No mortal sin...

[Millie123]

For me…if I know it’s a mortal sin…then I sure as heck ain’t going to do it!

I don’t think that this is exactly true for everyone. In fact I think the opposite is true, I think that many people convince themselves that their sins aren’t really “that bad.” I was once talking with my confessor about scrupulosity. He said that the opposite of scrupulosity is a lax conscience, which can be very dangerous. People loose the sense of how disordered their sinful actions really are, convincing themselves that their sins are not sins, or maybe even their mortal sins are just venial sins.

Saint Pope John Paul II states:

“When the conscience is weakened the sense of God is also obscured, and as a result, with the loss of this decisive inner point of reference, the sense of sin is lost. This explains why my Predecessor Pius XII one day declared, in words that have almost become proverbial, that ‘the sin of the century is the loss of the sense of sin.’”

I find this to be very true for many people, how many times here have you read posts like:

“Is my habitual masturbation truly sinful? Who am I really hurting?”
Or
“My husband and I are planning on using birth control on our wedding night, we know the church teaches against it, but we really want to consummate our marriage, afterwards we’ll use NFP” (Yes, I’ve actually seen a post like this)

Anyways, I tend to lean more towards scrupulosity. But, for the amount of time that I’ve been here, I think I’ve seen Catholics with lax consciences…Not convinced that their sinful actions are really sinful, or that their sin really wasn’t “that bad”… “it was probably just a venial sin”…and then what happens in the confessional? Probably not a very good confession. And then they’ll go and receive the Blessed Sacrament.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Sometimes you don’t know for sure.

The reason I say this is that the new catechism makes mention of many mitigating circumstances, such as force of habit, etc. that might preclude acts or omissions to be grave enough. However, I was led to believe (by priests who ask if I received communion) these should be confessed anyway and to refrain from going to communion. IOW, it’s for God to judge us in these matters; otherwise we could rationalize almost any grave matter as being not grave.

You won’t know for sure always. But if I know that something is truly grave matter…for example something very serious…I’m not going to try to rationalize it or make it smaller then it is. I’m just not going to do it. I think there are too many people that don’t think anything is a mortal sin. However, it is difficult to know sometimes …IMHO:shrug: A priest can’t even tell you for certain. They can tell you if it’s grave matter but not the rest. But for the ones I do know…I am not going to do them–period. It has it’s effect. I don’t want to seperate myself from God nor do I want to dance with danger by doing it and then going to confession.

For me…it really doesn’t matter…mortal or not…it goes to confession. I figure if it comes to my mind…there is a reason for it. In my opinion that is one of the most underused sacraments.

 

[felsguy]

Good for you. All I know is when I just turned the age of reason, I was taught that lying, gossiping, cheating, disobeying parents, inter alia needed to be confessed. No priest ever giggled. I just presumed they were mortal sins. Guess those who think that way are disadvantaged, huh?

Disadvantaged, possibly. Misinformed, certainly.

I fail to see a whole block of Hispanics, Poles, et al, who don’t approach for communion, being misinformed.

It is incorrect to say that lying, gossiping, cheating, disobeying parents without any qualification needs to be confessed and/or that one may not approach for communion until they are confessed. (Note: I emphasize the word ”needs” here, as in “must be” or “is required.” I am not saying that these sins cannot be confessed, should not be confessed, or provide no spiritual benefit when confessed.)

Believing otherwise could be the result of ignorance (a lack of knowledge), misunderstanding (failing to interpret correctly), or misinformation (to give false or misleading information).

Why this mistaken belief is prevalent among these particular ethnic blocks (I assume here you are referring to the situation at your particular parish as you mention this periodically) is most likely due to some combination of all three of these causes, reinforced from generation to generation.

So yes, if you, large numbers of folks at your parish, or anyone was taught that you cannot receive the Eucharist with such unconfessed sins, then indeed it was misinformation and if that alone keeps someone from receiving the Eucharist then that is a disadvantage.

 

[ProVobis]

In my opinion that is one of the most underused sacraments.

That’s my opinion too. The Pope seems to be promoting it (confession), though.

I guess it all makes sense when one realizes Christ died for all sins, not just the mortal ones, and He gave power to the priest to forgive them. And provide us with the necessary guidance.

 

[OraLabora]

To the OP, you would be wise to seek out a thorough examination of conscience, and I strongly urge you to be on your guard. The devil attacks when we begin to think that it is easy to stay in a state of grace - I know this from experience. Satan is prowling about looking for souls to devour, and he is smart, and the sacraments are an aid, not a guarantee.

“Gee, I never commit mortal sin!” Well… guess what… You are about to meet the devil face to face. He will give you about .000001 nanoseconds to make a choice between heaven and hell, and next thing you know you will be crawling to the confessional begging God for mercy with tears in your eyes.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

That’s one thing all the saints had in common - absolute certainty of their own weakness.

-Tim-

This is spot on. I too thought it was easy to just use willpower wrapped in prayer to overcome my worst sins.

Then I crashed and burned. I now know better, and as you said had to crawl to the confessional on all fours.

 

[Thorns]

I don’t know if I am keeping demons away. I do have several mental illnesses. I may leave Mass early due to them, or not go at all. I have been reassured that my illnesses are just like visible ones and not to worry.

I think I have just strong will power when it comes to things. If I set my mind to it, I will or won’t do it. I can be stubborn, but sometimes, when it comes to not sinning, that isn’t a bad thing.

It isnt anything we do that keeps us from sin, but only by God’s grace alone that we are able to avoud it or overcome it. Its always His victory not ours.

Perhaps because of your mental illnesses, you might be responsible for less. Have you ever gone to more than one priest for confession? I ask because in my experience, for example, some did not consider pornography to be sinful, which is obviously inaccurate. But ot could just be the case that for you, you are not culpable for what you do or dont do because of mental illness, but Id get a second opinion just to be sure anyway.

And yes, there are people out there that have easier spiritual lives with minimal teptations, while others have many. God only gives us what we can handle.

God bless.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

It isnt anything we do that keeps us from sin, but only by God’s grace alone that we are able to avoud it or overcome it. Its always His victory not ours.

Perhaps because of your mental illnesses, you might be responsible for less. Have you ever gone to more than one priest for confession? I ask because in my experience, for example, some did not consider pornography to be sinful, which is obviously inaccurate. But ot could just be the case that for you, you are not culpable for what you do or dont do because of mental illness, but Id get a second opinion just to be sure anyway.

And yes, there are people out there that have easier spiritual lives with minimal teptations, while others have many. God only gives us what we can handle.

God bless.

There are 4 priests at my parish. So I have been to a few. I know porn is a sin. I know what are and aren’t sins.

I didn’t post this to make it seem like I was boasting or to be told that I don’t know what sin is. I just wanted to know if others were like me…

 

[PhilXavier]

My parish priest told me , that the former Archbishop of Liverpool (Patrick Kelly) told him that it is virtually impossible to commit a mortal sin. Because not only has the grave offense got to be committed with full knowledge that it can be mortal, but it also has to be committed with the full intention of hurting God. And even if that was the intention, then you would still need to look at what happened in that person’s life to make them want to do that. So he said people commit grave sins, not mortal ones since the love and mercy of the Father is infinite.

 

[Vico]

My parish priest told me , that the former Archbishop of Liverpool (Patrick Kelly) told him that it is virtually impossible to commit a mortal sin. Because not only has the grave offense got to be committed with full knowledge that it can be mortal, but it also has to be committed with the full intention of hurting God. And even if that was the intention, then you would still need to look at what happened in that person’s life to make them want to do that. So he said people commit grave sins, not mortal ones since the love and mercy of the Father is infinite.

Mortal sin is common: one need only to freely think or do what is known to be grave sin, or omit a required good deed, known to be such through the teaching of the Church.

Catechism1856 Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us - that is, charity - necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation:

When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object . . . whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or perjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery… But when the sinner’s will is set upon something that of its nature involves a disorder, but is not opposed to the love of God and neighbor, such as thoughtless chatter or immoderate laughter and the like, such sins are venial. 130
​

1859 Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart 133 do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin.

 

[PhilXavier]

[/INDENT][/INDENT]1859 Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice.

It is this question of knowledge and personal choice that is in question. If you are not deliberately attempting to offend God, are you acting with full knowledge and consent? If your previous life exexperiences cause you to commit the sin with the intention of offending God, are you really making the choice yourself, or have circumstances clouded your judgment sufficiently to make it not a deliberate personal choice?

 

[ProVobis]

So he said people commit grave sins, not mortal ones since the love and mercy of the Father is infinite.

No disrespect intended, but it seems someone is playing fast and loose with the English language. How many other languages distinguish that way between mortal sin and grave sin? Is this why everyone at an English Mass receives and many don’t at a Spanish or Polish Mass? Hmmm.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

No disrespect intended, but it seems someone is playing fast and loose with the English language. How many other languages distinguish that way between mortal sin and grave sin? Is this why everyone at an English Mass receives and many don’t at a Spanish or Polish Mass? Hmmm.

I was taught that for it to be a mortal sin that it has to be a grave sin, full knowledge, and full consent of the will.

 

[PhilXavier]

I was taught that for it to be a mortal sin that it has to be a grave sin, full knowledge, and full consent of the will.

Exactly, and it is this full consent of the will that I was told people are not capable of giving.

 

[ProVobis]

Exactly, and it is this full consent of the will that I was told people are not capable of giving.

Again, playing fast and loose, this time with the word “full.” The catechism also suggests that full is a matter of degree, such as “fuller sign” in reference to receiving both species. I suggest a better English word use is “sufficient” consent of the will. Only my opinion, though; I’m neither a philosopher nor theologian.

Paraphrasing George Carlin’s once joke, “If you planned on doing it, save the carfare, you DID it, man!”

 

[TimothyH]

There are 4 priests at my parish. So I have been to a few. I know porn is a sin. I know what are and aren’t sins.

I didn’t post this to make it seem like I was boasting or to be told that I don’t know what sin is. I just wanted to know if others were like me…

Others are not “like you” but you have been given a great gift, for a moment of time, to be like God.

I’m telling you from experience not to be too confident, and don’t think that you are special, and know that you are capable of sins you never imagined if God should withdraw from you the slightest bit.

This is a video of a Catholic Saint, St. Josemaria Escriva, speaking about his own human weakness… youtube.com/watch?v=jbyDirnOSjc

-Tim-

 

[maryjk]

There are 4 priests at my parish. So I have been to a few. I know porn is a sin. I know what are and aren’t sins.

I didn’t post this to make it seem like I was boasting or to be told that I don’t know what sin is. I just wanted to know if others were like me…

I didn’t read it as if you were boasting or that you didn’t know what a sin is.

I read it as you weren’t raised or taught that there is mortal sin lurking behind every door.

I know my own mother was taught that most people commit mortal sin every day. And that going to Confession every week was required.

But most people aren’t taught that anymore.

For example, losing your patience while driving isn’t a mortal sin. Losing your patience, getting out of your car, going over to another driver and screaming at them, while pounding on the hood of their car? Now, we are talking about needing to see a priest.

Missing your morning prayers isn’t a mortal sin. Missing your morning prayers because you have had it with God, He never answers your prayers anyway, let Him go jump in a lake? Well, again, we are talking about needing to see a priest.

But you see threads here all the time asking “is this a sin?” The poster goes on to say that their child is sick, and when the poster got up this morning, they missed their morning prayers because they were so rushed trying to get the kids off to school and to take care of the sick child. Someone *will *post a recommendation to see a priest or to get up earlier or whatever. As though missing morning prayers to take care of a sick child is a mortal sin. But in reality all anyone should post is that they are praying for the family of the poster and that they hope get back to normal soon.

So, no, KendraDZ, I don’t think you are bragging or boasting. And yes, I do think there are others like you.

 

[Thorns]

Kendra, i didnt take that you were boasting, but be aware of the temptation to be proud, given your situation. St Therese would often want to inflict harsh penances on herself but her Confessor told her no, to do little sacrifices instead because the great temptation to feel elevated above others exists there. Hence “the little way.” Penance is good but everything comes with its own set of temptations.

Some other food for thought, how well do you examine your conscience?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Is it strange that I don’t commit mortal sin? Other than worrying about committing mortal sin because of my invisible illnesses, I don’t do anything bad. Not mortally, at least. I don’t want to seem like I’m boasting, but no one else seems to be like me. All of the threads are about committing mortal sin. I’m thankful that I don’t have temptations, but is there anyone else like me?

Strange? Well, in the sense that it is probably not common then sure. It certainly is possible for a human to not commit mortal sin. Mary didn’t. God instructs us not to. So it must be possible. But I doubt it is common. If it were common then one’s baptism would cover any need for future confession. And giving that the Church instructs us to go to confession once a year at the very least I would say that yes, it is uncommon. My Bishop and my priests admit confessing mortal sins. I’ll bet Pope Francis does too. I have seen him confess, though I have no idea the level of sins confessed.

Ultimately good for you though. I wish I could say the same.

 

[OraLabora]

No disrespect intended, but it seems someone is playing fast and loose with the English language. How many other languages distinguish that way between mortal sin and grave sin? Is this why everyone at an English Mass receives and many don’t at a Spanish or Polish Mass? Hmmm.

From the CCC.

French:

" Est péché mortel tout péché qui a pour objet une matière grave, et qui est commis en pleine conscience et de propos délibéré "

Spanish:

“Es pecado mortal lo que tiene como objeto una materia grave y que, además, es cometido con pleno conocimiento y deliberado consentimiento”

Italian:

Perch un peccato sia mortale si richiede che concorrano tre condizioni: peccato mortale quello che ha per oggetto una materia grave e che, inoltre, viene commesso con piena consapevolezza e deliberato consenso

See a pattern here?

I’d love to show the Latin original but it seems that the Latin version of the CCC on the Vatican website is a compendium of dead links.

In point of fact we’re not talking about “mortal sin” and “grave sin” but rather “mortal sin” which has as one component “grave matter”. If it doesn’t have grave matter, then the sin isn’t mortal. If it has grave matter but not all of the other two conditions are met, it isn’t mortal sin. If all three conditions are met, then it is mortal sin.

I think it’s rather people are using “mortal” and “grave” incorrectly. “Grave” qualifies the objective act (matter), and “mortal” qualifies the conditions of commission of the act (sin) by a specific person.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

Kendra, i didnt take that you were boasting, but be aware of the temptation to be proud, given your situation. St Therese would often want to inflict harsh penances on herself but her Confessor told her no, to do little sacrifices instead because the great temptation to feel elevated above others exists there. Hence “the little way.” Penance is good but everything comes with its own set of temptations.

Some other food for thought, how well do you examine your conscience?

I have an app on my phone and I usually examine my conscience weekly, if not more often. I almost have the app memorized.