Is this a mortal sin?

[FMLJoliecouer]

I am sure this question has been asked and answered before but I guess I need to know the why part

Is masturbation considered a mortal sin that must be confessed in the sacrament of penance?

If so…even though I do understand what God intended sex for…for union of husband and wife and for procreation (God willing), I do not see why masturbation is so bad.

By the way…I do follow the Churchs teachings on it anyway…but I am too embarrased to ask anyone in person if it is a mortal sin.

 

[HCC]

Mortal Sin 101-

It takes 3 things to commit a mortal sin:

1. It has to be a “grievous” matter. A serious violation of one of The 10 Commandments or precepts of the Church.
2. There has to be sufficient reflection.
3. There has to be full consent of the will.

If one of those things is missing, you have not committed a mortal sin.

The Catechism on masturbation:

2352 By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. "Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action."137 “The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.” For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of "the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved."138

To form an equitable judgment about the subjects’ moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors that lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.

Speak to your confessor about this…trust me, he has heard that and far worse. The sacrament is there to help heal you of sin, God is there operating through the priest, there is no reason to hold back.

 

[baltobetsy]

If you hop over to the Moral Theology board, you can find literally hundreds of threads on this very topic, ranging from the “why” question you have asked to the “how” of overcoming it.


Betsy

 

[bkayw]

Short answer:

Yes. It’s a sin against chastity.

It’s a compulsive addictive behavior that harms your connection to the Holy Family and to other Christians.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Mortal Sin 101-

It takes 3 things to commit a mortal sin:

1. It has to be a “grievous” matter. A serious violation of one of The 10 Commandments or precepts of the Church.
2. There has to be sufficient reflection.
3. There has to be full consent of the will.

If one of those things is missing, you have not committed a mortal sin.

This is right on, and I think people forget it too often…

in any case, I just want to back this up and say that masturbation is by nature a grave sin but only you can make it mortal.

 

[Tietjen]

I am sure this question has been asked and answered before but I guess I need to know the why part

Is masturbation considered a mortal sin that must be confessed in the sacrament of penance?

If so…even though I do understand what God intended sex for…for union of husband and wife and for procreation (God willing), I do not see why masturbation is so bad.

By the way…I do follow the Churchs teachings on it anyway…but I am too embarrased to ask anyone in person if it is a mortal sin.

The act is “Grave Matter”. As to whether or not it is a mortal sin, there are two other elements which need to be present:

1. Knowledge that the act is grave
2. Free will (that is, knowing that the act is grave, and participating anyway)

 

[Bookcat]

Yes it is a “grave matter” for mortal sin (also called grave sin or serious sin…same thing).

if done with full knowledge and complete consent …

read the Catechism on this under the 6th commandment.

(yes one should go to confession)

 

[hartleymartin]

Do your best to overcome it. Masturbation is often accompanied by another grave sin against chastity - pornography. This can be a real soul-destroying act, by its addictive nature.

 

[johnnykins]

Be sure and keep a few things in mind. Note that the Church in the catechism calls this a “disordered action.” See the post above.

This is NOT a psychological commentary. The Church has no particular charism on psychiatry/psychology. It is a commentary on the order of God’s creation.

It is a comment that this particular sin, like homosexuality and fornication, is not a sin that by its nature causes direct harm to another or directly offends God’s majesty (cf., murder, theft, rape, idolatry, etc., all of which by their nature directly offend God or another.) Rather, it is sinful because it is an act outside the “order” that God has ordained. Hence, “disordered.”

Now, all sin is disordered, but the sins like murder and idolatry have an aspect of causing direct offense/harm to another, while this sort of sin is voluntarily done and causes indirect offense to God though perverting the proper - ordered - use of our faculties, in this case sex.

The key here is not to become scrupulous, but to strive toward perfection, while acknowledging our sinfulness. Remember, all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Also remember, to even look at another with lust in your heart is sinful. With that understanding, we see that we all are susceptible to, and in fact commit, sin and all need forgiveness.

So, keep an even keel. Do not despair; one thief was saved. Do not presume; one thief was condemned. Acknowledge our fallen human nature, trust in God’s infinite love, forgive others and keep on the pilgrim’s path with God’s help. In that way, as you sin throughout this life, as you certainly will, you will grow in love for God and our fellow man without becoming scrupulous, judgmental or neurotic. And, maybe in the end, you will become perfect as Christ was perfect.

 

[FMLJoliecouer]

Thanks to all for you answers. I havent really had a problem with masturbation since going on meds for depression and anxiety. Fortuneately the drugs also pretty much kill my sex drive, which is fine with me, since I am single and plan to stay that way.

I guess though my conscience needs work though…because the odd time I do masturbate, I never feel that I am offending God and so dont feel the need to repent. I am new to the faith however…so God is still working on me…

 

[StevenDunn]

I am sure this question has been asked and answered before but I guess I need to know the why part

Is masturbation considered a mortal sin that must be confessed in the sacrament of penance?

If so…even though I do understand what God intended sex for…for union of husband and wife and for procreation (God willing), I do not see why masturbation is so bad.

By the way…I do follow the Churchs teachings on it anyway…but I am too embarrased to ask anyone in person if it is a mortal sin.

Almost every religious young man goes through this phase. Here’s the simplest answer: yes, it’s a sin. Stop doing it. I know it’s hard. Talk to a trustworthy and faith-filled older man about it. Get out of this phase as soon as possible so you can move on to the adult world of complex, rewarding relationships. And when you do move on remain chaste.