means to get this grace is to partake in the sacraments.

However, God may wish to bestow graces on whoever, whenever he chooses. This isn’t card blanche to do whatever you want, but there may be instances where this isn’t neccessaily true. I’d assume that if God totally cut you loose, no one would join the church or come back to the church.

 

[rpp]

This forum just keeps getting better and better. eh… is masturbation still a sin? Surley not. I’m serious. If it is, then we are all going to hell (male and female). Forget about trying to stop doing it. It can not be done. It’s natural and human, and will stop you turning into some kind of weirdo who has sex issues/guilt. Masturbate as much as you want. Stop beating yourself up over it (no pun intended).

oh…I just read. It’s not a mortal sin anymore. That’s some progress.

Sorry, I am afraid you are incorrect. Masturbation still is, and always will be, a grave sin.

From the Catechism.

2352 By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. “Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.” “The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.” For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of “the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved.”

It is not for the Church to keep up with “progress”, but rather for us to conform to God’s will. The Church’s moral and doctrinal teachings can never change because God does not change.

 

[CentralFLJames]

Hi James,

I can give one source right at the moment. I’ll look for more later, how does that sound?

The Catholic Encyclopedia article Sacrament of Penance, under Effect:The reconciliation of the sinner with God has as a further consequence the revival of those merits which he had obtained before committing grievous sin. . . .So long as he remains in sin, he is incapable of meriting: even works which are good in themselves are, in his case, worthless: they cannot revive, because they never were alive.
VC

Thanks VC. That’s a good enough reference for me. The only reason anyone can come back to God after they commit mortal sin is because while alive God still floods that sinner with a “universal grace” that is a manifestation of his will that all be saved. This is a grace that is a loving call to repentance and can open a deprived mind or hardened heart to realize how offensive their sin was and to repent (often through witnessing God in the suffering of other innocent individuals - and one reason why God permits the innocent to suffer BTW).

Good stuff - thanks.
James

 

[PeteZaHut]

www.settingcaptivesfree.com

The Sexual Impurity Course there has helped me with the big M (what my high school theology teacher called masturbation)