Question about mortal sins

[Bailey476]

can sins be forgiven if you dont go to confession? Also is it ok to go to church if you havent confessed your mortal sins yet? And what if at the time when you commited a sin you didnt know it was a sin or how bad it was? is it still considered a sin?

 

[kaymart]

Your first two questions, No, you must go to Confession. Yes, you may go to Church, but can not recieve if you knowing committed a Mortal Sin…Someone else take the next one please…

 

[CatholicCorno]

Bailey476:

can sins be forgiven if you dont go to confession? Also is it ok to go to church if you havent confessed your mortal sins yet? And what if at the time when you commited a sin you didnt know it was a sin or how bad it was? is it still considered a sin?

OK, I’ll try the next question.

With any sin there is an objective component and a formal component. If a young person fornicates out of ignorance, the act is still intrinsically evil (and objectively a mortal sin) but it is possible that his/her ignorance would diminish or excuse any formal guilt. A good confessor can help determine whether or not a person is formally guilty and to what degree. If the person has sufficient knowledge and is acting freely, then he/she would be formally committing a mortal sin.

 

[Madia]

I recommend that you read the following sections of the Catechism:
scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a8.htm
scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm

Also, here is an examination of conscience:
catholic.org/frz/examen/examen.htm

Missing Mass on Sundays is grave matter so you are required to go whether or not you are in mortal sin. (There must be a serious reason (violently ill, etc.) to miss Mass on Sunday). Please read #2181 of the Catechism:
scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a3.htm#II

However, if you are in a state of mortal sin while attending Mass you cannot receive Holy Communion. To receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin is grave matter.

To receive a valid absolution you must confess all mortal sins by kind and (approximate) number. Don’t be embarrased and hold anything back (sexual sins, etc.). If you forget to confess any mortal sins, simply bring them up at your next confession. You are not back in a state of mortal sin by remembering forgotten sins. Just mention them during your next confession.

 

[Shiann]

Bailey476:

can sins be forgiven if you dont go to confession?

You are obligated to seek the sacrament of confession to seek repentance for mortal sins.

Think of it as a rope connecting you to God. Venial sin severs some of the threads of the rope, but mortal sin severs the whole rope.

We are obligated to correct that seperation, and seek confession.

If there is immediate and dire circumstances where confession is not possible, a repentant heart will suffice. But please note the IMMEDIATE and DIRE CIRCUMSTANCE part of that comment.

Also is it ok to go to church if you havent confessed your mortal sins yet?

Of course it is ok to go to Church if you haven’t confessed your mortal sins. You just may not receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.

And what if at the time when you commited a sin you didnt know it was a sin or how bad it was? is it still considered a sin?

There are three requirements to mortal sin.

Grave matter
Full knowledge
Deliberate consent

If one or more of these are missing, that person did not commit a mortal sin. But even so, this does not mean that one should not confess these actions in confession. Speaking of our less than honorable actions causes us to humble ourselves before the Lord, and our Church (the priest is the earthly representation of the Church). One can still recieve a great amount of healing from speaking these actions- even though at the time they were committed, they were not mortal sins.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Bailey476:

can sins be forgiven if you dont go to confession? Also is it ok to go to church if you havent confessed your mortal sins yet? And what if at the time when you commited a sin you didnt know it was a sin or how bad it was? is it still considered a sin?

Just to clarify the last point. When we deal with sin there are two aspects: objective and subjective. Sinful actions are always sinful whether we know they are sinful or not (this is the objective aspect). However, if we do not know they are sinful and commit them anyway then guilt is either not imputed to us or is mitigated. So, while the action remains sinful, it is not counted as sin for the one who is ignorant. It is still worth confessing, however.

In the Eastern Catholic (and Orthodox) tradition we have a beautiful prayer we say before communion:

I BELIEVE, LORD, and profess that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God, come to this world to save sinners, of whom I am the greatest. I believe also that this is really your spotless body and that this is really your precious blood Wherefore I pray to You: have mercy on me and pardon my offenses, the deliberate and the indeliberate, those committed in word and in deed whether knowingly or inadvertently; and count me worthy to share without condemnation your spotless mysteries, for the remission of sins and for eternal life. Amen.

RECEIVE ME NOW, O Son of God, as a participant in your mystical supper : for I will not betray your mystery to your enemies, nor give You a kiss like Judas, but like the thief, I confess You: remember me, Lord, in your kingdom.

Deacon Ed

 

[Bailey476]

so a sin is not considered mortal unless I knew it was a sin but did it anyway?

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Bailey476:

so a sin is not considered mortal unless I knew it was a sin but did it anyway?

I think that should read “knew or could have known”. One is not held accountable for that which one did not have the opportunity/capability to know - invincible ignorance. However, one is accountable for that which one could have known but avoided learning.

 

[Ignatius]

Bailey476:

can sins be forgiven if you dont go to confession? Also is it ok to go to church if you havent confessed your mortal sins yet? And what if at the time when you commited a sin you didnt know it was a sin or how bad it was? is it still considered a sin?

Last one first. Full knowledge and consent of the will is required to commit a mortal sin. I.E. If you didn’t know it at the time, it wasn’t a mortal sin.

You must attend mass every Sunday and Holy day of obligation. If you have committed a mortal sin with full knowledge and consent of the will, then you cannot receive communion until you go to confession.

Venial sins can be forgiven by an act of perfect contrition.

 

[Madia]

so a sin is not considered mortal unless I knew it was a sin but did it anyway?

A sin has to be grave matter, you have to have full knowledge and/or firm belief and fully consent to it for it to be a mortal sin.

For example, the vast majority of people know that killing an innocent person is gravely wrong. Now, a person may have no idea of the concept of mortal sin but if he knows that killing an innocent person is gravely wrong and fully consents to doing it anyway he would have committed a mortal sin. He may not know it is called a mortal sin but he would have still committed it.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Bailey

I would encourage you to discuss this with a priest also. And if after you go to confession you learn that something was a grave sin (although a confession occured and forgiveness given) it would be acceptable and good to bring it up at the next confession.