Mortal Sin and Death

[MStreeter]

I was hoping someone would help clarify my understanding of the “effects” of a mortal sin if a person commits a mortal sin but dies before confessing. To better illustrate my question I’ll express it situationally.

A man goes to confession on Saturday and is absolved of his sins. On Tuesday he commits a mortal sin, but admits his mistake, asks for forgiveness and says an Act of Contrition. He plans to go to confession on Saturday but dies in a car accident on Thursday. Given that this man is an otherwise faithful and good member of the Church would he still go to Heaven given there was an unabsolved mortal sin on his soul even though he admitted fault and planned to go to confession?

In this situation I thought the man would still be able to enter into Heaven. Am I correct in this assumption? Why or why not?

Thanks for the help.

Mark

 

[Damascus]

Sounds like the man is Okay from what you say. He repented, intended on going to confession and did not delay it and was killed.

Sounds like he is Okay. If he had not made an honest attempt to go to confession or if he had not repented then, OOOPs.

 

[StCsDavid]

First of all, we can’t pretend to know the salvation or damnation of any soul. That’s God’s call. This man would be relying on the mercy of Christ to get into Heaven if he dies in a state of mortal sin. If he truly repents before he dies, and makes a perfect act of contrition, then we believe there is hope for salvation. We believe the sacrament of reconciliation provides the means to get back into a state of grace. God may have other means, (we don’t know) but the sacrament of reconciliation is the one definitive way He gave to return to Him through Christ and His Church.

 

[Safe_Eagle]

I would agree with all of the above. With the senario you laid out, sounds like one could have hope for the persons salvation.

 

[thistle]

I was hoping someone would help clarify my understanding of the “effects” of a mortal sin if a person commits a mortal sin but dies before confessing. To better illustrate my question I’ll express it situationally.

A man goes to confession on Saturday and is absolved of his sins. On Tuesday he commits a mortal sin, but admits his mistake, asks for forgiveness and says an Act of Contrition. He plans to go to confession on Saturday but dies in a car accident on Thursday. Given that this man is an otherwise faithful and good member of the Church would he still go to Heaven given there was an unabsolved mortal sin on his soul even though he admitted fault and planned to go to confession?

In this situation I thought the man would still be able to enter into Heaven. Am I correct in this assumption? Why or why not?

Thanks for the help.

Mark

It would depend on whether his Act of Contrition is an Act of Perfect Contrition (sorry for sinning because you love God) or Imperfect Contrition (afraid of going to Hell). If the former he would be saved but if the latter he would be condemned.

Contrition

CCC 1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is “sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again.”

CCC 1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.

CCC 1453 The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.