Praying in Mortal Sin?

[acatholicguy]

What is the Catholic teaching on praying in a state of mortal sin? I know that we should pray, even when in a state of mortal sin, but I am unsure what effect it has. I am also aware that we can not judge whether we are in a state of mortal sin simply based on feelings, but based on personal experience, I am wondering how it feels for you when you pray in a state of mortal sin. For me I feel disconnected from God, angry and unsettled, and unhappy. Thanks for answering!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

God hears all sincere prayers, including those of people in mortal sin. Just like the father of the Prodigal Son, God is always waiting for the mortal sinner to come back and is happy when they pray or reach out as long as they’re sincere.

Any sort of sincere prayer to God will help you spiritually because you’re maintaining that relationship with God. As for “what effect it has”, it’s not like God is setting aside a sinner’s prayer and paying much more attention to a good person’s prayer. Probably the biggest effect is on the person praying in that they open the lines of communication with God and can thus receive God’s grace.

If you feel disconnected from God, angry and unsettled, and unhappy when you are in a state of sin that may be serious, then it’s probably just your conscience bothering you. It’s normal to want to approach God in a state of being the best we can be. I prayed sometimes while I was likely in a state of mortal sin and I remember mostly longing for God and for our relationship to be simple again like when I was a little girl and hadn’t grown up and committed big sins. I am always trying to get back to that now. Just to be a child with God again and have that childlike wonder and trust.

 

[Ron_Conte]

persons in a state of unrepentant mortal sin can cooperate with actual graces to some extent. (If they ever were to cooperate with actual grace fully, they would repent and return to the state of grace by perfect contrition.) Prayer in cooperation with actual grace, even by someone without habitual grace, can be effective, especially in leading the person to a full conversion and repentance, so that they return to grace.

 

[anna]

Jesus is always there waiting for you to come to Him. Praying in the state of mortal sin may lead one back to the Heart of Jesus , by going to confession you will feel all that weight lifted. God bless you.

 

[Vico]

What is the Catholic teaching on praying in a state of mortal sin? I know that we should pray, even when in a state of mortal sin, but I am unsure what effect it has. I am also aware that we can not judge whether we are in a state of mortal sin simply based on feelings, but based on personal experience, I am wondering how it feels for you when you pray in a state of mortal sin. For me I feel disconnected from God, angry and unsettled, and unhappy. Thanks for answering!

EWTN, David Gregson:

… we can’t merit de condigno [or condign merit] if we’re in mortal sin. Nor can we even keep the merits we’d gained before falling into mortal sin. However, when we’re restored to grace, on confessing our sins and receiving absolution, all the merits we’d lost are returned to us.

Merit de congruo (or congruous merit), on the other hand, can be gained even if we’re not in a state of grace.

So, to answer your question, prayers and good works done between mortal sin and absolution are not wasted. They make us more receptive to sanctifying grace when it is restored to us, and the more receptive we are, the more we benefit from it.

http://www.ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage_print.asp?number=370419&language=en

 

[Irishmom2]

It never occured to me that people wouldn’t pray if they are in mortal sin. Thanks for the link, Vico.