Is it a mortal sin to violate the Lenten penance?

[justbeinfrank]

The other day at a church function my pastor was nice enough to buy some brownies for two of my friends. (He didn’t buy one for me because he knew that I’d given up sweets for Lent.)

But, as it turns out, both of my friends *also *apparenty had given up chocolate or sweets for Lent. So one of them (Friend “A”) refused the brownie.

And then I ate that brownie – knowing that it would violate my Lenten sacrifice – because I was afraid the priest would feel awkward if he was rejected by people for whom he had tried to perform an act of kindness.

THEN, the other friend (Friend “B”), asked me if *she *should eat hers. I neglected to ask, but I assumed that she was unsure because she, too, had given up chocolate or sweets for Lent. I told her to go ahead and eat it, and she did.

What is my culpability here? Did I commit a grave sin by violating my own Lenten sacrifice and then encouraging somebody else to do the same?

 

[turboEDvo]

I could be mistaken on this one, but I think I read that any personal sacrifices made during Lent are at the discression of the individual. They are not bound by the church. Now, as for bringing someone else to violate their Lenten promise, maybe it’s a sin. It kinda depends on intent. You weren’t violating your promise to spite God, but rather to make your priest feel more comfortable.

Eamon

 

[puzzleannie]

justbeinfrank:

What is my culpability here? Did I commit a grave sin by violating my own Lenten sacrifice and then encouraging somebody else to do the same?

an act of charity always trumps a penitential act, but there is no need to discuss it or analyze it. a resolve to voluntarily undertake a penance is not a solemn vow, and no sin is involved if you slip up.

 

[Scout]

puzzleannie:

an act of charity always trumps a penitential act, but there is no need to discuss it or analyze it. a resolve to voluntarily undertake a penance is not a solemn vow, and no sin is involved if you slip up.

I was just wondering…Is it a sin if you break the Church’s fast and eat meat on Fridays during Lent?
Scout:tiphat:

 

[Windmill]

Grave sin if you eat meat on a Lenten Friday, also if you don’t fast on Good friday / Ash wednesday. The sin comes from willful disobedience of Church authority.It is not grave sin to “violate” your personal sacrifices during lent. These are discretionary and encouraged, but not binding by Church law.

 

[Lamb100]

I’m very confused about this one, too. I’ve heard that it’s mortal sin to not abstain and fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Not sure about the abstaining (it’s abstaining, not fasting) on Lenten Fridays–that may not be a mortal sin–not sure. The personal penances are, I think, either venial or not sins at all if you don’t do them; I’m pretty sure you can change them, too, since they’re between you and God.

However–I really don’t know! The mortal sin–Ash Wed./Good Fri. one I got from the website of our indult Tridentine mass church. Since they’re loyal to the Pope, I assume it’s correct, but possibly they’re still going by pre-Vat. II disciplines?

Sure wish I knew! I just act as though all but personal penances are mortal sins, and try real hard not to forget anything!

I pray and believe God does honor our earnest desire to please him by wanting to do the right thing.

 

[Windmill]

It’s a grave sin to knowingly break the fasts of Ash Wednesday or Good Friday.

It’s a grave sin to break the rule of abstinence on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Lenten Fridays.

The relevant law is found in Paul VI’s 1966 apostolic constitution Paenitemini, which provides that:
The time of Lent preserves its penitential character. The days of penitence to be observed under obligation through-out the Church are all Fridays and Ash Wednesday, that is to say the first days of “Grande Quaresima” (Great Lent), according to the diversity of the rite. Their substantial observance binds gravely [Norm II §1

 

[Lamb100]

Windmill, for what it’s worth, I went back and looked at the site for the Latin Rite church in Atlanta–St. Francis de Sales. Under the most recent bulletin is where I saw the rules. They say it’s only mortal sin to miss the Ash Wednesday and Good Friday fast and abstinence. So missing Lenten Fridays would not be a mortal sin, according to my reading of their bulletin.

It’s a little unclear from the way it’s phrased whether it’s not a sin at all to miss the other Lenten Fridays (or whether they’re referring to missing all Fridays in general). Logically, I would think it would be a venial sin to miss Lenten Fridays (but that’s just my guess–don’t quote me!) See: www.francisdesales.com/bulletin.html.

What do you all think?
:whacky:

 

[Luvadoxi]

Hi, I’m pretty sure I’m also Lamb100–kind of forgot my other name it was so long ago. But I think I was wrong there–and that Windmill is right–it’s also mortal sin to deliberately not abstain on all Fridays of Lent, as well as Ash Wednesday (fast and abstain) and Good Friday (fast and abstain). I can’t find the bulletin I was referring to 3 years ago, but everything I’ve read points to my post being incorrect.

What I’m not sure about is–in the US, what kind of sin, if any, is involved in not doing a Friday penance on a regular Friday?

 

[puzzleannie]

Since there is no obligation to give up sweets or anything else during Lent, other than the prescribed fast and abstinence rules for your rite and country, it follow that it cannot be sinful if you eat something you had privately decided to “give up.” Even breaking the prescribed rules cannot be a mortal sin unless you decide to break them for the express purpose of sinning and rejecting the authority of the Church in making the prescription. Accident, forgetfulness, low blood sugar or any other reason does not make it a sin. No one can commit a mortal sin by accident.

If one find’s himself obsessing about details like this it may be time to speak with one’s confessor about falling prey to scrupulosity.