Question about Lapsed Catholics

[RinoaHeartilly]

I have a couple older family members who have fallen out of attending Mass for years. They were all baptized, confirmed and all still maintain a belief in God and still participate in family prayers (during holidays), but would they still go to heaven even if they don’t attend Mass anymore? They are good people and lead good lives (I’m not sure if they engage in pre-marital sex, though), but the RC Church says that missing Mass is a mortal sin and that if someone dies in a state of mortal sin, that person is doomed to hell with no chance of purgatory. I’m pretty sure that my lapsed relatives don’t realize the gravity of how serious missing Mass is, though, so would it still count as a mortal sin if they’re not fully aware of the seriousness of the sin?

 

[TRH1292]

A mortal sin is a sin that is 1. A grave matter. 2. Done with full knowledge. 3. Done with deliberate consent.

 

[RPRPsych]

I have a couple older family members who have fallen out of attending Mass for years. They were all baptized, confirmed and all still maintain a belief in God and still participate in family prayers (during holidays), but would they still go to heaven even if they don’t attend Mass anymore? They are good people and lead good lives (I’m not sure if they engage in pre-marital sex, though), but the RC Church says that missing Mass is a mortal sin and that if someone dies in a state of mortal sin, that person is doomed to hell with no chance of purgatory. I’m pretty sure that my lapsed relatives don’t realize the gravity of how serious missing Mass is, though, so would it still count as a mortal sin if they’re not fully aware of the seriousness of the sin?

To continue from what the previous poster said: it’s possible that they do not have full knowledge, as you point out.

However, the “is this mortal or not” debate is a dangerous game to play; prudence would dictate that we warn and admonish where it is possible to do so.

Besides, there is always the possibility of growing in the faith, repenting, and resorting to the Sacrament of Confession.

 

[Googler]

youtube.com/watch?v=r8lf7RLYIww
Sorry, I think every baptized adult Catholic should’ve been revealed the seriousness of mass by then. Many have died while immature in their faith. Purity happens. Purity matters. No excuses.
As long as all in confessed, the Lord don’t remember our past, just the state we are in when we die. And that’s such a consolation for gratitude in prayer. Discern each and every mortal sin you have and humbly repent, resolve to correct your ways, sincerely.

 

[JRKH]

A mortal sin is a sin that is 1. A grave matter. 2. Done with full knowledge. 3. Done with deliberate consent.

To continue from what the previous poster said: it’s possible that they do not have full knowledge, as you point out.

Also - to clarify what constitutes “full knowledge and complete consent”…The Catechism states…
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 heart133 do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin.
(Bolding mine)
So - “full knowledge” only requires that one knows it is a sin. “Complete consent” only requires that one is making a deliberate, personal choice.
I post this because some wish to place the bar of what constitutes “full knowledge and deliberate consent” extremely high and we need to be clear on how the Church defines this.

However, the “is this mortal or not” debate is a dangerous game to play; prudence would dictate that we warn and admonish where it is possible to do so.

Besides, there is always the possibility of growing in the faith, repenting, and resorting to the Sacrament of Confession.

Agreed - and often times it is better and more productive to live out our faith and to encourage others rather than to “warn and admonish” (not that these don’t have their place).
If people feel attacked they can become very defensive. This can throw up walls that are very difficult to then tear down. Good example, sharing our faith openly, noting the many advantages of mass attendance etc. can start others thinking for themselves thereby leading to a true conversion and - as you say above a, “growing in the faith, repenting, and resorting to the Sacrament of Confession”.

Peace
James

 

[Susannah21]

As we worship totally loving God, I am not happy about ‘admonishing’ anyone and think I would respect their freedom before God and not judge them.
Prayer and personal testimony are always ok and I would pray for them first, then try to show them how God’s love has helped and saved me and my own need of His grace and blessings in my life. I would put no pressure on them but be clear that it’s ok to talk about these matters. That could lead to them thinking things over and adjusting their lives. God first loved us and His love is so vast, we can follow His prompts.

 

[RPRPsych]

Agreed - and often times it is better and more productive to live out our faith and to encourage others rather than to “warn and admonish” (not that these don’t have their place).
If people feel attacked they can become very defensive. This can throw up walls that are very difficult to then tear down. Good example, sharing our faith openly, noting the many advantages of mass attendance etc. can start others thinking for themselves thereby leading to a true conversion and - as you say above a, “growing in the faith, repenting, and resorting to the Sacrament of Confession”.

Peace
James

A very good point. Often the examples we set are more powerful than anything we might say.

 

[JRKH]

A very good point. Often the examples we set are more powerful than anything we might say.

Amen

I’d go even further and say that our example is always more powerful than anything we might say…

Peace
James

 

[RPRPsych]

Amen

I’d go even further and say that our example is always more powerful than anything we might say…

Peace
James

True. I personally “came back” (not that I fell away, but let’s just say I had a very bad habit of missing Masses ) in that way, so I can’t dispute this at all.

 

[RinoaHeartilly]

These are all very good replies Thank you all so much for this great advice, I have a much better idea of this now.

 

[JRKH]

Glad to have helped.

Peace
James

 

[bben15]

For anyone to incur mortal sin, they must give their full consent, they must know that it is a mortal sin, and it must be a grave matter.

So that means that if they deliberately miss Mass and they know it is grave matter, they incur mortal sin.