Is it a mortal sin if you don't know?

[Leftylucie]

I have a brother who isn’t s practicing Catholic. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know that it’s s mortal sin that he doesn’t go to church on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation.
My question is: should I tell him? I’m again pretty sure he still wont go, but then he really will be committing a mortal sin because now he has full knowledge and choosing to commit the sin anyway.
Hope this makes sense.
Please help

 

[guanophore]

should I tell him?

Just telling someone they are doing something wrong does not necessarily meet the criteria.

What might work better is for you to talk to your brother about your love of the Mass, how you encounter Jesus, and infuse him with an eagerness to know Life present in the Eucharist as you do.

Many Catholics have been sacramentalized, but not evangelized. What makes a person desire to participate in the Mass is a personal encounter with the Risen Lord. People usually encounter this first in the lives of people they know who are on fire for Jesus.

Also, pray for him at every Mass you attend, so that one day, you can pray with him at your side.

 

[GospelOfMatthew]

Mortal sin requires full knowledge. So by definition, if you don’t know it’s not mortal. But you know so if you don’t tell him that’s bad on your part but I would talk with a Priest

 

[Leftylucie]

That sounds like a good idea…I might just try that…thank you!

 

[Vico]

…

Catechism

1860 Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense. …

1790 A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If he were deliberately to act against it, he would condemn himself. Yet it can happen that moral conscience remains in ignorance and makes erroneous judgments about acts to be performed or already committed.

1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man "takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin."59 In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.

 

[rome617]

Requirements for mortal sin are:

Grave Matter - if he is baptized it is grave matter

Consent - He is making a choice not to go as far as I’m informed.

And, Full Knowledge - I can’t say for sure if he fits this criteria. You could make a guess, but only he and God know if he is aware.

You can pray for him and set an example of a practicing, faithful, Catholic. It isn’t easy, (in fact, not achievable) and by no means have I succeeded in this, but be an example by character and devotion, it is our duty. Prayer will help you and your brother, as well as many, on your spiritual journey.

:heart:God Bless

 

[Leftylucie]

Thank you, Rome617!

 

[Leftylucie]

I guess many, many Catholics are going to hell because they miss Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation…

 

[Ryan1]

The requirements for mortal sin are a good guide for how we approach discussing the public sins of others.

We should help to impress upon others the gravity of the sin, that the action is a sin, and the harm of sin more generally.

We should address obstacles which may be interefering with freedom, giving them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe someone is making demands on his time, making it difficult to attend mass, etc.

 

[Ryan1]

We cannot conclude that they are going to hell. That they are sinning is objectively true, unless dispensed from the obligation to worship.

The other side of the coin is that Catholics have a right to worship at mass, and those who impede us in our worship sin in doing so.

 

[poche]

How old is your brother and how old are you?
What kind of a relationship do you have with him?