Mortal sin & eucharist question

[Amy1965]

If I understand this correctly, a mortal sin is only a mortal sin if the person committing it had knowledge that it was a grave sin. However, if I learned that I committed a grave sin (mortal sin) after the fact, it’s not a mortal sin and I can therefore receive the Eucharist. Is this correct?

I’ve been wanting to go to confession but all the priest at my diocese has been unavailable for 3 1/2 days because the bishop is holding a Convocation for priest and can’t go to confession. I’ve been going to daily mass since lent this year and have been receiving the Eucharist. I really, really want to continue receiving the Eucharist. This offense took place this past Saturday.

 

[BrockH]

Here are the elements of a grave sin according to The Mustard Seed (book):

1. A grave matter (must be a serious sin)
2. Committed with full knowledge
3. Deliberate full consent of the will (you did it anyway)

If all three of these components were there at the time of which you committed the sin, you committed, then yes, it is a grave matter.
However, if one or more of the above components were missing at the time of the offense, then no, it is not mortal, and you are still in a state of grace, although it would be helpful to mention this during your next confession.

Does that answer your question?

God bless.

 

[Amy1965]

Yes Thank You!

 

[Share_love]

If I understand this correctly, a mortal sin is only a mortal sin if the person committing it had knowledge that it was a grave sin. However, if I learned that I committed a grave sin (mortal sin) after the fact, it’s not a mortal sin and I can therefore receive the Eucharist. Is this correct?

Yes, that’s correct. If you only learned that the sin was grave after the fact, you did not have the requirement of full knowledge necessary for a mortal sin. However, if you commit that same sin now that you have full knowledge of its gravity, it will be a mortal sin (provided that full consent of the will is also present).

Be at peace.

 

[eamonnroma]

I sometimes wonder if God is aware of all of these rules.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I sometimes wonder if God is aware of all of these rules.

I’m sure he is, they are the Rules of His Church.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

If I understand this correctly, a mortal sin is only a mortal sin if the person committing it had knowledge that it was a grave sin. However, if I learned that I committed a grave sin (mortal sin) after the fact, it’s not a mortal sin and I can therefore receive the Eucharist. Is this correct?

I’ve been wanting to go to confession but all the priest at my diocese has been unavailable for 3 1/2 days because the bishop is holding a Convocation for priest and can’t go to confession. I’ve been going to daily mass since lent this year and have been receiving the Eucharist. I really, really want to continue receiving the Eucharist. This offense took place this past Saturday.

Normally I think these threads about if so and so is in mortal sin are silly. But there are a couple of things here. It is odd that you would find out about a mortal sin at the exact time that all the priests are gone…
Mortal sins are pretty easy to learn to identify. I would recommend a good examination of conscience. You can find them on line or on Catholic apps Like Laudate.

As a side note, we live in an amazing age where we have information available at our fingertips. There really is no reason for a Catholic with internet access to plead that they did not have knowledge. Especially one who is devout enough to go to daily Mass all week.

The advice you have been given is fine. However, i fit were me, personally I would not receive. Receiving unworthily is a sin itself. And it sounds like you need some spiritual direction from a good priest in this matter. So just waiting would not be a bad idea. There is no requirement to receive at daily mass. Heck, there is no requirement you receive at Sunday Mass but once a year. However attendance at Sunday Mass is required. Culturally in the United States you will find many Hispanics do not go up for communion. It seems odd that all the other people are in a state of grace but not them. Perhaps it is just our culture that we HAVE to follow the crowds and go up, lest people look at us in judgement.

But honestly, I would consider the desert of a few days without the Eucharist part of my sacrifice and penance regardless of the mortality of the sin.

Edit:

Unless the OP has scrupulosity issues, in which case all advice on this thread (including mine) should be nicely done away with and the OP should seek the counsel of a spiritual director.

 

[Dorothy]

I’m sure he is, they are the Rules of His Church.

And, guidelines are necessary, as we have the tendency to go off on tangents…

 

[Amy1965]

Normally I think these threads about if so and so is in mortal sin are silly. But there are a couple of things here. It is odd that you would find out about a mortal sin at the exact time that all the priests are gone…
Mortal sins are pretty easy to learn to identify. I would recommend a good examination of conscience. You can find them on line or on Catholic apps Like Laudate.

As a side note, we live in an amazing age where we have information available at our fingertips. There really is no reason for a Catholic with internet access to plead that they did not have knowledge. Especially one who is devout enough to go to daily Mass all week.

The advice you have been given is fine. However, i fit were me, personally I would not receive. Receiving unworthily is a sin itself. And it sounds like you need some spiritual direction from a good priest in this matter. So just waiting would not be a bad idea. There is no requirement to receive at daily mass. Heck, there is no requirement you receive at Sunday Mass but once a year. However attendance at Sunday Mass is required. Culturally in the United States you will find many Hispanics do not go up for communion. It seems odd that all the other people are in a state of grace but not them. Perhaps it is just our culture that we HAVE to follow the crowds and go up, lest people look at us in judgement.

But honestly, I would consider the desert of a few days without the Eucharist part of my sacrifice and penance regardless of the mortality of the sin.

Edit:

Unless the OP has scrupulosity issues, in which case all advice on this thread (including mine) should be nicely done away with and the OP should seek the counsel of a spiritual director.

At the risk of possibly being identified (albeit slight risk) I go to church in the Dallas Diocese, anyone can confirm that this week the priests are out for 3 days for a convocation . . . There are some church bulletins in Dallas diocese - May 24-specifically, that confirms this convocation

There are sins out there that are a gray area, especially for Catholics like me who just recently trying learn the Catholic faith in a serious and devout way. As mentioned in my post I started to go to daily mass since Lent this year (as a Lenten promise, but I got so much out of it that I wanted to continue)

All I can say to you - go to daily mass and throw yourself into it - it’ll do wonders for you!!

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

At the risk of possibly being identified (albeit slight risk) I go to church in the Dallas Diocese, anyone can confirm that this week the priests are out for 3 days for a convocation . . . There are some church bulletins in Dallas diocese - May 24-specifically, that confirms this convocation

There are sins out there that are a gray area, especially for Catholics like me who just recently trying learn the Catholic faith in a serious and devout way. As mentioned in my post I started to go to daily mass since Lent this year (as a Lenten promise, but I got so much out of it that I wanted to continue)

All I can say to you - go to daily mass and throw yourself into it - it’ll do wonders for you!!

I have five kids at home. We stagger into daily mass about once a week. Yes, daily Mass is a nice thing.

But your question dealt with specific issues. I did not doubt the 3 day convocation. This happens in most diocese. But I think with your recent post that there may be some issue with you having this issue for only three days. I guess I wonder as well who was saying Mass at all if no priests are available.

something does not add up here. There is more to the issue than you have stated.

My advice is the same. If you have grave matter to confess be it under full knowledge or not, waiting 3 days to go to confession is not exactly a problem. I would refrain from the Eucharist were it my choice to make.

Mortal sins are quite easy to find. It makes a difference if you say, killed someone and then claimed you did not know it was right, vs it just dawned on you that you habitually take the Lord’s name in vain. But normally, these are pretty easy to find out. Birth control, Missing Mass on a Sunday, Missing a Holy day of Obligation… These are things that can be deciphered if you had knowledge.
You should not divulge the sin here, but you should know that answers cannot be given to be accurate in your situation if one does not have all the information. That is something that should be between you and your confessor.

It wouldn’t hurt to grab the priest before Mass either…

 

[Amy1965]

I have five kids at home. We stagger into daily mass about once a week. Yes, daily Mass is a nice thing.

But your question dealt with specific issues. I did not doubt the 3 day convocation. This happens in most diocese. But I think with your recent post that there may be some issue with you having this issue for only three days. I guess I wonder as well who was saying Mass at all if no priests are available.

something does not add up here. There is more to the issue than you have stated.

My advice is the same. If you have grave matter to confess be it under full knowledge or not, waiting 3 days to go to confession is not exactly a problem. I would refrain from the Eucharist were it my choice to make.

Mortal sins are quite easy to find. It makes a difference if you say, killed someone and then claimed you did not know it was right, vs it just dawned on you that you habitually take the Lord’s name in vain. But normally, these are pretty easy to find out. Birth control, Missing Mass on a Sunday, Missing a Holy day of Obligation… These are things that can be deciphered if you had knowledge.
You should not divulge the sin here, but you should know that answers cannot be given to be accurate in your situation if one does not have all the information. That is something that should be between you and your confessor.

It wouldn’t hurt to grab the priest before Mass either…

I have been going to daily mass (but at times it’s not mass but “word and communion” service that is being done by the deacon) so this wasn’t clarified earlier, but thought it would have contemplated by people…

Just to let you know my husband was at confession and he revealed to me that what he did was a mortal sin and it could have been for me also since I was involved (ie., a marital act). And as you know since you go to daily mass, there are few parishioners that go and it would be extremely obvious and embarrassing if I didn’t take the Eucharist, not to mention taking the Eucharist daily is/has been very important to me. I would have withheld if I knew I committed a mortal sin, but wasn’t sure.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I have been going to daily mass (but at times it’s not mass but “word and communion” service that is being done by the deacon) so this wasn’t clarified earlier, but thought it would have contemplated by people…

Just to let you know my husband was at confession and he revealed to me that what he did was a mortal sin and it could have been for me also since I was involved (ie., a marital act). And as you know since you go to daily mass, there are few parishioners that go and it would be extremely obvious and embarrassing if I didn’t take the Eucharist, not to mention taking the Eucharist daily is/has been very important to me. I would have withheld if I knew I committed a mortal sin, but wasn’t sure.

That is not daily Mass but rather a communion service as only a priest may say Mass.

You can be quite clear on these boards. Don’t worry about complicating it, as you can see, not doing so can lead to confusion.

My advice is the same. Refrain until you confess so that you and your confessor can determine the mortality of the sin. Not strangers on the internet.

And if I were you I would invest as much time in learning what the Church teaches as you do going to a liturgy on a daily basis. Sexual sins are probably the most common sins. And Catholic theology and teaching is quite clear. Reading Threology of the Body does not take very long. And a copy of the CCC (catechism of the Catholic Church) is free online. It is searchable. Since sexuality and Catholic teaching is quite popular and in the media, I would think that if one were so inclined one could learn what they need to know quite quickly.

Again, it really is not much to wait until you confess.
Let’s remember the worlds of Paul.

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

You are not really missing our on daily Mass anyway since it is not Mass.
But you certainly could go and refrain from receiving…

It is your conscience. And it is your choice. You will always know more about yourself and your situation than people on the internet, but you did solicit an opinion, and you have mine…

This is one reason these threads of “mortal or not” or should I recieve are pointless. We are not priests,(though there are some on here) we are not your confessors and we are not your conscience. Rather than take a poll of people you do not know, it may be more beneficial to you to study up, and partake of the healing sacraments of the Church (including confession)

Good luck to you!

 

[steve_b]

I sometimes wonder if God is aware of all of these rules.

I was wondering when did everyone become a lawyer?

 

[MSSheBear]

I have been going to daily mass (but at times it’s not mass but “word and communion” service that is being done by the deacon) so this wasn’t clarified earlier, but thought it would have contemplated by people…

Just to let you know my husband was at confession and he revealed to me that what he did was a mortal sin and it could have been for me also since I was involved (ie., a marital act). And as you know since you go to daily mass, there are few parishioners that go and it would be extremely obvious and embarrassing if I didn’t take the Eucharist, not to mention taking the Eucharist daily is/has been very important to me. I would have withheld if I knew I committed a mortal sin, but wasn’t sure.

I believe you when you said you didn’t know it was a grave matter but I want to remind you that you should not receive because everyone else is. At Daily Mass/Communion Service you can have easily eaten within the hour fast or have reflux. During an early morning Mass I am pretty sure some attenders have forgotten to go up. Nobody should be asking why you don’t receive.

 

[Amy1965]

I believe you when you said you didn’t know it was a grave matter but I want to remind you that you should not receive because everyone else is. At Daily Mass/Communion Service you can have easily eaten within the hour fast or have reflux. During an early morning Mass I am pretty sure some attenders have forgotten to go up. Nobody should be asking why you don’t receive.

You must have missed that part of my statement where I would have withheld receiving the Eucharistic had I known I committed a mortal sin.
FYI - I have refrained from taking Eucharistic in the past…and it was during daily mass.

 

[MSSheBear]

I have been going to daily mass (but at times it’s not mass but “word and communion” service that is being done by the deacon) so this wasn’t clarified earlier, but thought it would have contemplated by people…

Just to let you know my husband was at confession and he revealed to me that what he did was a mortal sin and it could have been for me also since I was involved (ie., a marital act). And as you know since you go to daily mass, there are few parishioners that go and it would be extremely obvious and embarrassing if I didn’t take the Eucharist, not to mention taking the Eucharist daily is/has been very important to me. I would have withheld if I knew I committed a mortal sin, but wasn’t sure.

This is what made me think you were afraid of going to Daily Mass and not receiving. I guess I didn’t read your other posts clearly enough. Good luck, and may you get to confession soon.