Mortal Sins

[Rockin_Catholic]

I have a question in regard to mortal sins. I know that there are the three conditions that have to be met in order for it to be a mortal sin. However, I still have trouble knowing if the sins I commit are mortal. These sins are more sins of the mind or sins of desire, rather than external actions. My priest said that if you are in doubt about whether the sin you committed is mortal, than it can’t be a mortal sin. But sometimes when I’m trying to figure out if a sin I committed is mortal, I’m afraid that I might be trying to convince myself its not, and then I just don’t know what to think about it. I go to daily Mass, and when I go to receive Communion, I have this voice inside of me doubting about whether I should be receiving Holy Communion or not. I just don’t know what to do…I pray every day and receive the Sacraments often…so I just don’t understand why I’m having such an issue with this. How am I supposed to know if I should receive Communion or not?

 

[nicolep]

How am I supposed to know if I should receive Communion or not?

Put your mind at ease! Since you have to ask the question you are not in danger of receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin. You have probably committed a venial sin. I rely on the Catechism of the Catholic Church a lot to determine whether something is a mortal or venial sin. In most cases, it will list specifically if something is “grave matter”.

God bless,
Nicole

 

[JimO]

I have a question in regard to mortal sins…How am I supposed to know if I should receive Communion or not?

I have a close relative who suffers from scrupulosity and who has the same concerns over mortal sin, although his symptoms are severe. Many people suffer from scrupulosity to varying degrees, but it manifests itself particularly in those who are trying to live a devout life. It can rob a person of peace and even cause some to abstain from the Eucharist when they don’t have to. I’m not saying this is what you are struggling with, but it’s worth considering and researching. There are ways for an informed confessor to help someone get past this. If you research the condition and determine that you might need some help, seek out a priest with experience dealing with this in the confessional and in spiritual direction.

Blessings

 

[Matt_Collins]

I think there are three fundamental lies the devil uses, and all other lies are just various combinations of these three fundamental ones:

1. There is no God.
2. God doesn’t love you.
3. You are God.

The thoughts you are struggling with are primarily a form of lie #2, with a little bit of #3 thrown in.

What I mean is this… God is a loving God, who sent his only Son to Earth to die for you. He’s not up in heaven trying to find ways to keep you out. Quite the contrary. He’s up there trying to find ways to bring you in. There are no trick questions on this test. He gives “partial credit” (actually, almost full credit) just for answering the question and grades heavily “on the curve.” He doesn’t care whether or not you’re smart enough to come up with the right answer. He only cares if you try. And you don’t even have to try perfectly.

The only people who go to hell are those who make a fully informed, free decision to go there instead of heaven. It is not possible to commit a mortal sin by mistake, or through honest forgetfulness, or while asleep, or even while half asleep.

There is also a little bit of lie # 3 in your thinking. This is taking the form that you think you are the ultimate judge of the state of your soul and that you are the source of your own forgiveness.

The proper reaction, once you see how lies #2 and 3 are playing out in your mind, is to affirm the three fundamental Truths:

1. There is a God.
2. God loves me.
3. I am not God, but rather, His child.

This will lead you to have confidence in his love for you, and that he is not going to greet you a the pearly gates with an admonition that “yeah, you tried to be sorry and tried to live a good life, but you know, you just weren’t good enough.”

Rather, He will greet you the way he greeted the Prodigal Son. He will run out to meet you, kill the fatted calf for a feast, put a ring on your finger, and put you in a place of honor.

God is your Father. He loves you. He is desperately trying to find ways to bring you home. He is not setting traps for you. Yes, you can reject Him, but only if you do so intentionally. And if you do that, then by definition you will know it.

Throw yourself on God’s mercy, rather than on His justice. Remember that no matter how good you are in this life, you will be saved not because of how good you are, but because of how good HE is. You can’t merit heaven. It is a gift, and you can either accept or reject it. But it remains a gift. And no matter how unworthy you are, He will offer you this gift because he loves you more than your own parents do.

I highly recommend a book called “I Believe in Love.” It is a spiritual retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux. It is available from Amazon. It will help you come to see how much God loves you and how pleased He is with even the smallest effort you make to please Him. For people who suffer from scrupulosity, it is a magnificent balm.

 

[teachccd]

I think there are three fundamental lies the devil uses, and all other lies are just various combinations of these three fundamental ones:

1. There is no God.
2. God doesn’t love you.
3. You are God.

The thoughts you are struggling with are primarily a form of lie #2, with a little bit of #3 thrown in.

What I mean is this… God is a loving God, who sent his only Son to Earth to die for you. He’s not up in heaven trying to find ways to keep you out. Quite the contrary. He’s up there trying to find ways to bring you in. There are no trick questions on this test. He gives “partial credit” (actually, almost full credit) just for answering the question and grades heavily “on the curve.” He doesn’t care whether or not you’re smart enough to come up with the right answer. He only cares if you try. And you don’t even have to try perfectly.

The only people who go to hell are those who make a fully informed, free decision to go there instead of heaven. It is not possible to commit a mortal sin by mistake, or through honest forgetfulness, or while asleep, or even while half asleep.

There is also a little bit of lie # 3 in your thinking. This is taking the form that you think you are the ultimate judge of the state of your soul and that you are the source of your own forgiveness.

The proper reaction, once you see how lies #2 and 3 are playing out in your mind, is to affirm the three fundamental Truths:

1. There is a God.
2. God loves me.
3. I am not God, but rather, His child.

This will lead you to have confidence in his love for you, and that he is not going to greet you a the pearly gates with an admonition that “yeah, you tried to be sorry and tried to live a good life, but you know, you just weren’t good enough.”

Rather, He will greet you the way he greeted the Prodigal Son. He will run out to meet you, kill the fatted calf for a feast, put a ring on your finger, and put you in a place of honor.

God is your Father. He loves you. He is desperately trying to find ways to bring you home. He is not setting traps for you. Yes, you can reject Him, but only if you do so intentionally. And if you do that, then by definition you will know it.

Throw yourself on God’s mercy, rather than on His justice. Remember that no matter how good you are in this life, you will be saved not because of how good you are, but because of how good HE is. You can’t merit heaven. It is a gift, and you can either accept or reject it. But it remains a gift. And no matter how unworthy you are, He will offer you this gift because he loves you more than your own parents do.

I highly recommend a book called “I Believe in Love.” It is a spiritual retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux. It is available from Amazon. It will help you come to see how much God loves you and how pleased He is with even the smallest effort you make to please Him. For people who suffer from scrupulosity, it is a magnificent balm.

You have no idea how much your response helped me. I am not the OP, but I might as well be. You are very insightful and the God that I always worshiped fits the image that you paint with your words. Sometimes I feel that God is trying to make sure that I slip up the one time so that He can deny me heaven.

He’s not. And that is the God that I worship, love, adore and believe in. Any other legalistic, wrath dispensing, checklist type superpower is not a God who would send His Son to die for me knowing that I would let Him down over and over again.

Thank you for your post. I’m lifting it off of this page and posting it above my desk. I need that peace. That peace of God’s mercy is what I long for as I fight off the devil’s attempts at making me feel like a failure…God Bless…teachccd

 

[baltobetsy]

I highly recommend a book called “I Believe in Love.” It is a spiritual retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux. It is available from Amazon. It will help you come to see how much God loves you and how pleased He is with even the smallest effort you make to please Him. For people who suffer from scrupulosity, it is a magnificent balm.

Best book ever! Hi, Matt - nice to see you around again.

Betsy

 

[Matt_Collins]

Thanks, Betsy. I never really left. I’ve just been lurking because of time constraints.

Matt