Praying While in a State of Sin

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fishergirl20

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Does God still hear and answer prayers even if I am in a state of mortal sin? I pray the Rosary every night and the other day I committed a mortal sin. I felt so ashamed and felt unworthy to pray the Rosary for my special intentions. The only prayer I could ask God for was forgiveness of my sin. I went to Confession the very next day and was absolved. But what about in the future if I commit a mortal sin and I can’t get to Confession for a while, maybe a week or so because of when the churches around where I live only have it scheduled once a week. If I am in a state of mortal sin, can I still pray to God for my regular intentions and will He still hear me and answer my prayers until I get to Confession? I just feel like I can’t ask for anything in my prayers when I am not in a state of grace.

Fishergirl
 
Our God isma forgiving God. Perform/pray a perfect act of contrition, and then continue to pray for forgiveness through your rosary and other prayers.
 
The best time to pray IS when we are in a state of sin.

Just like the best time to see a doctor is when we know we are sick.
 
Hi triumphguy. You gave a pretty good answer there, but I’d have to disagree
just a little.
The VERY best time to pray would be before we fall into a mortal sin, for the
grace NOT TO fall into a mortal sin.
But OF COURSE continue to pray if you haven’t yet confessed your mortal sin.
You NEED to pray, and if you are sorry and remorseful and serious about repenting,
God will hear your prayer.
Now, until you confess your sin and are absolved,
you will not receive any partial indulgences you would have otherwise received for praying your rosary and other indulgenced prayers, but your prayers themselves WILL BE heard
(unless you have no remorse nor desire to repent whatsoever. In such cases, cases
of shameless, defiant, willful practice of serious sin, THEN a person’s prayers are actually detestable to God, according to scripture. But YOU do not fit that category at all).
God bless you. And keep praying. And don’t worry anymore. You went to confession and were absolved. Now ask God for indulgences, and pray some indulgenced prayers.
 
triumphguy said:
The best time to pray IS when we are in a state of sin.

Just like the best time to see a doctor is when we know we are sick.
Click to expand...
Yep…I was sitting in on an RCIA class…our good Padre was asked…pretty much this question, and if a confession should come first he’s a great irish priest (limerick) and he said: Ya should start praying the minute sin is recognized!" Great thing about an Irish priest no mincing words…very pith and to the point! I agree with him…if you recognize you have sinned or even are sinning…if you “come to yourself” while you are sinning a Conviction grips the heart …Then do…cry to God…Deliver me! Save me…have mercy on thy servant…
 
I’m glad that opening posted this question, because I have been curious about the answer to the question. You know basically I God going to be listening to me a sinner. You know sin, repent, confess, stay good for awhile and then do something stupid.

In all of this I never get away from my prayers and the rosary. No matter where I am I make time for what is important to me.

Thanks for posting.
 
Look at the parable that Jesus taught: Luke 18:10-14

Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican. I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: “O god, be merciful to me a sinner” I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather that the other, because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

And look at the writing of Jesus ben Sira:

Sirach 12:3
For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on the penitent.

Repentance is all that is needed for your prayer to ascend to highest heaven.
 
A little add to my first post…my Priest while speaking to an RCIA class re Sacrament of Confession …Said something I thought had wisdom, he said: “I actually assume or hope, an individual has prayed privately laying sins before God.” He explained that it, helped prepare hearts for this (sacrament ) and that private prayer aided in giving a sincere confession as it brought conviction and a perspective . He concluded , I do not close the confession and grant forgiveness with the words “In the name of Father K.” it was a great presentation IMHO our good Padre gave in showing the “Proxie” aspect of confession , I spoke about it to him later and he smiled and said: My Son, if folk cannot be honest before God… It is hard to be honest with me!(-: Pax! Love In Christ!
 
I just want to add one point that is probably obvious, but here goes …

While it’s good and even necessary to pray while in a state of sin, I don’t think we should pray while in a state of unrepentant sin.
 
Langdell said:
I just want to add one point that is probably obvious, but here goes …

While it’s good and even necessary to pray while in a state of sin, I don’t think we should pray while in a state of unrepentant sin.
Click to expand...
Quite right!!! Good qualifier!!! We #1 Pray to avoid occasions of sin. 2. If one stumbles and says “what am I doing”… Lord deliver me…Lord have mercy on they servant (a poster remarked God does not hear sinners…so your qualification runs both ways…I firmly believe if a Child of God in his Church…is Sincere, truly ashamed, and repentant…in his mercy…He hears. An insincere …might be shut down if ya don’t mean it, why would one expect deliverance . 3. I wanted make sure I was not downplaying the Sacrament of the confession …it is sometimes a chain of events may lead where , say…it’s not possible to find a priest…it can happen…travel…being in a non catholic area whatever…that you need to plead to the Almighty for Mercy…if its …going to be 3 days 5 days before its possible to see a priest…you do not wait for that to begin to cry for mercy and a changing of heart!!! But good yes…I do indeed thank you for the qualification …sincerity should be obvious …but…as my Priest said…it is why he expects Private Prayer even before you are in that booth… Like I said! Good Limerick Irish Priest he is…he feels if one is not honest to oneself and God…“how do I think then…they would be any more honest with me!”:cool: (Everyone needs an Irish priest at some point in their Journey!!! IMHO …
 
Langdell said:
I just want to add one point that is probably obvious, but here goes …

While it’s good and even necessary to pray while in a state of sin, I don’t think we should pray while in a state of unrepentant sin.
Click to expand...
I am bewildered by differentation between praying in the state of sin and not praying in the state of unrepentant sin.

To me the term unrepentant sin refers to the state of sin prior to confession and wouldn’t that also include praying in the state of sin.

For example: wouldn’t the person who prays the Act of Contrition and truely meaning it be considered a repentant sinner? Thus moving to a point where it would be good and necessary to pray while in a state of sin until the next opportunity for a full confession and forgiveness. So therefore its prayer that moves the sinner from being unrepentant to a repentant being. Then through confession we are forgiven of our sins.

Confession is most important because it is considered a gateway sacrament that allows one to partake of all the other sacraments.
 
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