Missing Mass = Mortal Sin?

[neophyte]

Thanks for your quick replies.

Unfortunately, my mother-in-law is arriving to day so that’ll have to end shortly. (Don’t misunderstand, I like my MIL a whole bunch)

Could you explain what you mean that you found Protestantism to be legalistic?

Only briefly. Think about the teaching that only those who have explicitly accepted Christ can be saved. That means that those who have never heard the gospel due to no fault of their own, and who aren’t capable of explicitly rejecting Christ, will still be doomed even if they respond positively to the knowledge of God that is given to everyone. That’s legalism at its finest, it turns God into one who demands the impossible of us and makes mockery of his justice.

Thank you!

My pleasure.

I just remembered, there’s a really good book entitled “Frequent Confession: Its Role in the Spiritual Life”, by Benedict Baur. I highly recommend it.

Gotta go.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

P.S.

The idea of missing mass as a mortal sin was the example that brought this up in my mind, but I don’t want to limit it to just that as it may detract from the argument as a whole.

My worries are larger than any one particular mortal sin. Say I see a pretty and have a ful thought about her. I would think that would be a mortal sin, since I am married, am knowledgeable that I shouldn’t, and know Christ said this was the same as ery. Now I have committed a mortal sin.

If I die before I make it to confession, would I go to Hell?

It’s not just mass, or , it’s all of them (and I realize their is no list). Is it just based on timing? If I commit a mortal sin, but die at work before I can get to confession, would I go to Hell? The timing issue is a problem for Evangelicals as well, I believe. If a child steals a cookie from his parents and is asked about it and lies, he has committed a sin because he knowing has lied. He knows its wrong. Now if he dies, does that sin condemn him to hell, even though later in his life he might have accept Christ and hadn’t as a child? I don’t think the “age of accountability” would apply here, because the child knows that lying is wrong. To have that understanding would seem to negate that age of accountability argument. I realize it’s not the best analogy but I hope it helps.

It’s very unsettling. But I also realize the serious of sin, that I really have forgotten. I realize when Christ was asked what a person must do to inherit eternal life he did say “obey the commandments.”

Temptation itself is not a sin, otherwise Christ Himself would have sinned since He was Tempted by satan.

 

[TheWay]

bmw, here’s how I look at it. at the end of the day, Catholic, Protestant, or other, we all have to trust in God’s mercy. We do the best we can and we can’t scruple over what we can’t control. It’s my understanding that an act of perfect contrition removes mortal sin. For a Catholic this would involve, obviously, the intention to go to confession if one is not able to do so.

As has been pointed out, mortal sin requires grave matter, full knowledge of the evil of the act, and full consent of the will. I’m not a moral theologian and I’m a new Catholic so I’m open to correction from others on any of the above or the following. If an act involves grave matter but the person is not aware that the act is gravely sinful, the conditions for mortal sin have not been met. Similarly, if full consent of the will is lacking, the conditions for mortal sin have not been met, even though grave matter is present. However, the very conditions of mortal sin prevent any serious Catholic from even the possibility of using the conditions themselves as an excuse to commit grave sin.

 

[jmcrae]

T
-Say a person is Catholic, has a relationship with Christ, has repented of his sins, and is loving others more than himself. Say he’s living a really pious life of charity and love and constantly puts others above himself. He’s put his trust in Christ for the forgiveness of his sins and knows he can’t earn his salvation. He realizes his “works” are because of Christ and not of his own doing. He’s in state of grace, goes to mass weekly, the whole nine yards. Then let’s say at 70, he sleeps in one Sunday and misses mass. Say he dies later that day. Would he go to Hell after an entire life of service to Christ? I mean does that one act really cut one off from God?

First, how likely is this scenario? Someone in the habit of attending Mass every Sunday of his life is not likely to miss Mass one Sunday for absolutely no good reason. At the age of 70, after years of waking up at a certain time, he would not suddenly sleep in unless he were physically or mentally ill - both of which are acceptable reasons for missing Mass.

Those who fall into actual mortal sin do so by degrees - they don’t do so suddenly. It begins with venial sin, and loss of good habits. By the time our hypothetical 70 year old was deliberately sleeping in and missing Mass, he would have already started getting into minor fights with family members, stopped giving to charity, and taken up TV-watching in place of his regular volunteer work.

-Why can’t mortal sins be confessed to God alone?

Because mortal sin actually breaks off communication between your soul and God’s spirit. Think of the priest as your spiritual “telephone repair man,” restoring the communication between you and God.

-Can venial sins be forgiven by just asking God without confession or the Eucharist?

Yes. Even just making the Sign of the Cross is sufficient to wash away venial sins in the Blood of Christ.

I also feel I really stuck in the middle without anywhere to turn. The Evangelicals tell me that if I don’t believe in Sole Fide, I’m no longer saved and I am trusting in a “works” based system instead of Christ. I realize Catholics don’t teach this, but it is a claim that Pastors and others have made. The Catholics say that I am in a state of mortal sin and unless I go to confession and attend mass and I die, I will go to Hell. Because I have a vested interested in both sides, it becomes difficult as each side is condemning the other.

Yep, it’s definitely time to pick a side. Look at it this way - Jesus actually founded the Catholic Church Himself, and gave us Peter to be our first Pope. (John 21:15-19)

Evangelicalism was born out of the rebellion against that same Church and against St. Peter’s lawful successors, more than a millennium later.

 

[Holly3278]

Yes, missing Mass on Sunday or other holy days of obligation is a mortal sin.

 

[yankee_drifter]

The Scriptures says that a true child of God has his name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This Book will be opened at the Judgment Seat of Christ and anyone who’s name is not found in this Book will go to hell.

Now, if a catholic believes his name is written in this Book and he misses Mass one Sunday for whatever reason, gets hit by a bus and is killed before he ever confessed, does this mean his name is now blotted out of the Book? Did Christ teach this?

 

[bmw8901]

The Scriptures says that a true child of God has his name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This Book will be opened at the Judgment Seat of Christ and anyone who’s name is not found in this Book will go to hell.

Now, if a catholic believes his name is written in this Book and he misses Mass one Sunday for whatever reason, gets hit by a bus and is killed before he ever confessed, does this mean his name is now blotted out of the Book? Did Christ teach this?

I don’t think the Catholic knows whether his name is written in the Book of Life. Do you know? Do you know for sure? Or do you believe it is? I think you might believe or have faith, but you don’t know 100%.

Also, I notice you very rarely capitalized the word “Catholic.” Why is this? It is a proper noun.

Thanks

 

[yankee_drifter]

I don’t think the Catholic knows whether his name is written in the Book of Life. Do you know? Do you know for sure? Or do you believe it is? I think you might believe or have faith, but you don’t know 100%.

Also, I notice you very rarely capitalized the word “Catholic.” Why is this? It is a proper noun.

Thanks

I know for sure. The Scriptures clearly teach there’s only one way and that’s Christ. If you’re putting your trust and faith in anything else, its your way and its the road to destruction.

Besides, you didn’t answer my question. If a man misses Mass, dies before he repents, is he hell bound? Did Jesus ever teach this?

 

[jmcrae]

I know for sure. The Scriptures clearly teach there’s only one way and that’s Christ. If you’re putting your trust and faith in anything else, its your way and its the road to destruction.

Besides, you didn’t answer my question. If a man misses Mass, dies before he repents, is he hell bound? Did Jesus ever teach this?

Jesus gave Moses the Ten Commandments, and commanded him to give the death penalty to all who would not follow them. (Hence, the term “mortal sin.”)

The third Commandment teaches us to honour the Sabbath, and to do no servile work in it, but rather,to rest and to worship God in it. When Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday, the Day of the Lord became Sunday rather than Saturday.

Under the New Covenant, we no longer receive the death penalty for breaking the Commandments; rather, we simply go to Hell when we die, if we don’t repent of our sins.

 

[guanophore]

The Scriptures says that a true child of God has his name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This Book will be opened at the Judgment Seat of Christ and anyone who’s name is not found in this Book will go to hell.

Actually, the scripture makes no distinction called “true” believer or “true” child of God. This is a modern innovation.

The Scripture also says that it is possible to have one’s name “blotted out” of the book of life.

Now, if a catholic believes his name is written in this Book and he misses Mass one Sunday for whatever reason, gets hit by a bus and is killed before he ever confessed, does this mean his name is now blotted out of the Book? Did Christ teach this?

Christ taught that disobedience is sin. Sin separates us from God.

When a person commits a mortal sin, it shows that he is not walking right with God.

I know for sure.

I just read a post from you saying that the concept of mortal sin was a “Catholic invention”. So, it is clear that you DON’T know as much as you think you do. :tsktsk:

The Scriptures clearly teach there’s only one way and that’s Christ. If you’re putting your trust and faith in anything else, its your way and its the road to destruction.

You seem to be separating the Head from the Body, which does not make any sense. Do you serve a decaptiatted God?

Besides, you didn’t answer my question. If a man misses Mass, dies before he repents, is he hell bound? Did Jesus ever teach this?

Jesus teaches that we are to follow the authority He appointed.

 

[yankee_drifter]

Actually, the scripture makes no distinction called “true” believer or “true” child of God. This is a modern innovation.

The Scripture also says that it is possible to have one’s name “blotted out” of the book of life.

Christ taught that disobedience is sin. Sin separates us from God.

When a person commits a mortal sin, it shows that he is not walking right with God.

I just read a post from you saying that the concept of mortal sin was a “Catholic invention”. So, it is clear that you DON’T know as much as you think you do. :tsktsk:

You seem to be separating the Head from the Body, which does not make any sense. Do you serve a decaptiatted God?

Jesus teaches that we are to follow the authority He appointed.

I just read a post from you saying that the concept of mortal sin was a “Catholic invention”. So, it is clear that you DON’T know as much as you think you do. :tsktsk:

If you are going to quote someone, submit the entire quote and not out of context. If anyone quoted and interpreted the Scriptures this way, they would be in serious trouble. I NEVER, EVER said mortal sin was a “catholic invention”. I searched the posts and it was JacobG. who wrote this. But even he did not say "mortal sins’ are an invention, but that the distinction between venial and mortal sins are an RC invention. In this I agree. Here is Jacob’s quote:

Where does the Scriptures make any distinction between venial and mortal sins? This is catholic invention.

The Bible says that God will be just and fair in His punishment of sin and that on the day of judgment some sin will merit greater punishment than others (Matt 11:22, 24; Luke 10:12, 14). But all sin will be punished by God. Over and against the concepts of mortal and venial sin, the Bible does not state that some sins are worthy of eternal death whereas others are not. All sins are mortal sins in that even one sin makes the offender worthy of eternal separation from God.

James 2:10: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” When a person commits even unintentional sin, he is guilty of breaking the entire law.

The concepts of mortal and venial sin are not biblical. In Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, the problem of our sin is completely taken care of, and we need look no further than that amazing demonstration of God’s love for us.

There is a distinction between a true Christian and a pseudo christian. Anyone can claim to be a child of God.

Is missing church a MORTAL as opposed to a VENIAL sin?

 

[yankee_drifter]

Jesus gave Moses the Ten Commandments, and commanded him to give the death penalty to all who would not follow them. (Hence, the term “mortal sin.”)

The third Commandment teaches us to honour the Sabbath, and to do no servile work in it, but rather,to rest and to worship God in it. When Christ rose from the dead on a Sunday, the Day of the Lord became Sunday rather than Saturday.

Under the New Covenant, we no longer receive the death penalty for breaking the Commandments; rather, we simply go to Hell when we die, if we don’t repent of our sins.

Paul said in Col 216,17: “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come, the reality, however, is found in Christ."

Rom 14:5 states, “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” These Scriptures make it clear that, for the Christian, Sabbath-keeping is a matter of spiritual freedom, not a command from God. Sabbath-keeping is an issue on which God’s Word instructs us not to judge each other. Sabbath-keeping is a matter about which each Christian needs to be fully convinced in his own mind.

A common error in the Sabbath-keeping debate is the concept that the Sabbath was the day of worship. That is not what the Sabbath command was. The Sabbath command was to do no work on the Sabbath day. Nowhere in Scripture is the Sabbath day commanded to be the day of worship.

In Acts 2: 46,47 we read that, everyday Christians would meet in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

So is missing church breaking one of the 10 Commandments? Do you really believe that God would command that we must be born again or we cannot see the kingdom of God; that we must Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house; then turn around and say, but if you miss Mass and die shortly thereafter before you had the chance to repent, too bad, for you, you’re out of luck. Heaven is closed to you, sorry!..

Do you really believe that about God?

 

[bmw8901]

I know for sure. The Scriptures clearly teach there’s only one way and that’s Christ. If you’re putting your trust and faith in anything else, its your way and its the road to destruction.

Besides, you didn’t answer my question. If a man misses Mass, dies before he repents, is he hell bound? Did Jesus ever teach this?

You know for sure? 100%? You might think you know or believe you know, but you still need to have faith, even assuming your interpretation of Scripture is correct. We DON’T know God exists. We believe. You can talk to many Mormons who “know” their faith is correct. They believe it. They don’t know it. I understand you might say, “Scriptures promise me such and such, therefore I know that I am saved.” Again we don’t know Scriptures are true. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying I doubt the inspired word of God, but I can’t be certain for sure. I do have faith and believe.

I am still struggling with many of these issues. I do know that Christ said “keep the commandments” when asked what one must do to inherit eternal life. Honoring the Sabbath is a commandment. No matter what your belief, it is a grave problem to not honor the Sabbath. Does missing one mass cut your soul off from God? Currently, I don’t know.

Thanks

 

[yankee_drifter]

You know for sure? 100%? You might think you know or believe you know, but you still need to have faith, even assuming your interpretation of Scripture is correct. We DON’T know God exists. We believe. You can talk to many Mormons who “know” their faith is correct. They believe it. They don’t know it. I understand you might say, “Scriptures promise me such and such, therefore I know that I am saved.” Again we don’t know Scriptures are true. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying I doubt the inspired word of God, but I can’t be certain for sure. I do have faith and believe.

I am still struggling with many of these issues. I do know that Christ said “keep the commandments” when asked what one must do to inherit eternal life. Honoring the Sabbath is a commandment. No matter what your belief, it is a grave problem to not honor the Sabbath. Does missing one mass cut your soul off from God? Currently, I don’t know.

Thanks

I used to be where you are at now. You’re still a very young man. I am not. I KNOW God exists. God told us in His Word that He has made Himself known to men that we are without excuse. (Rom 1:18-20)

Acts 16:30-32: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

As for the Mormons, we know they do not have the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their Jesus is very different from the Jesus of the Holy Scriptures. He (and God the Father) was once a man like us, who had progressed to godhood. They believe they can become gods after death. They teach many things which are only found in their own books. Their founder, Joseph Smith was not a true prophet. The Bible shows us in Exodus, how to test a prophet. First, he must never teach anything contrary to God’s Word and all of his prophecies must come to pass. It only takes one false prophecy to make a prophet a false one.

Again we don’t know Scriptures are true. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying I doubt the inspired word of God, but I can’t be certain for sure. I do have faith and believe

.

What you have just said proves you do doubt that the Scriptures are true. You just wrote that you can’t be certain for sure.

Does missing one mass cut your soul off from God? Currently, I don’t know.

What do you believe about God? This holy God who does not wish that any should perish, but all come to saving faith in Christ Jesus. This very God who loves the world so much that he gave us His only Begotten Son to die horribly so that you and I and everyone may be reconciled with Him and have everlasting life. God has the power to annihilate us all. But he doesn’t do it! Instead he gave Himself.

Do you really believe God would close heaven’s door to you after all of this, just because you missed Mass one Sunday and died before you repented?

 

[bmw8901]

I used to be where you are at now. You’re still a very young man. I am not. I KNOW God exists. God told us in His Word that He has made Himself known to men that we are without excuse. (Rom 1:18-20)

Acts 16:30-32: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

As for the Mormons, we know they do not have the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their Jesus is very different from the Jesus of the Holy Scriptures. He (and God the Father) was once a man like us, who had progressed to godhood. They believe they can become gods after . They teach many things which are only found in their own books. Their founder, Joseph Smith was not a true prophet. The Bible shows us in Exodus, how to test a prophet. First, he must never teach anything contrary to God’s Word and all of his prophecies must come to pass. It only takes one false prophecy to make a prophet a false one.

What you have just said proves you do doubt that the Scriptures are true. You just wrote that you can’t be certain for sure.

What do you believe about God? This holy God who does not wish that any should perish, but all come to saving faith in Christ Jesus. This very God who loves the world so much that he gave us His only Begotten Son to die horribly so that you and I and everyone may be reconciled with Him and have everlasting life. God has the power to annihilate us all. But he doesn’t do it! Instead he gave Himself.

Do you really believe God would close heaven’s door to you after all of this, just because you missed Mass one Sunday and died before you repented?

What evidence do you have that God exists? Because the Bible tells us He exists? All of Creation is a testament to His existence, but again, I don’t think we can be 100% know, or at least never have the occasional doubts.

Please do not misunderstand me, I believe God exists and I believe that the Bible really is inspired by God. But, I’m not as so foolish to claim that I know. I’m not trying to trick you or sound like an atheist here, I just think it’s shortsighted to say you know that God exists. What’s the point of faith if you know? Have you moved beyond faith into certainty?

My wife is the same way. She is Baptist and knows that she is saved and her theology is correct. We often discuss it and debate with each other, but she is very confident in her believes, and that’s fine. I’m sure many Catholics are very confident in there beliefs. What is your response to them? A person can be confident in what they believe and that’s good, but you must realize to claim to know when you don’t have all of the evidence before you is shortsighted.

Your verse from Acts is fine and I believe it. But you miss why I am currently torn. There are a lot of other versus in the Bible that talk about what one must do to be saved; many of these are in the Gospels as many followers asked Jesus how they could obtain eternal life. They don’t all say, “just believe.” Yes you must believe, but He focused a lot on your actions as well. I don’t want to get into a big thing about Sola Fide here though.

Not to be rude, but do you understand what an analogy is? I brought up Mormons because they use the exact same type of language when talking about what they believe in. They will say something like, “I know that the Mormon church is true because the Holy Spirit has testified it to me.” Of course I know that the Mormons fall outside of orthodox Christianity; that wasn’t my point, and I am bit confused as to why you needed to discuss all of their problems when their faith wasn’t the issue at all. The issue was people who claim they “know.”

You said, “What you have just said proves you do doubt that the Scriptures are true. You just wrote that you can’t be certain for sure.” So, for you, not knowing = doubt? I don’t see that in my thinking. I believe the Scriptures are inspired but I don’t know for 100% I have faith in them and trust them, but I could be wrong. The same is true of God. I don’t know if He 100% exists. I believe He does and put my faith in Him.

You also said, “This holy God who does not wish that any should perish, but all come to saving faith in Christ Jesus. This very God who loves the world so much that he gave us His only Begotten Son to die horribly so that you and I and everyone may be reconciled with Him and have everlasting life. God has the power to annihilate us all. But he doesn’t do it! Instead he gave Himself.” I don’t disagree with any of this.

Finally you said, “Do you really believe God would close heaven’s door to you after all of this, just because you missed Mass one Sunday and died before you repented?” I told you in my last post the answer to this question. Here is what I wrote: I am still struggling with many of these issues. I do know that Christ said “keep the commandments” when asked what one must do to inherit eternal life. Honoring the Sabbath is a commandment. No matter what your belief, it is a grave problem to not honor the Sabbath. Does missing one mass cut your soul off from God? Currently, I don’t know."

 

[crazzeto]

The above is very well stated bmw8901, yes Jesus and his Apostles a like (yes, even Paul spent some important time on the subject though he did talk faith more) spent quite a bit of time telling you you will be judged on your works. Why? Because if you’re a follower of the true faith to begin with, then faith is assumed. You have to have it in order to be a follower of Christ, so there was little point to talk about it… Or at least there was, until such time Paul came upon a wall of Jeudizers (yankee, these folks are discussed in the Acts, in fact Paul is sent on mission to combat them). Once these guys show up, with their early heresy of telling the gentiels that in order to become Christian you first have to become a new, get circomcised and follow the full of levitical law. Then Paul has to step in and say “wait wait wait, no no no look at Abraham he didn’t have to do that in order to become the Father of the chosen people, he just had to bring his faith and obediance, that’s all the gentiles need”. Now Paul states this in a little bit thicker and deeper language, but it’s all right there. So while Paul wrote:

drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=52&ch=3&l=28&f=s#x

28 For we account a man to be justified by faith, without the works of the law.

And as a catholic (picture me throwing my hand upon the bible) I believe, Paul also wrote:

drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=53&ch=13&l=2&f=s#x

2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Which is true? Does faith alone apart from anything save you? Or is your faith, with out charity [love] nothing, or as St. James writes in Ch 2 of his Epistle is faith with out works dead? It’s option 2, faith with out works is dead! This isn’t to say faith doesn’t save you, just like you can’t say baptism doesn’t save you, in fact that’s exactly what we Catholics day. Just like John 3 says, be baptised, or born again of water and spirit and you’re saved. How? You’re connected to the body of Christ. But the thing is, your salvation doesn’t end there, the story continues. Faith working through love, is exactly what you need. And when you fail, you need reconciliation, that actual act of repentance to make you right with the Lord, which again is something else Paul tells us:

drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=54&ch=5&l=18&f=s#x

18 But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

You’re on the right path bmw8901, when you’re ready all you need do is go to confession and go back to mass in order to start partaking in the Eucharist again. Certainly take more time studying it to be sure if you feel like you need it, but stay open to the truth, and I’m aboslutly sure you’ll be back in mass.

 

[bmw8901]

The above is very well stated bmw8901, yes Jesus and his Apostles a like (yes, even Paul spent some important time on the subject though he did talk faith more) spent quite a bit of time telling you you will be judged on your works. Why? Because if you’re a follower of the true faith to begin with, then faith is assumed. You have to have it in order to be a follower of Christ, so there was little point to talk about it… Or at least there was, until such time Paul came upon a wall of Jeudizers (yankee, these folks are discussed in the Acts, in fact Paul is sent on mission to combat them). Once these guys show up, with their early heresy of telling the gentiels that in order to become Christian you first have to become a new, get circomcised and follow the full of levitical law. Then Paul has to step in and say “wait wait wait, no no no look at Abraham he didn’t have to do that in order to become the Father of the chosen people, he just had to bring his faith and obediance, that’s all the gentiles need”. Now Paul states this in a little bit thicker and deeper language, but it’s all right there. So while Paul wrote:

drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=52&ch=3&l=28&f=s#x

And as a catholic (picture me throwing my hand upon the bible) I believe, Paul also wrote:

drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=53&ch=13&l=2&f=s#x

Which is true? Does faith alone apart from anything save you? Or is your faith, with out charity [love] nothing, or as St. James writes in Ch 2 of his Epistle is faith with out works dead? It’s option 2, faith with out works is dead! This isn’t to say faith doesn’t save you, just like you can’t say baptism doesn’t save you, in fact that’s exactly what we Catholics day. Just like John 3 says, be baptised, or born again of water and spirit and you’re saved. How? You’re connected to the body of Christ. But the thing is, your salvation doesn’t end there, the story continues. Faith working through love, is exactly what you need. And when you fail, you need reconciliation, that actual act of repentance to make you right with the Lord, which again is something else Paul tells us:

drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=54&ch=5&l=18&f=s#x

You’re on the right path bmw8901, when you’re ready all you need do is go to confession and go back to mass in order to start partaking in the Eucharist again. Certainly take more time studying it to be sure if you feel like you need it, but stay open to the truth, and I’m aboslutly sure you’ll be back in mass.

Thank you for your kind post and words. I will continue to search for the truth, wherever it may lead.

 

[Ignatius33]

Thanks for your message; it is greatly appreciated. I’ll offer just a bit more of my stance right now and some of the trepidations I have regarding things.

Could some of you answer some of my questions about this?

-Why can’t mortal sins be confessed to God alone? I understand the idea of a priest and don’t have a problem with it. At least I don’t have a problem with it in terms that many Protestants do. But if a person is really upset by a sin, can’t he at least confess it to God? I do realize that God ultimately forgives the sin and that the priest does not.

Thanks for your patience.

You might want to check out the Apologetics thread entitled “Confessing mortal sins, but not venial sins” for an in depth discussion of Confession. Keep searching for the truth!

 

[yankee_drifter]

bmw8901 wrote:

My wife is the same way. She is Baptist and knows that she is saved and her theology is correct. We often discuss it and debate with each other, but she is very confident in her believes, and that’s fine. I’m sure many Catholics are very confident in there beliefs. What is your response to them? A person can be confident in what they believe and that’s good, but you must realize to claim to know when you don’t have all of the evidence before you is shortsighted.

In the CCC it says that any Catholic who has assurance of salvation is committing the sin of presumption. But your wife doesn’t believe that, does she? She has peace and assurance. Her church does not tell her its a sin to miss church. Although we need the assembling of other Christians for worship, support and spiritual growth, its not a mortal sin worthy of hell. Does she worry and have fear every time she turns around that she may be committing some mortal sin? That God has His pen in hand ready to blot out her name from the Book of Life because (as humans we are all fallen and are still capable of sin), she made a mistake and broke one of the Commandment? Yes, God wants us to obey Him because He is holy and His nature requires it. But God knows we are unable to obey perfectly. We sin through our thoughts and words, not just in actions. You break one Commandment, you’ve broken them all! That’s why God sent Jesus Christ. That’s why He freely pours out grace to the Christian. Paul said he kept doing the wrong things, and the things he knew he should be doing, he wasn’t. Even he, an apostle of Jesus Christ, could not keep the Commandments all the time. Where once we were separated from God, Christ, through His sacrificial death, has reconciled us to Him. Jesus said all who come to Him he will in no wise cast out. If you are trusting in Him for your salvation, trusting in Him, and not you, to help you live the Christian life we are called to live, then why do you live in dread that you are hell-bound if in your fallen humanist, you missed Mass, lusted after someone in your thought, or whatever the sin might be, and you died before you could get to a priest to confess?

Not to be rude, but do you understand what an analogy is? I brought up Mormons because they use the exact same type of language when talking about what they believe in. They will say something like, “I know that the Mormon church is true because the Holy Spirit has testified it to me.” Of course I know that the Mormons fall outside of orthodox Christianity; that wasn’t my point, and I am bit confused as to why you needed to discuss all of their problems when their faith wasn’t the issue at all. The issue was people who claim they “know.”

The mormons rely on “feelings” a lot. That’s what they mean when they say: We “know.”.

 

[Gammy]

The very best advise I would give you is to enroll in the next RCIA class. I’m a convert, daughter of a Southern Baptist minister (that has since fallen away from his faith).

I LOVE being Catholic. I just don’t understand how anyone knowing that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist can walk away from Him. He is our food for the journey home to the Blessed Homeland. Before I converted, my husband (a cradle Catholic…from birth) attended a non-denominal church with me on Sat. evenings and I would attend Mass on Sunday with him. I found the Church so boring, I just could not relate…everything seemed so strange, a real mystery to me. Then my husband indicated to me he wanted to receive an anullment from his first wife…of course I was excited mostly for my own selfish reasons. When I called the priest at our parish, I indicated to him that my husband was seeking an anullment and we needed to know the procedure.

Father ask me if I was Catholic, no I responded and then he quickly ask for my address and said I would need to attend RCIA. I was willing to do most anything for my husband to get a divorce from his ex. Little did I know that God must have been laughing at my plan. For He had a much greater one. During the RCIA classes, I was so enlightened about Catholism. So much my father had conveyed to me during so many years about Catholics just wasn’t true. I begin asking questions in class, listening intently during every Sunday session and the next thing I knew…I was being confirmed and sponsored by my husband. I really didn’t mean to go into all this but I’m still so excited that He found His lost sheep and He brought me home to the fullness of the faith.

When I attend Mass now, I know what is taking place…He gave me the grace and the open heart to accept the teachings of His Church and for that I’m forever grateful. Please…speak with a priest, pray without ceasing. With Him all things are possible.

Peace be with you always.