Mortal sin = no prayer?

[JRKH]

So if you have committed a mortal sin and do not plan on stopping, should you not bother with confession. For example, if you commit adultery and do not plan on giving up the person, should you stop going to church and confession. Are you being a hypocrite? Even though you are working hard on your other sins and trying to be the best person that you can.

If you are not contrite the mortal sin remains and, because mortal equals deadly, no amount of “working on being the best person you can be” is going to help.
This is like a person who joins a gym to stay fit and cuts out "burgers and fries, but keeps smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day.
It’s like a soldier, gravely wounded in the belly and shot in the leg who bandages the lesser leg wound and ignores the grave belly wound.

That said, I have to say that your question about being hypocritical is a difficult one to answer for it is going to depend on the individual and whether he feels self rightious about his condition - denying the sin - or whether he is continuing to struggle to free himself from the situation and get right with God.

Peace
James

 

[cviolette]

You can not be forgiven for a mortal sin if you have no desire to avoid the sin in the future. Contrition is not enough if you plan on committing the same thing over and over again. Such a confession of adultery will not receive valid absolution. Adultery is not a minor sin, adulterers will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

That was what I was thinking but was told that weekly confession might help bring a person closer to God.

If you are not contrite the mortal sin remains and, because mortal equals deadly, no amount of “working on being the best person you can be” is going to help.
This is like a person who joins a gym to stay fit and cuts out "burgers and fries, but keeps smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day.
It’s like a soldier, gravely wounded in the belly and shot in the leg who bandages the lesser leg wound and ignores the grave belly wound.

That said, I have to say that your question about being hypocritical is a difficult one to answer for it is going to depend on the individual and whether he feels self rightious about his condition - denying the sin - or whether he is continuing to struggle to free himself from the situation and get right with God.

Peace
James

I wouldn’t say self rightious. More obsessive or selfish. Knowing it is wrong and feeling guilty but not willing to change.

 

[JRKH]

That was what I was thinking but was told that weekly confession might help bring a person closer to God.

This is true, repeated exposure to that which is good - confession, mass, prayer etc, can certainly help, but so long as they remain unrepentant in sin, especially a mortal sin…Their soul remains in grave danger.

I wouldn’t say self rightious. More obsessive or selfish. Knowing it is wrong and feeling guilty but not willing to change.

As I said, much depends on the individual and the specific circumstances etc…
What you describe here, a person who knows better and feels guilty but refuses to change, is simply twisting the knife they have stabbed themselves with but refusing to pull it out and get the wound healed. Sorry to be so graphic but I know no better way to describe it.

Overall, we can do no more than offer general advice based upon the teachings of the Church. In His wisdom God has provided us with the Sacrament of confession and reconsiliation. In this, a person may speak one-on-one with their confessor covering all the various aspects and hopefully return fully to God. It may take much time and council but it will need to begin with the person being willing to change.

But, as I say, we cannot examine and give answers to every possible specific nuance of a situation. We can only give general advice based on the teachings fo The Church.

Peace
James

 

[cviolette]

This is true, repeated exposure to that which is good - confession, mass, prayer etc, can certainly help, but so long as they remain unrepentant in sin, especially a mortal sin…Their soul remains in grave danger.

As I said, much depends on the individual and the specific circumstances etc…
What you describe here, a person who knows better and feels guilty but refuses to change, is simply twisting the knife they have stabbed themselves with but refusing to pull it out and get the wound healed. Sorry to be so graphic but I know no better way to describe it.

Overall, we can do no more than offer general advice based upon the teachings of the Church. In His wisdom God has provided us with the Sacrament of confession and reconsiliation. In this, a person may speak one-on-one with their confessor covering all the various aspects and hopefully return fully to God. It may take much time and council but it will need to begin with the person being willing to change.

But, as I say, we cannot examine and give answers to every possible specific nuance of a situation. We can only give general advice based on the teachings fo The Church.

Peace
James

Thanks James. If you go to confession and the sin is unrepentant are you not allowed to receive communion. Is this a question for the priest?

 

[teachccd]

I would imagine that (remembering the parable of the lost sheep and the prodigal son) God would want to hear more from a person who made an assent of the will to leave than those who choose to stay. In the story of the Prodigal Son, the father runs towards his son to greet him and in the story of the Lost Sheep, Jesus leaves the 99 to go and find the one. Scripture says that the heavens rejoice over one sinner who repents more than all those who find themselves righteous.

Every part of our being is a choice towards or away from God. Every word, thought and deed is either a prayer moving us towards God or saying that we don’t need Him in our lives. Prayer is not just saying the rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, divine chaplet, or any other formulated prayer for that matter. What I just mentioned is included in the disposition that we all have for God.

Yes, we may really mess up and choose a lesser god in place of the Almighty God and that may even constitute a separation as what occurred in the Prodigal Son. But our infinite loving and merciful God awaits our return. The Church teaches that the normative way to return is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But remember that we are bound by God’s commands but He is not. This sacrament is a gift from God given to humanity for our ability to “put flesh” on God in order that we may keep His incarnation in sight. The Eucharist does this “par excellance”. We need the sacraments but God does not. God can act outside of His commands to us. Realize that I am NOT undermining the importance of the sacraments nor their necessity for our relationship with God.

I would be saddened if I thought that one of my children would no longer talk to me if we had a bad falling out. In fact, I would be anxiously waiting by the phone (or computer or text messaging) for his or her call. Perhaps their hug (confession) will seal the deal but thier first words of love would make me the happiest.

Keep praying, my friend. We cannot make our wonderful God out to be a legalistic box checker. We also must do our very best to follow His commands and utilize the great gifts of the sacraments as much as we can. A sacrament is an encounter with Christ of the most intimate kind. And that is why in our life of prayer we definitely find these as the food for our souls.

I hope that this helps. I am not a theologian nor am I a scripture scholar. But I am a very compassionate person who would find God being infinitely more compassionate than me. And I would always listen to my children…teachccd

 

[JRKH]

Thanks James. If you go to confession and the sin is unrepentant are you not allowed to receive communion. Is this a question for the priest?

You may not receive communion while in a state of Mortal Sin.

Mortal sin requires three things, Grave matter, Full knowledge and Full consent. Your example of the adulterer who knows it is a sin, feels guilty, but is unwilling to change fits this description.
If you go to confession and, knowingly and unrepentantly, fail to confess a Mortal sin then you remain in the state of Mortal Sin. There is simply no way around this.

If the sinner feels that there are mitigating circumstances, If it is less a matter of being unwilling (defiance) as being unable (weakness) to overcome the sin, if there is need for greater catechesis and council then certainly this is something that needs to be discussed at length with ones confessor.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

I would imagine that (remembering the parable of the lost sheep and the prodigal son) God would want to hear more from a person who made an assent of the will to leave than those who choose to stay. In the story of the Prodigal Son, the father runs towards his son to greet him and in the story of the Lost Sheep, Jesus leaves the 99 to go and find the one. Scripture says that the heavens rejoice over one sinner who repents more than all those who find themselves righteous.

Every part of our being is a choice towards or away from God. Every word, thought and deed is either a prayer moving us towards God or saying that we don’t need Him in our lives. Prayer is not just saying the rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, divine chaplet, or any other formulated prayer for that matter. What I just mentioned is included in the disposition that we all have for God.

Yes, we may really mess up and choose a lesser god in place of the Almighty God and that may even constitute a separation as what occurred in the Prodigal Son. But our infinite loving and merciful God awaits our return. The Church teaches that the normative way to return is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But remember that we are bound by God’s commands but He is not. This sacrament is a gift from God given to humanity for our ability to “put flesh” on God in order that we may keep His incarnation in sight. The Eucharist does this “par excellance”. We need the sacraments but God does not. God can act outside of His commands to us. Realize that I am NOT undermining the importance of the sacraments nor their necessity for our relationship with God.

I would be saddened if I thought that one of my children would no longer talk to me if we had a bad falling out. In fact, I would be anxiously waiting by the phone (or computer or text messaging) for his or her call. Perhaps their hug (confession) will seal the deal but thier first words of love would make me the happiest.

Keep praying, my friend. We cannot make our wonderful God out to be a legalistic box checker. We also must do our very best to follow His commands and utilize the great gifts of the sacraments as much as we can. A sacrament is an encounter with Christ of the most intimate kind. And that is why in our life of prayer we definitely find these as the food for our souls.

I hope that this helps. I am not a theologian nor am I a scripture scholar. But I am a very compassionate person who would find God being infinitely more compassionate than me. And I would always listen to my children…teachccd

This is beautiful. Well said.

God will indeed run to meet those who turn toward Him, but he won’t chase us down if we are running away. He loves and respects us too much.
The Prodigal “returned”, he wasn’t dragged home.
The Sheep was “Lost”, he did not “run away”.

Peace
James

 

[cviolette]

You may not receive communion while in a state of Mortal Sin.

Mortal sin requires three things, Grave matter, Full knowledge and Full consent. Your example of the adulterer who knows it is a sin, feels guilty, but is unwilling to change fits this description.
If you go to confession and, knowingly and unrepentantly, fail to confess a Mortal sin then you remain in the state of Mortal Sin. There is simply no way around this.

If the sinner feels that there are mitigating circumstances, If it is less a matter of being unwilling (defiance) as being unable (weakness) to overcome the sin, if there is need for greater catechesis and council then certainly this is something that needs to be discussed at length with ones confessor.

Peace
James

I would confess the sin. I guess it may be more weakness than unwilling but I think if you want to stop doing something bad enough you will. I hate the whole addiction excuse.

 

[cviolette]

That was a great post.

I would imagine that (remembering the parable of the lost sheep and the prodigal son) God would want to hear more from a person who made an assent of the will to leave than those who choose to stay. In the story of the Prodigal Son, the father runs towards his son to greet him and in the story of the Lost Sheep, Jesus leaves the 99 to go and find the one. Scripture says that the heavens rejoice over one sinner who repents more than all those who find themselves righteous.

Every part of our being is a choice towards or away from God. Every word, thought and deed is either a prayer moving us towards God or saying that we don’t need Him in our lives. Prayer is not just saying the rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, divine chaplet, or any other formulated prayer for that matter. What I just mentioned is included in the disposition that we all have for God.

Yes, we may really mess up and choose a lesser god in place of the Almighty God and that may even constitute a separation as what occurred in the Prodigal Son. But our infinite loving and merciful God awaits our return. The Church teaches that the normative way to return is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But remember that we are bound by God’s commands but He is not. This sacrament is a gift from God given to humanity for our ability to “put flesh” on God in order that we may keep His incarnation in sight. The Eucharist does this “par excellance”. We need the sacraments but God does not. God can act outside of His commands to us. Realize that I am NOT undermining the importance of the sacraments nor their necessity for our relationship with God.

I would be saddened if I thought that one of my children would no longer talk to me if we had a bad falling out. In fact, I would be anxiously waiting by the phone (or computer or text messaging) for his or her call. Perhaps their hug (confession) will seal the deal but thier first words of love would make me the happiest.

Keep praying, my friend. We cannot make our wonderful God out to be a legalistic box checker. We also must do our very best to follow His commands and utilize the great gifts of the sacraments as much as we can. A sacrament is an encounter with Christ of the most intimate kind. And that is why in our life of prayer we definitely find these as the food for our souls.

I hope that this helps. I am not a theologian nor am I a scripture scholar. But I am a very compassionate person who would find God being infinitely more compassionate than me. And I would always listen to my children…teachccd

 

[JRKH]

I would confess the sin. I guess it may be more weakness than unwilling but I think if you want to stop doing something bad enough you will. I hate the whole addiction excuse.

I don’t know if I can say I hate the “addiction excuse” unless it is use as pecisely that - an excuse…
However if one recognizes the “addiction” for what it is, that is affection for sin (the desire not to give it up), then one is better able to place it in proper context and work on deepening the necessary resolve through prayer for the necessary grace and courage.

Peace
James

 

[teachccd]

This is beautiful. Well said.

God will indeed run to meet those who turn toward Him, but he won’t chase us down if we are running away. He loves and respects us too much.
The Prodigal “returned”, he wasn’t dragged home.
The Sheep was “Lost”, he did not “run away”.

Peace
James

Thank you and Happy New Year!

Yes, you said it! God respects our gift of free will too much to drag us into places that we don’t want to go. God bless… teachccd

 

[Vince1022]

If one is in a state of in a state of mortal sin that person is said to be cut off from God; therefore, is it worth even trying to pray if one is not in a state of grace? Would all the prayers up until a sacramental confession be unheard or in someway not worth doing?

Prayer is always efficacious and salutary. Always.