Is it ever too late to avoid a sin?

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Jabronie

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What happens when you are planning to committ a mortal sin, but at the very last second wisen up and change your mind? Have you still committed a sin because of the intent?
 
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Jabronie:
What happens when you are planning to committ a mortal sin, but at the very last second wisen up and change your mind? Have you still committed a sin because of the intent?
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NO
 
There is a very small book entitled Aim Higher - spiritual and marian reflections of St. Maximilian Kolbe - which, in chapter 15, Temptations, gives an easy explanation of your subject matter.
Perhaps you might consider getting it for yourself, or know someone who has it.

If it’s not against forum policy, I don’t mind typing the relatively short chapter.
Meanwhile, avoiding sin of any kind is always a good. Some penance regarding what in mind/soul/heart that led to the pondering of sin is also a good.
 
I tried in the past to ask a very similar question and the overwhelming response that I received was that while the underlying mortal sin was not committed the mortal sin of being in a near occasion of sin was committed.
I am not sure I agree that that is true, but that is a fair summary of the responses I received.
 
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Jabronie:
What happens when you are planning to committ a mortal sin, but at the very last second wisen up and change your mind? Have you still committed a sin because of the intent?
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Actually, yes, but it kind of depends what’s really going on in your mind. If you are actively planning to, say, loosen the lug nuts on somebody’s tire so that it will fall off on the highway and cause a potentially deadly accident, then that is mortally sinful. He that is angry with his brother is liable to the fire of hell, and all that. It doesn’t matter if you get to the hardware store and realize that you don’t have enough money to buy a crowbar; the intent was enough to make it serious.

On the other hand, if you are simply thinking about how you might commit a mortal sin without actually intending to do so, then that would not be morally sinful (I think), though it may be a near occasion of sin. For instance, a mystery novelist needs to understand how a person plans and commits a murder, even though the novelist has no intention of doing the same.

I think the important thing is to simply not plan to commit any mortal sins. Sometimes the devil messes with our heads with wicked thoughts so that we think we are consenting when we are really only being bombarded. Temptation, like an invading force, stops only when we surrender or fight back to the death. If we stand firm and constantly ask for God’s assistance, the temptation will eventually quell and cease. We might only think we are planning to sin when in fact the devil is just laying out step by step how we may do so. Sometimes we can’t sort all this out until it’s over.
 
If you didn’t commit the act, you didn’t commit the act. One may have commited the sin of having improperly disposed thoughts but inorder to commit a mortal sin one must commit the act.
 
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bogeyjlg:
If you didn’t commit the act, you didn’t commit the act. One may have commited the sin of having improperly disposed thoughts but inorder to commit a mortal sin one must commit the act.
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But this depends much on the type of sin, doesn’t it? A sexual thought may be sinful if it is indulged, even if there is no outward or physical manifestation of the sin. In this case, one has committed an act, albeit a purely mental act.
 
St. Gimp:
But this depends much on the type of sin, doesn’t it? A sexual thought may be sinful if it is indulged, even if there is no outward or physical manifestation of the sin. In this case, one has committed an act, albeit a purely mental act.
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If you didn’t commit the act, you didn’t commit the act. One may have commited the sin of having improperly disposed thoughts but inorder to commit a mortal sin one must commit the act.
 
**Jabronie, 🙂 **

This is a tricky one; but I will attempt an answer.

You didn’t carry through will the intended sin, so that must please God; however, you had contemplated the sin, so perhaps you should admit to it in confession. I arrive at this conclusion due to the statements (paraphrased) in the bible saying about those who think of a sinful act, have commited the act in their minds…i.e…lusting after someone whilst attached to someone else, is adultery.
If you aren’t certain of the gravity of the act / thought, then I would discuss it with your Priest.
Peace and love
 
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