Mortal sins and homilies

[hilde_the_dog]

On this site there are many questions about confessiona and mortal sins. When was the last time you heard about specific things that could be mortal sins (provided all three conditions are met) . When I joined the church ten years ago I wondered what they were, maybe I missed that class in CCD. Now how many people sitting the pews need to be told what could be a mortal sin. Why does nobody give homilies on this? Afraid to talk about pronography, masterbation, and other sins. Why have I never heard a priest say the use of “OMG” must end now. Thoughts?

 

[ConstantineTG]

On this site there are many questions about confessiona and mortal sins. When was the last time you heard about specific things that could be mortal sins (provided all three conditions are met) . When I joined the church ten years ago I wondered what they were, maybe I missed that class in CCD. Now how many people sitting the pews need to be told what could be a mortal sin. Why does nobody give homilies on this? Afraid to talk about pronography, masterbation, and other sins. Why have I never heard a priest say the use of “OMG” must end now. Thoughts?

You talk about it in the confessional.

 

[babochka]

My priest has a very gentle approach to preaching about sin. He often preaches about virtue in such a way that we see our sin in clearer light. He preaches about the ideal that we strive for, and we see where we fall short. It is hard to describe here how effective that is.

 

[babochka]

My priest has such a gentle approach to preaching about sin. He preaches about virtue and we see our sins in a clearer light. He preaches about the perfection of God and the perfection that we should all strive toward, and we can’t help but see where we fall short. He preaches about Heaven, and we develop such a longing for heaven that we want to avoid Hell. It isn’t hellfire and brimstone, but it is amazingly effective in developing a love for virtue and a hatred of sin.

 

[Dubay]

Well frankly with three kids I don’t want to hear about pornography, masturbation and other related sins.

Lets keep the homily positive and learn something about salvation, Adam and Eve , Genesis

 

[babochka]

Well frankly with three kids I don’t want to hear about pornography, masturbation and other related sins.

Lets keep the homily positive and learn something about salvation, Adam and Eve , Genesis

I think that it is possible to find a balance here. There is no need to be explicit in order to get the message across, but we don’t want the priest to completely shy away from talking about the evils that exist in our world.

 

[R_C]

You talk about it in the confessional.

And at home, the place where Catechism begins and ultimately rests.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Well frankly with three kids I don’t want to hear about pornography, masturbation and other related sins.

Lets keep the homily positive and learn something about salvation, Adam and Eve , Genesis

There are ways to preach about these things that those who need to know know what father is talking about and those who don’t need to know think father is just talking about something in general. Our priest is quite good at this.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

As an adult and a convert, you heard about mortal sin in RCIA. What constitutes grave matter are the same things that always have (hint: ten commandments).

We have responsibility to educate ourselves since we are adults. We have responsibility to educate our own families and to encourage others to do the same. We can also ask for or initiate adult education at our parishes.

If we have specific questions or concerns, we should bring them up during confession or at an appointment with Father.

Yes, priests can talk about sin during homilies, but they need to base whatever they say on the readings of the day (especially the Gospel). Some priests are very good at both bringing up sexual sin while also not scandalizing children, others are not. The readings cover many, many topics and sin of any kind is not always one of them. (Today’s gospel can be discussed for hours (short as it is) without pornography or masturbation coming up even once.)

 

[TrueLight]

If we have specific questions or concerns, we should bring them up during confession or at an appointment with Father.

A couple of people said exactly the same thing and I cannot wrap my mind around it.

If we look at the Saints that were priests, they preached!

How much time does one have during confession for catechesis? How easy is it to get an appointment with Father in a large parish. Wouldn’t it be a lot easier if a priest would discuss sin during the homilies? There are a lot of gospel readings that relate to sin and one’s spiritual life.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Something that happened quite a bit in the past and not so much now were “revivals” and parish missions. Kinda like the revivals and programs that protestant churches sometimes have. Much of the preaching that Saints did (especially Dominicans, but others also) was through programs like that - not in the homilies during Mass. The best modern day example is Archbishop Sheen and what he said during his radio and TV shows.

Priest Saints like Philip Neri and John Bosco also gave talks to the boys in their programs that weren’t part of Mass. Same with many others Saints who founded schools or taught (which covers a whole lota folks! )

When the advice is given to talk to the priest during confession it is so a person can get direct advice about their own issues. Some people really need that specificity.

 

[missadeangelis]

IMHO many people these days need to hear about sin a lot more from the pulpit. I know people who don’t believe that hell exists, and of those who do, they think it’s pretty much reserved for the Hitler-types only. I occasionally ask other Catholic people around me what constitutes a mortal sin and they are completely confounded.

The Saints are pretty much unanimous on the reality and existence of hell and furthermore they held that not just a few souls end up there. The stats on practicing Catholics who actually go to confession and use the Sacrament of Penance is terribly low compared to 40 or 50 years ago - though many more people went to Mass every week back then. The world certainly hasn’t stopped sinning since then - quite the contrary.

Some priests don’t want to risk “offending” someone, so we often end up getting watered down “feel good” sermons. Again, IMHO if the primary concern of a priest is still the salvation of souls, he does no one a favour by skipping the tough bits or watering things down. If someone does feel uneasy after a homily, perhaps it pricked their conscience and will lead them to confess their sins, do penance and amend their life. Now that would be a good sermon!

mda

 

[babochka]

The readings cover many, many topics and sin of any kind is not always one of them. (Today’s gospel can be discussed for hours (short as it is) without pornography or masturbation coming up even once.)

**Gospel, * Luke 11:27-28 * **

27 It happened that as he was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you!’
28 But he replied, ‘More blessed still are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’

This was the reading for the day you posted this. I can see a multitude of opportunities to preach about sin for a priest who wants to.

 

[ConstantineTG]

And at home, the place where Catechism begins and ultimately rests.

Yes. Unfortunately for parents today they see catechism only happens on the designated night when the catechists teach their kids.

 

[englishredrose]

On this site there are many questions about confessiona and mortal sins. When was the last time you heard about specific things that could be mortal sins (provided all three conditions are met) . When I joined the church ten years ago I wondered what they were, maybe I missed that class in CCD. Now how many people sitting the pews need to be told what could be a mortal sin. Why does nobody give homilies on this? Afraid to talk about pronography, masterbation, and other sins. Why have I never heard a priest say the use of “OMG” must end now. Thoughts?

If you are wanting your priest to openly discuss these sins in his sermons then you would be better asking him direct rather than posting here so that he can explain why he doesn’t do so.

I suspect that some of the reasons that have been covered here that church service is a family service and when he is preparing his sermon he won’t know what age group is in church and he wouldn’t really want ten year olds listening to the facts about masterbation and pornography being sins amongst others. Plus he may well feel it be inappropriate because if someone has just confessed them in confession he be acutely aware of the discomfort of the sinner thinking they their sins being washed in public stuff.

Yes there are softer ways that priests can and do deal with sin in sermons. Our priest, you really have to be listening to work out how it applies to you and what you can do about it. It isn’t always obvious because he writes them deliberately to make us think. Not to answer the question but to ask us the question almost. The one sermon he definately got me at confession that week because of what I needed to share and I was able to share it whole in terms of the sermon too and received what I needed to deal with it though often forget but…

It may be that your priest prefers to teach using softer ways because people are much more likely to listen and in their own time, respond. Just because you haven’t heard him give a fire and brimstone style sermon about mortal sin, the person in the pew at the side of you or behind you may think he is doing exactly that and neither of you be wrong. Its how we hear it sometimes.

But I strongly suggest instead of stamping your foot on here, that you do speak to your priest about it so he can help you understand why he does not use that approach and you can relax then.

I really don’t know why people want to stamp their foot on these forums when these kind of things really should be going to their priests if of course people want this to happen etc. Nothing can be done here because the preist doesn’t realise you’re unhappy with his sermon. Our Priest really does take on board what we say to him about his sermons and does try to amend his style. May be if you ask your priest he will likewise be accommodating

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Thanks for your replies.

I know we assume that Catholics are at home studying mortal sins and the requirements. And then telling their children what the specific mortal sins are or may be. And when the family goes to monthly confession if there are questions the priest will answer it there, because although the line is long it moves fast. End of scarcasm.

And Now back to reality…

ConstantineTG that night is tonight when I teach CCD, and we are NOT to discuss such evils. sure lets all stick our head in sand.

I wish nobody had to teach about sin but WHO is doing it?

And englishrose - I try to meet monthly with my pastor and I will bring it up. I was wondering if anyone out there had heard such homilies before I talked to him.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Here’s my news from one suburban parish. On Saturday Father B did not talk directly about sin.

Gospel: Luke 11:27-28

27 It happened that as he was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you!’
28 But he replied, ‘More blessed still are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’

On Sunday, Father B (same priest) presided at the Mass we attended.
Gospel: Mark 10:17-30

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.
19 You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”
20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth.”
21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
28 Peter began to say to him, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you.”
29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,
30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Father defined adultery very precisely during his homily however the homily was not at all about specific sin, but about how our attachment to wordly goods holds us back from heaven. It was a very good homily.

 

[babochka]

Father defined adultery very precisely during his homily however the homily was not at all about specific sin, but about how our attachment to wordly goods holds us back from heaven. It was a very good homily.

To me, that is a homily about sin and can be just as effective as other approaches.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

To me, that is a homily about sin and can be just as effective as other approaches.

I agree. I think that homilies like his are much more common that we presume. They are not “fire and brimestone” but they may actually be more effective since the congregation won’t just shut it out and stop listening.

We also need to remember that not everyone struggles with the same sins.

 

[Kennywood]

…Doesn’t this thread make you grateful all over again for Priests and the challenges they face?

Everyone wants and does indeed hear something different in the same 10-13 minutes of a homily! I must admit that we have also been blessed with Priests who are sensitive to their parishioners and have a gift for semantics. There is no question what stance my local parish has on universal Church issues.

That said, I am even more grateful that it is the clergy’s place to preach about values, morals and ethics. You see, as much as I love and admire my neighbors who volunteer their time, it is clear that we all hear things differently…and I would prefer certain subjects not be miscommunicated by a well-meaning volunteer. Yep. I said it. And I can say it clearly and repeatedly because I am one of those people, too.

Mass is not an addict’s anonymous group meeting- the message needs to be inclusive enough that everyone is spiritually nourished. People will go where they find that. Your Priest is trying to maintain a welcoming community.

That is a good thing