Is looking at someone lustfully a mortal sin?

[Angel7]

I tend to see pictures of celebrities, some with their backs turned where you can see a certain body feature. At first there is a sexual arousal but if anything lustful comes up, I try my best to ignore it and offer it up to God. But I keep on looking at these body features because I’m attracted to them. Is that a mortal sin? I’m not sure whether or not I’m committing lust. Could someone please answer me because I’m really confused and am miserable because I have no idea what state my soul is in and I just went to Confession recently and don’t know if I need to go back. Hopefully the priest doesn’t get sick of seeing me too much.

If you find yourself recieving The Sacrament Of Reconciliation often, particularly to Confess sins of a Lustful category. You should ask your Confessor if you are Scrupulous. Check to See if you are Scrupulous. If you are indeed one who struggles with Scrupulousity, then go and visit Scrupulous Anonymous, they have archives of Newsletters on how to deal with it, you’ll need help. Just becareful, talk to your Confessor, and listen to what he says.

 

[Mr.Blank1.5]

For the sake of getting a clear answer…

If someone were to look at a person without having engaging in sexual fantasizing or for getting aroused on purpose, then there is no lust correct?
In other words, if I looked at a woman and thought something like “she has pretty legs” and nothing more, then there is no lust?

 

[OraLabora]

For the sake of getting a clear answer…

If someone were to look at a person without having engaging in sexual fantasizing or for getting aroused on purpose, then there is no lust correct?
In other words, if I looked at a woman and thought something like “she has pretty legs” and nothing more, then there is no lust?

Well today I had a insurance medical by a young nurse with nice breasts and clothes that showed of a huge amount of cleavage.

I wouldn’t be a man if I didn’t notice.

I won’t be going to confession over it.

 

[Bookcat]

For the sake of getting a clear answer…

If someone were to look at a person without having engaging in sexual fantasizing or for getting aroused on purpose, then there is no lust correct?
In other words, if I looked at a woman and thought something like “she has pretty legs” and nothing more, then there is no lust?

To look at a beautiful woman and think – nice form- or she is beautiful and not intend or consent to sexual thoughts or getting aroused – this is not lust.

Jesus said that he who looks at a woman in order to lust has committed adulry …not he who looks at a woman and notices she is beautiful.

But of course know your self and use reasonable custody of the eyes (like for those who are dressed very immodestly…) See the link i gave above to jimmy akins post on the subject.

 

[Nausicaa]

My opinion:
It’s not a mortal sin.
To me, a mortal sin is something which harms others or yourself with full knowledge of its consequences. If you went on to have a one night stand or something, then it’s a mortal sin, but whatever happens in your head and loins is harmless.
That’s my 0.02.

 

[Bookcat]

My opinion:
It’s not a mortal sin.
To me, a mortal sin is something which harms others or yourself with full knowledge of its consequences. If you went on to have a one night stand or something, then it’s a mortal sin, but whatever happens in your head and loins is harmless.
That’s my 0.02.

i have already answered the orgininal question…but as to this answer i must say it is not correct. to look lustfully is a grave matter for mortal sin …as Jesus pointed out. He who looks at a woman in order to lust has already commited adultry in his heart…

it was his very point that what happens in ones head can be serious…

 

[PassingThru]

My wife (Catholic) put it in a way that makes a lot of sense to me. She is fully aware of what an attractive woman is, and is fully aware that I will surely notice. Her basic premise is this: “Honestly, I think if you DIDN’T notice, I would be very worried about you!” Which is actually quite true. She loves to rib me when Mark Sanchez (NY Jets QB) pops on screen and how hot he is. How would that fact bother me? Am I really to believe she DOESN’T find some hunk attractive!!! If she doesn’t think Brad Pitt is hot, I don’t have a chance in hell!!!

 

[DL82]

OK, here’s a specific situation. I look up an old friend on Facebook, I used to (and perhaps still do) find her attractive, I look at her photos to see what she looks like now, but notice that I am beginning to react in a lustful way toward them, and so turn away and am immediately wracked with guilt.

Was the act of looking for photos, thus actively choosing to look at someone I find attractive, a sin? Was it a mortal sin?

 

[John_Pascendi]

i have already answered the orgininal question…but as to this answer i must say it is not correct. to look lustfully is a grave matter for mortal sin …as Jesus pointed out. He who looks at a woman in order to lust has already commited adultry in his heart…

it was his very point that what happens in ones head can be serious…

well,be careful of just what you do…dont do the 'hi,dear,sorry to wake you,Im going out to play a few rounds of golf"…“but but dear,its one am in the morning?” " I know,dont worry I 'll have fun anyway!"…fantasy may lead to more serious consequences so its best to be four square honest and faithful to ones partner in life!..Pas

 

[gingle]

hi my confessor said its also the intention as to why you are looking , problem is i had an issue i googled something for work then half naked women popped up , i tried not looking but afterward had a look at a picture of a woman in a bikini , i had no thoughts and i cant seem to think why i looked at the picture again because i wated to avoid this and now ive been worried i sinned mortally

 

[Bookcat]

hi my confessor said its also the intention as to why you are looking , problem is i had an issue i googled something for work then half naked women popped up , i tried not looking but afterward had a look at a picture of a woman in a bikini , i had no thoughts and i cant seem to think why i looked at the picture again because i wated to avoid this and now ive been worried i sinned mortally

Mortal sin requires…not only grave matter …but full knowledge and complete consent!

So when one questions “did I commit a mortal sin” they have to ask if those three things where there…

and by the way…some things just “draw the eyes” before we have time to even say yes or no…then of course we look away if the it is something we should not look at…

and such can be “NO SIN” at all…

and just cause your eyes went back for a second look at a woman in a bikini…does not mean it was a mortal sin!..that you lusted!..it can still be sort of “automatic” even…or curiosity…or an “immodest” look that is not serious…but venial…etc (but still to be avoided…with non-stressful ways)

Now if one goes back to lust…to have thoughts…to be aroused…etc …that is different…

Now not to say that one should “look at women in bikini’s” …one need a reasonable custody of the eyes…but often they pop up uninvited etc…and you happen to see them…

 

[sidbrown]

To look at a beautiful woman and think – nice form- or she is beautiful and not intend or consent to sexual thoughts or getting aroused – this is not lust.

Jesus said that he who looks at a woman in order to lust has committed adulry …not he who looks at a woman and notices she is beautiful.

But of course know your self and use reasonable custody of the eyes (like for those who are dressed very immodestly…) See the link i gave above to jimmy akins post on the subject.

Muslim women dress quite modestly and in many countries they cover their heads in public. I noticed that since Vatican II, most Catholic women are not concerned at all about covering their heads modestly in Church. And many Catholic women regularly come to Church with tight fitting sexy jeans, instead of modest dresses. Another thing about Muslim women is that apparently they love children and large families. At least that’s the way it looks in Europe today where Muslim families tend to be a lot larger than Catholic families amd this demographic fact has been raising some concern amond the Christian European politicians.
The fact is that if women would dress modestly, this problem of looking at a women lusfgully would not arise as often as when women are dressed in an immodest fashion,.

 

[McatholicN]

I think it was said very well in a similar thread:

If a lustful thought or feeling comes over you, it is not a sin. But if you dwell on it, it becomes a mortal sin. Remember, mortal sin is no little mistake, it is complete, full consent separation from God.

 

[McatholicN]

I think it was said very well in a similar thread:

If a lustful thought or feeling comes over you, it is not a sin. But if you dwell on it, it becomes a mortal sin. Remember, mortal sin is no little mistake, it is complete, full consent separation from God.

It needs full consent.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I would say to the OP to ask someone from Catholic Answers or EWTN who is qualified to answer this: a priest or serious apologist, not us folks…

 

[Bookcat]

I would say to the OP to ask someone from Catholic Answers or EWTN who is qualified to answer this: a priest or serious apologist, not us folks…

Old…thread…not to be “revived” as per the rules…

(and by the way I have a degree in Theology from Franciscan of Steubenville if that helps ya…and Pope Benedict XVI signs off on all my answers…oh wait…that last part was not true…must have been a dream)

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Oh my goodness! Thanks Bookcat! I totally didn’t even look at the date! Thanks!!
gurney

Old…thread…not to be “revived” as per the rules…

(and by the way I have a degree in Theology from Franciscan of Steubenville if that helps ya…and Pope Benedict XVI signs off on all my answers…oh wait…that last part was not true…must have been a dream)

 

[GoldenString]

I understand that looking at women or images of women with sexual thoughts or to purposely physically arouse yourself is a mortal sin… But what I don’t fully understand is if it’s a mortal sin if you see a women, especially an immodestly dressed women, and keep looking while feeling sexually (not physically) aroused. This is without any impure thoughts, such as wishing to see them unclothed or to commit sexual acts with them. At this point you are at the very least putting yourself into a great occasion of sin… Is that in itself a mortal sin? Also, I’ve known that it’s possibly a mortal sin but done it anyway, does that mean I’ve committed a mortal sin and need to seek reconciliation? Thanks!