Is this a mortal sin?

[howareyou1]

Hi. How are you?

So, I’m a single guy in my mid 20’s… The other day I was in church…I was waiting for the mass to begin. Then when the mass begun, a woman, her husband and children sat in front of me… The lady was wearing a kind of short skirt… And unfortunately, I stared at her legs, I did it for like 40 seconds during the whole mass. Now, I wasn’t lusting after her… I respect women, and specially married women… I guess i was just admiring the beauty of her legs… Just like i admire the beauty of the flowers… and sometimes i admire the beauty of a person’s eyes… So, when I analyze all that, i feel like i didn’t commit any sin… But for some reason i feel like i committed a mortal sin… Do you think I committed a mortal sin?
Thank you.

 

[1_with_God]

No, you did not commit a mortal sin. Pray more, look less, and you will feel oh so good about yourself! :yup:

 

[RPRPsych]

Hi. How are you?

So, I’m a single guy in my mid 20’s… The other day I was in church…I was waiting for the mass to begin. Then when the mass begun, a woman, her husband and children sat in front of me… The lady was wearing a kind of short skirt… And unfortunately, I stared at her legs, I did it for like 40 seconds during the whole mass. Now, I wasn’t lusting after her… I respect women, and specially married women… I guess i was just admiring the beauty of her legs… Just like i admire the beauty of the flowers… and sometimes i admire the beauty of a person’s eyes… So, when I analyze all that, i feel like i didn’t commit any sin… But for some reason i feel like i committed a mortal sin… Do you think I committed a mortal sin?
Thank you.

Nope, I’m not even sure that was a venial sin in the first place.

But if this is a concern to you (or if it leads to lustful thoughts) then do what I do when something distracts me (noisy kids are my personal cross; I immediately start thinking uncharitable thoughts about spanking them, diagnosing them with ADHD, or giving their parents a piece of my mind) - look up at the Cross. Or if there’s some nice stained glass in your church, admire that instead.

 

[philial]

You did well to get away without lustful thoughts! I wish I’d had your sense of restraint when i was in my mid-20’s - life would have been much less complicated! And, yes, women are beautiful… the Lord certainly knew what he was doing with Eve…

 

[cheezey]

You did well to get away without lustful thoughts! I wish I’d had your sense of restraint when i was in my mid-20’s - life would have been much less complicated! And, yes, women are beautiful… the Lord certainly knew what he was doing with Eve…

Yes, God made us beautiful, some of you a bit more so than others. One can admire without lustful thoughts, though in the 20s, difficult to do, so you are doing well.