Mortal Sins

[Bookcat]

Ok. This is what I do and teach since it only makes sense but I never found anything written that obliges one to confess a sin that was already absolved, directly or indirectly. I guess that this is why we have canon lawyers to interpret these kinds of things. Anyway, I always confess anything that I remember from the past if it was forgotten but not under obligation. I still would need to read something that addresses sins absolved (indirectly) and the obligation to confess these. I guess I have an interpretation issue and lean more towards the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law. Thank you for your reply. God bless… teachccd

The Church is very clear about this in the canon etc…if one forgets a mortal sin one is obliged to still confess it.

Same thing is true in the case where your on a plane that is crashing and a Priest aboard gives everyone general absolution…if one survives…one is still obligated to confess all mortal (grave) sins in the next confession possible…even though one was already absolved…

You can read it further too in the canon…

Can. 988 §1. A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience.

The Church here is really emphizing this obligation…

this may help too…

Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers here states the same thing:

Person asks:

Also, I have been told by several priests that this means that if one remembers a mortal sin after confession, they should know that they are forgiven for it so long as they mention it the next time they go to confession.

Jimmy Akin Answers

Correct, though this should be formulated a little differently. You are forgiven if you meant to confess all your mortal sins and just forgot one. Having been forgiven of the one you forgot, you are still obligated to confess it the next time you go to confession. It’s not that your forgiveness of it is conditional on you adopting the intention to confess it next time. That sin has already been forgiven. It’s that you incur a new sin if you refuse to adopt the intention of confessing it."

jimmyakin.typepad.com/defensor_fidei/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html

 

[Newbie2]

This is not correct really…

The Church has been very clear that one must confess all mortal sins since (valid) Baptism in number and kind. (One would also confess any circumstance that really changed the nature of things…such has the person you killed was your brother or the Gold cup you stole was a Chalice from Church…) And in fact the CDF or one of the other Congr. in Rome reemphasized this again some year back.

If one committed Masterbation 3 times. One would say “I accuse myself of masterbation 3 times” (or self abuse or the like) or I committed adultery 2 times or I committed murder 6 times or I had lustful thoughts (that one consented to with full knowledge of course) 3 times…

Now if one can not say for sure how many…well one makes a reasonable guess and tells the priest that this is what it is… or if it has been years…the priest can help you…it may be that one will only be able to say…I committed Y around 3-4 times a month pretty much every month for the last 12 years…that sort of thing.

But one does need to be specific…in a way that the priest knows what you are talking about…“I’m guilty of sins of impurity, both in thought and action” it too vague…one needs to be more specific than that…though yes one can find valid ways of saying things that are both understood and but they need to be more specific…

Jimmy Akin goes into this…both the need to be specific…and that some things are said are understood…but still need to be specific enough…jimmyakin.typepad.com/defensor_fidei/2007/03/specific_confes.html

And here is the Canon:

Can. 988 §1. A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience.

§2. It is recommended to the Christian faithful that they also confess venial sins.

(grave sins here = mortal sins)

(also I should note that a person with difficulty with scruples …should follow their confessor …for they often can scruple on these things…)

Yes, yours is a little more legalistic POV and mine a bit more pastoral, but we’re really on the same page. I’d rather see someone go to confession, even if they don’t do it as well defined as they should and have the opportunity for the priest to help them out rather than have them avoid confession for fear of not doing it correctly or just plain being afraid to confess embarrasing sins. Maybe that’s not what the OP had in mind, but it is what I am suggesting.

Ideally, you are correct.

 

[Bookcat]

Yes, yours is a little more legalistic POV and mine a bit more pastoral, but we’re really on the same page. I’d rather see someone go to confession, even if they don’t do it as well defined as they should and have the opportunity for the priest to help them out rather than have them avoid confession for fear of not doing it correctly or just plain being afraid to confess embarrasing sins. Maybe that’s not what the OP had in mind, but it is what I am suggesting.

Ideally, you are correct.

Hummm…not “legalistic” but yes “legal language” as well as theological language.

So the person would need to …is required to…confess all mortal sins in number and kind…now they many not know the theological terms etc…but they can ask the priest to help…but they need to not be too vague…but still get to what it is they did and the number of times they did (as they can recall)

 

[John_of_Woking]

Can Mortal Sins be forgiven by praying to God or does one need to confess to a Priest?

Yes they can be forgiven without confession
Yes you still need to confess a to a priest

 

[teachccd]

The Church is very clear about this in the canon etc…if one forgets a mortal sin one is obliged to still confess it.

Same thing is true in the case where your on a plane that is crashing and a Priest aboard gives everyone general absolution…if one survives…one is still obligated to confess all mortal (grave) sins in the next confession possible…even though one was already absolved…

You can read it further too in the canon…

Can. 988 §1. A member of the Christian faithful is obliged to confess in kind and number all grave sins committed after baptism and not yet remitted directly through the keys of the Church nor acknowledged in individual confession, of which the person has knowledge after diligent examination of conscience.

The Church here is really emphizing this obligation…

this may help too…

Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers here states the same thing:

Person asks:

Also, I have been told by several priests that this means that if one remembers a mortal sin after confession, they should know that they are forgiven for it so long as they mention it the next time they go to confession.

Jimmy Akin Answers

Correct, though this should be formulated a little differently. You are forgiven if you meant to confess all your mortal sins and just forgot one. Having been forgiven of the one you forgot, you are still obligated to confess it the next time you go to confession. It’s not that your forgiveness of it is conditional on you adopting the intention to confess it next time. That sin has already been forgiven. It’s that you incur a new sin if you refuse to adopt the intention of confessing it."

jimmyakin.typepad.com/defensor_fidei/2006/09/a_reader_writes_1.html

Thank you for setting me straight. Like I said, I always followed this and I always taught that the forgotten sin needs to be confessed at the next visit to the Sacrament. I just did not realize that it was obligatory being that the sin was forgiven and one could return to the Eucharist. Well that’s why I come here. We never stop learning and I thank you for your patience with me and your continued support. God bless you…teachccd

 

[Bookcat]

Thank you for setting me straight. Like I said, I always followed this and I always taught that the forgotten sin needs to be confessed at the next visit to the Sacrament. I just did not realize that it was obligatory being that the sin was forgiven and one could return to the Eucharist. Well that’s why I come here. We never stop learning and I thank you for your patience with me and your continued support. God bless you…teachccd

Your very welcome

We are all on this pilgrimage together

(I get set straight too…for instance my wife sets me straight! … )

 

[teachccd]

Bookcat, on a quick sidebar, we are almost tied for our number of posts. I’ll let you catch up!

 

[Bookcat]

Bookcat, on a quick sidebar, we are almost tied for our number of posts. I’ll let you catch up!

I was away in Europe on vacation the last two weeks (just came back this week)…hence fewer posts

So perhaps you can go on vacation so I can…

 

[Melek]

Yes they can be forgiven without confession
Yes you still need to confess a to a priest

So if you are forgiven without confession but you don’t go to confess, is that another mortal sin?

Also, is it definite and explicitly stated in Catechism that those with unforgiven mortal sins will surely go to Hell?

My final question pertains to non-Catholics. Since they weren’t raised Catholic, they wouldn’t really know that something such as masturbating is a grave sin. Since they don’t know, would masturbation be a venial sin for them?

 

[ElizabethPH]

So if you are forgiven without confession but you don’t go to confess, is that another mortal sin?

Also, is it definite and explicitly stated in Catechism that those with unforgiven mortal sins will surely go to Hell?

My final question pertains to non-Catholics. Since they weren’t raised Catholic, they wouldn’t really know that something such as masturbating is a grave sin. Since they don’t know, would masturbation be a venial sin for them?

Three things are necessary for a sin to be mortal: 1. Serious matter. 2. Knowlege or firm belief that the act is seriously wrong prior to committing the act; 3. Full consent of the will.

Perhaps you can look up mortal sin in the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) here:

vatican.va/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm

 

[Melek]

Three things are necessary for a sin to be mortal: 1. Serious matter. 2. Knowlege or firm belief that the act is seriously wrong prior to committing the act; 3. Full consent of the will.

Perhaps you can look up mortal sin in the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) here:

vatican.va/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm

Has the CCC always been the same since the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church? If it’s been changed, wouldn’t that violate the whole concept of the Magisterium being infallible?

 

[ElizabethPH]

Has the CCC always been the same since the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church? If it’s been changed, wouldn’t that violate the whole concept of the Magisterium being infallible?

One place I found in the CCC about hell is here: 1861 Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.

Where has the CCC changed that would violate the Magisterium?

 

[Vico]

Has the CCC always been the same since the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church? If it’s been changed, wouldn’t that violate the whole concept of the Magisterium being infallible?

There have been many catechisms over time, not composed exclusively of dogmas of faith, but with other doctrines. Since not all all doctrines are dogmas of faith, they may change, so also the catechism.

The act of teaching is properly called infallible, the solemn definitions concerning faith and morals of ecumenical councils, approved by the Pope, and also those made ex cathedra by the Pope.

 

[Melek]

There have been many catechisms over time, not composed exclusively of dogmas of faith, but with other doctrines. Since not all all doctrines are dogmas of faith, they may change, so also the catechism.

The act of teaching is properly called infallible, the solemn definitions concerning faith and morals of ecumenical councils, approved by the Pope, and also those made ex cathedra by the Pope.

How can it be infallible if the teachings can change?

Since the Catechism can change, is it possible that certain sins that were once viewed as of grave matter might be viewed as less serious in the future?

 

[ElizabethPH]

How can it be infallible if the teachings can change?

Since the Catechism can change, is it possible that certain sins that were once viewed as of grave matter might be viewed as less serious in the future?

The doctrines of the Catholic Church are the deposit of faith revealed by Jesus Christ, taught by the apostles, and handed down in their entirety by the apostles to their successors. Since revealed truth cannot change, and since the deposit of faith is comprised of revealed truth, expressed in Scripture and Sacred Tradition, the deposit of faith cannot change.

What sins?

 

[Bookcat]

How can it be infallible if the teachings can change?

Since the Catechism can change, is it possible that certain sins that were once viewed as of grave matter might be viewed as less serious in the future?

The Catechism is as Pope John Paul II noted “a sure norm” …but it per se is not infallible. It contains many things that are infallible but not everything there is dogma…some even are discipline.

As to grave matters…some things are even in “Divine Revelation” as very serious…!

other things are discipline which the Church can change…

As to protestants etc …who do not have the benefit of the Teachings of the Church…God must judge them…they can know many things simply from Scripture or natural law…reasons…

Anyhow the focus must be on following Christ! the Yes to him certainly involves certain 'No’s" to sins…but the Yes is the focus…in joy and new life!

 

[Vico]

How can it be infallible if the teachings can change?

Since the Catechism can change, is it possible that certain sins that were once viewed as of grave matter might be viewed as less serious in the future?

What is taught as a matter of faith or morals, as a dogma of faith, which must be believed, does not change, because Divine Revelation is already complete. Our understanding becomes more complete however, so the words used to describe may change, just as language changes.

A grave sin, and intrinsicly evil acts (like abortion), remain so. I once researched intrinsic evil and found that there is at least one such action for nine of the ten commandments.

Apostle Paul said:

“Do not be deceived: neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Cor 6:9-10).