Is it possible to never commit Mortal sin?

  • Thread starter Thread starter pwlj_christ871
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
What if you die on that desert island before you can go to confession?
 
That is the beauty of it. The pure love in an act of perfect contrition is enough so that you are back together with God. So, you will be okay! 😎
 
Hope in God’s mercy.

We have only received revelation about the efficacy of the sacraments, and so are limited in our declarations to those sacraments. God is not limited by the sacraments, and so may chose to operate outside of them. If you are in a position where you genuinely cannot make it to confession, then try to best to give a perfect act of contrition and pray for mercy. It’s not a guarantee, but a truly repentant sinner should have hop e in God’s mercy.
 
Speaking as a once a week-er, if I were in my 70’s I’d probably also be going to confession more regularly… just in case.
 
That is the beauty of it. The pure love in an act of perfect contrition is enough so that you are back together with God. So, you will be okay! 😎
Be careful here. We may think we’re giving a perfect act of contrition, but we cannot be sure. We should certainly do our best, and we have reason to hope, but it is far from the assurance you seem to be indicating here.
 
My biggest concern or fear is what if you disagree on what exactly makes a sin mortal? Or even more to the point, what if you are doing something you truly believe in your heart is not a sin, but others would consider it so?
 
It is assurance in one way, on God’s part, but then we are humans and it is not, therefore, in another way. But I think the original poster needs to trust God. God will help you if you cooperate.

Then one might ask, but how can I know that I, a human, will cooperate? I hung up on that point for many, many years of pain, knowing I could never be relied upon to cooperate at the right time. The answer is to rely on God to help you. Yes I have no likelihood of cooperating, being me, but God, God is a God of mercy, slow to anger, showing mercy to the thousandth generation. He sent his only Son. God will do more for me than I ever will for myself. I will trust him. That is better than any reliance upon myself.

Edit: This means I pray for the grace of perseverance every day.
 
Last edited:
Of course. Infants and children, for instance. Then there’s Mary, most obviously. I’m not even sure if the severely mentally handicapped are capable of mortal sin.
 
I would imagine that small children could not commit mortal sin, but it would take a very diligent adult and a lot of grace not to fall into sin at least once in one’s teen and/or adult years.
 
I read that according to St. Padre Pio’s confessor that he was able to preserve his baptismal innocence.
 
Certainly it is possible, and it happens because there are countless individuals who die before they reach the age of reason, or lose the ability to reason in youth or are born with mental infirmity that precludes them from ever entering into mortal sin.
 
If something were impossible to avoid, it wouldn’t be a choice, and therefore wouldn’t be a sin. It is not impossible to avoid mortal sin; it is just very easy to fall into the trap.

I forget which saint said it, but I remember reading that God always provides the grace to resist temptation if we ask for it and our sincerely open to it.

As for people in the confession line, don’t assume they have committed mortal sins. People also go to receive forgiveness for venial sins as well. Many priests recommend monthly confession.
 
My biggest concern or fear is what if you disagree on what exactly makes a sin mortal? Or even more to the point, what if you are doing something you truly believe in your heart is not a sin, but others would consider it so?
This happens alot in our time and age, where sinful behaviour is accepted and even considered healty by some. Especially regarding sexuality. (I was in this situation too)

My best advice would be, let Christ conform you slowly. Pray, go to mass, go to confession if possible, adoration, be active in your parish. You’ll slowly see why some things are sinful and offend God when we commit it.

About the original question, yes it should be possible. Other posters have given out examples so I’m not gonna bother.
 
I am asking whether or not it is possible to go out without ever committing mortal sin.
Yes, it is possible never to commit a Mortal sin. St. Therese of Lisieux was told by her confessor that in his estimation she had never committed a mortal sin.
does God know we are going to stumble over and over, or does he expect us not to?
Jesus asked us to be perfect as His Father is perfect. He also provided us with the Sacrament of Reconciliation through the Church that He established. So yes, He expects us not to but He knows that we will continue to stumble.
yet I see people in their like 70’s at the confessional all the time
I’m not in my 70’s and I go to Confession every week. Seldom, seldom, seldom do I have a mortal sin to confess - it’s all venial sins and faults that I confess. The following Church documents support the confession of venial sins:

Canon Law 988 §2.
It is recommended to the Christian faithful that they also confess venial sins.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1458
Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:……
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1493
One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience. The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
 
Hi @pwlj_christ871, @Oneofthewomen,

I also agree with your post, too. 🙂

I second this, and I was about to say the exact same thing–that we need to trust in God’s Mercy.

We still need to do our best to try and get to Confession.

However, if something were to happen to prevent that, like an accident or something impossibly dire like that that, where it was impossible to do so, I personally would trust in God’s Mercy, and I would also make an act of perfect contrition, too.
 
Last edited:
Praying :pray:t2: When is the next chance you can go to confession? In my parish, confessions are available for an hour on Saturday afternoons and a half hour on Saturday evening, as well as by appointment. If you don’t think that you can wait till Saturday, call the parish office and ask for an appointment for confession. If you don’t want to go to your parish for confession, then go to a neighboring parish, either during their regular confession time, or make an appointment.
 
Saint Therese 's confessor assured her that she had never committed a mortal sin. (“Story of a Soul” )
It’s possible to live without committing a grave sin., and one hopes it will be so in our own lives.
 
I’m pretty sure many saints never committed a mortal sin. As for people who go to confession all the time, getting rid of venial sins and getting advice through Confession is a good practice, regardless of whether you think you’ve also committed a possible mortal sin. I go about every 2 weeks and I would hope I am not committing mortal sins every week. I try very hard not to. But I need the grace from confession, also to get used to going and to meet conditions for indulgences I try to earn for the souls in Purgatory.

Think of it like cleaning your teeth. You don’t wait till you have a big cavity to get your teeth cleaned, and you don’t wait till you have a big mortal sin to get your soul cleaned.
 
I can relate. Sometimes I feel like God puts all these burdens on me and gets angry when I break. It also doesn’t help that I’ve been in line for confession for two months but they always run out of time when it’s almost my turn. Sometimes I feel like God is playing a mean practical joke on me, smh
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top