Is this a fair measurement of the third condition for mortal sin?

[McatholicN]

To meet the third requirement for mortal sin, you must give consent that would be equal to the consent of signing a check for a million dollars.

 

[StrawberryJam]

To meet the third requirement for mortal sin, you must give consent that would be equal to signing a check for a million dollars.

I’m not challenging you, but asking you to provide the three conditions that must be met as most of us are aware of. For those who are not aware.

Your analogy breaks down as most do if one examines the details carefully.

Can everyone in your example give consent? Who can and who can not?

Let’s look at the three conditions, and then ask it again.

 

[Monica4316]

I was told that yes, that is so

“full consent” is consent of the will… there’s no such thing as “half consent”. Either you consent to it, or you don’t. When you do, you KNOW you have consented… just as if you had signed a cheque. It doesn’t have to be an action, it can be a thought, but the consent part is necessary.

Has anyone told you otherwise? because I’ve never been told another definition of “full consent”. I should say though that I struggle with scrupulosity, so my priest gave advice that is suited for my situation. If a person has a very lax conscience, for example, it might be somewhat different for them, I don’t know. I suggest talking to a priest about this.

God bless

 

[Monica4316]

It might help you to read these (short) chapters from Introduction to the Devout Life by St Francis de Sales, because he talks about what is meant by consent, in mortal sin. (especially the first few chapters). It doesn’t contradict what you said. Basically, consent is when: you not only get a temptation… but you want it and then choose it. It’s a choice of the will. If you get a thought that you don’t want, and you block it as soon as you’re aware of it, that is not full consent. If when you’re aware of it you STILL choose it, that is full consent. Again, if in doubt, talk to a priest.

ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.vi.iii.html

ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.vi.iv.html

ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.vi.v.html

ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.vi.vi.html

ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.vi.vii.html

ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.vi.viii.html

ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.vi.ix.html

ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.vi.x.html

ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life.vi.xi.html

 

[Earnest_Bunbury]

The three powers of the soul are intellect, will, and passion. A passion that would precede the act of the will like habit or addiction lessens the full consent of the will, even to the point of nullifying consent. The aforementioned passion may also precede the act of the intellect, passions such as anger anxiety or fear.

We may be unaware of these things affecting us. We can only go with what we know and err on the side of caution but not to the point of being scrupulous.

And we certainly cannot judge the consent or knowledge of any one else, even if we told them something explicitly and watched them doing it. It is a judgment reserved to the person in their heart and left to the judging of God. Matt 19:25-26 …the disciples wondered very much, saying: Who then can be saved? And Jesus beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.