Notes on mortal sin

[McatholicN]

Here’s to help all the people wondering if they have committed mortal sin.

In order for a sin to be mortal all three of these must be met:

Grave matter:

• The sin must be very serious. This is no simple everyday little sin. It would be hard to forget that you committed such a sin.
• I believe, that since all three requirements must be met, that committing a venial sin that you believe to be mortal is still venial since it is not of grave matter (unless the belief that it was mortal, and carrying through with it is mortal itself).

Full Knowledge:

• You must know before the sin is committed (or during, if you continue doing it) that what you are doing is very wrong and that you will be cutting yourself off fully from God.
• If you can look back to all the time since your last confession, and think that you have not committed a mortal sin, then you most likely haven’t. This is because, even if you have committed a sin of grave matter and you don’t know it, you didn’t have full knowledge at the time (unless you forgot).

Full consent of the will:

• This has to do with culpability. You must have to be fully thinking about the sin and its effects beforehand (or during, if you continue doing it). You must be thinking “okay, I know the effects, and I’m going to do it anyway”. If you commit a sin of grave matter on accident, or are not fully thinking about what you’re doing, this requirement is not fulfilled.

I hope this helped.

 

[Bookcat]

Here’s to help all the people wondering if they have committed mortal sin.

a few notes on your notes

In order for a sin to be mortal all three of these must be met:

Grave matter:

• The sin must be very serious. it simply has to be grave matterThis is no simple everyday little sin. It would be hard to forget that you committed such a sin.
• I believe, that since all three requirements must be met, that committing a venial sin that you believe to be mortal is still venial since it is not of grave matter (unless the belief that it was mortal, and carrying through with it is mortal itself).those with scruples need to stop reading here…ok are they gone? Good…ok yes one can commit a mortal sin when one believes the matter is grave and does it with the full knowledge and complete consent…this is one way to have grave matter…(it can be thus mortal for one is willing to do “something grave” will FK and CC)…now those with scruples are gone at this point…but if anyone were to talk with them…it must be remembered that they can tend to think lots of things are grave matter…but they are not…they need to follow their confessors and the principles given them…and not worry here…for they are in a different boat about this…they have now ‘formed their conscience’ by their confessor or other good way and know that they have scruples and need to ignore their fearful scruples as told them by their confessors etc…

Full Knowledge:

• You must know before the sin is committed (or during, if you continue doing it) that what you are doing is very wrong must know it is grave matterand that you will be cutting yourself off fully from God.no one need not think this…only that it is grave matter
• If you can look back to all the time since your last confession, and think that you have not committed a mortal sin, then you most likely haven’t. This is because, even if you have committed a sin of grave matter and you don’t know it, you didn’t have full knowledge at the time (unless you forgot).can be reasonable for some…the lax less so…but yes one can examine themselves and if they are seeking to really follow Christ they are likely going to recall a mortal sin …

Full consent of the will:

• This has to do with culpability. You must have to be fully thinking about the sin and its effects beforehand (or during, if you continue doing it).no …you need only give complete consent…one need not think of effects etc… You must be thinking “okay, I know the effects, and I’m going to do it anyway”.no only that it is grave matter… If you commit a sin of grave matter on accident, or are not fully thinking about what you’re doing, this requirement is not fulfilled.

I hope this helped.

 

[McatholicN]

Here’s to help all the people wondering if they have committed mortal sin.

a few notes on your notes

In order for a sin to be mortal all three of these must be met:

Grave matter:

• The sin must be very serious. it simply has to be grave matterThis is no simple everyday little sin. It would be hard to forget that you committed such a sin.
• I believe, that since all three requirements must be met, that committing a venial sin that you believe to be mortal is still venial since it is not of grave matter (unless the belief that it was mortal, and carrying through with it is mortal itself).those with scruples need to stop reading here…ok are they gone? Good…ok yes one can commit a mortal sin when one believes the matter is grave and does it with the full knowledge and complete consent…this is one way to have grave matter…(it can be thus mortal for one is willing to do “something grave” will FK and CC)…now those with scruples are gone at this point…but if anyone were to talk with them…it must be remembered that they can tend to think lots of things are grave matter…but they are not…they need to follow their confessors and the principles given them…and not worry here…for they are in a different boat about this…they have now ‘formed their conscience’ by their confessor or other good way and know that they have scruples and need to ignore their fearful scruples as told them by their confessors etc…

Full Knowledge:

• You must know before the sin is committed (or during, if you continue doing it) that what you are doing is very wrong must know it is grave matterand that you will be cutting yourself off fully from God.no one need not think this…only that it is grave matter
• If you can look back to all the time since your last confession, and think that you have not committed a mortal sin, then you most likely haven’t. This is because, even if you have committed a sin of grave matter and you don’t know it, you didn’t have full knowledge at the time (unless you forgot).can be reasonable for some…the lax less so…but yes one can examine themselves and if they are seeking to really follow Christ they are likely going to recall a mortal sin …

Full consent of the will:

• This has to do with culpability. You must have to be fully thinking about the sin and its effects beforehand (or during, if you continue doing it).no …you need only give complete consent…one need not think of effects etc… You must be thinking “okay, I know the effects, and I’m going to do it anyway”.no only that it is grave matter… If you commit a sin of grave matter on accident, or are not fully thinking about what you’re doing, this requirement is not fulfilled.

I hope this helped.

Thanks for clearing up any falsehoods! Are you sure that everything else you did not correct and what you added is fully in line with Church teaching?

 

[Vince1022]

McatholicN:
Thanks for clearing up any falsehoods! Are you sure that everything else you did not correct and what you added is fully in line with Church teaching?

Is your original post simply copying Church teaching, or did you add some of your own thoughts? Just to clarify. Thanks.

 

[McatholicN]

Thanks for clearing up any falsehoods! Are you sure that everything else you did not correct and what you added is fully in line with Church teaching?

Is your original post simply copying Church teaching, or did you add some of your own thoughts? Just to clarify. Thanks.

Just my own thoughts.

 

[Vince1022]

Is your original post simply copying Church teaching, or did you add some of your own thoughts? Just to clarify. Thanks.

Just my own thoughts.

Thank you, that was very helpful. Appreciate the clarification. I think I understand your point now.

 

[McatholicN]

Just my own thoughts.

Thank you, that was very helpful. Appreciate the clarification. I think I understand your point now.

I don’t think I was right on everything, though. I actually not really sure what’s correct and what isn’t in it.

 

[whitecrayon]

i have a question for this thread: what about christians or others who commit a mortal sin without realizing it or without being catholic (and therefore going to confession and serving penance over the mortal sin)? for example, i am extremely interested in becoming a true catholic soon, once i have learned enough to make an adult, informed decision before beginning any rite for christian initiaition of adults (rcia). i am a devout christian man, and i have assuredly been called to roman catholicism by the holy father, god. however, there may be a few issues i have to understand well in regards to holy roman catholic doctrine and my limited and personal christian understandings of certain matters. i am fairly seriously educated, generally liberal in both thought and politics, and god has assuredly taught me many things about myself, human nature, life in general, morality, etc, through my guardian angel and directly himself. therefore, i must learn first what the vatican and the holy church teach on certain subjects and questions before i can with a pure heart undertake rcia. however, i know it can be done. god and i both hope for me to find some church some day where i can fit in, worship, pray, ask questions, find fellowship, help others, enjoy spiritual experiences, sing, etc, and my explorations into various different churches has led me to believe that the catholic faith is by far the holiest, most knowledgeable and most powerful of the christian denominations.

back to my question: can any reader of this query answer, what about someone like me, who may have committed a mortal sin at some time in the past, but who has never even been baptized catholic, let alone taken confession and communion? personally, i believe the matter would be up to god almighty, but i am interested in any serious commentary any reader of this can provide pertaining to the holy roman church’s official understanding of such a matter. also, i ask, what about a human being who maybe has never even heard the gospels and who may know absolutely nothing about mortal and venial sins? what is doctrine regarding such a person’s fate? is it up to god to judge each of us when we face him for the first judgement, or does the holy church have real, inspired insight into the answers to these questions already? if the latter, can a father or some other catholic expert help me get to the light, so to speak?

with hope and love and a desire to learn
whitecrayon

 

[Bookcat]

i have a question

Much can be known in various ways (about morality)…like one can know …murder is real real bad…etc…

The Person though is judged by God…we can not see into his heart…

As to salvation per se…anyone who is saved…is saved by Jesus Christ and this involves the Church as well…though the person may not know him explicitly or the Church explicitly…

God can do this…

Here is what the Second Vatican Council taught:

“Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.”

So such is possible…but of course Jesus is the WAY…even if someone never hears his name on earth…

We are to propose Jesus Christ to others…so they may come to know him…and *true life *in him …in the Catholic Church…we are to proclaim him and joyfully share with others the Gospel …the Good News.

But Yes God can still work in ways we do not know…

As for where you are right now…come on in! Come and see…and get your questions answered…trust me Christ is the answer

Begin by sincerely repenting of your sins out of love of God and telling Jesus you will do what he asks…believing in him…and then come and learn and pray…and seek…and find.

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/urbi/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20101225_urbi_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/urbi/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20090412_urbi-easter_en.html

 

[Vince1022]

i have a question for this thread: what about christians or others who commit a mortal sin without realizing it or without being catholic (and therefore going to confession and serving penance over the mortal sin)? for example, i am extremely interested in becoming a true catholic soon, once i have learned enough to make an adult, informed decision before beginning any rite for christian initiaition of adults (rcia). i am a devout christian man, and i have assuredly been called to roman catholicism by the holy father, god. however, there may be a few issues i have to understand well in regards to holy roman catholic doctrine and my limited and personal christian understandings of certain matters. i am fairly seriously educated, generally liberal in both thought and politics, and god has assuredly taught me many things about myself, human nature, life in general, morality, etc, through my guardian angel and directly himself. therefore, i must learn first what the vatican and the holy church teach on certain subjects and questions before i can with a pure heart undertake rcia. however, i know it can be done. god and i both hope for me to find some church some day where i can fit in, worship, pray, ask questions, find fellowship, help others, enjoy spiritual experiences, sing, etc, and my explorations into various different churches has led me to believe that the catholic faith is by far the holiest, most knowledgeable and most powerful of the christian denominations.

back to my question: can any reader of this query answer, what about someone like me, who may have committed a mortal sin at some time in the past, but who has never even been baptized catholic, let alone taken confession and communion? personally, i believe the matter would be up to god almighty, but i am interested in any serious commentary any reader of this can provide pertaining to the holy roman church’s official understanding of such a matter. also, i ask, what about a human being who maybe has never even heard the gospels and who may know absolutely nothing about mortal and venial sins? what is doctrine regarding such a person’s fate? is it up to god to judge each of us when we face him for the first judgement, or does the holy church have real, inspired insight into the answers to these questions already? if the latter, can a father or some other catholic expert help me get to the light, so to speak?

with hope and love and a desire to learn
whitecrayon

According to Catholic teaching, one can’t commit a mortal sin without realizing it’s a sin.

Do you mean: what if someone commits an act that the Catholic Church is wrong (or even intrinsically evil) even if they aren’t Catholic or don’t agree with Catholic moral teaching?