question about sin

[Monica4316]

Hi

I’ve been thinking about sin in general…

I think I’m beginning to figure this out but it’s still confusing so I’d appreciate any help

If a person has a thought - like an angry thought, or an impure thought, - but they disagree with it and don’t want it, then it’s either not a sin or venial sin? Mortal sin is only if the person knows it’s wrong, but agrees with it anyways and wants it and chooses it?

I know this is a very basic question but I just want to make sure.

Thanks

 

[Art321]

Hi

I’ve been thinking about sin in general…

I think I’m beginning to figure this out but it’s still confusing so I’d appreciate any help

If a person has a thought - like an angry thought, or an impure thought, - but they disagree with it and don’t want it, then it’s either not a sin or venial sin? Mortal sin is only if the person knows it’s wrong, but agrees with it anyways and wants it and chooses it?

I know this is a very basic question but I just want to make sure.

Thanks

From what I have been told and heard, it is not a sin. It would be a sin if you were to act on it. That’s about it.

 

[Monica4316]

yea cause sometimes I get thoughts of all kinds but I don’t want them… afterwards I feel guilty though that the thought even went through my mind. I’m glad that God looks at our will…

 

[Art321]

yea cause sometimes I get thoughts of all kinds but I don’t want them… afterwards I feel guilty though that the thought even went through my mind. I’m glad that God looks at our will…

You know, that is exactly what happens to me sometimes as well. I wouid feel so guilty and ashamed of myself. But God know us, he knows that sometimes it just happens but he doesn’t hold that against us. He truly is GOOD!

 

[Monica4316]

You know, that is exactly what happens to me sometimes as well. I wouid feel so guilty and ashamed of myself. But God know us, he knows that sometimes it just happens but he doesn’t hold that against us. He truly is GOOD!

amen!

 

[JTheresa]

I’ve often thought about this, and had no clue until I listened to a talk that Father John Corapi gave. He said that when the devil was cast into hell God did not take away his angelic abilities. So in many cases, the devil and his demons will “project” thoughts and images into our minds that aren’t truly ours, just as the angels can “project” good thoughts into our minds that aren’t ours. These are typically those things that we remember “out of the blue”. Allowing the bad ones to remain in our minds and not immediately trying to get rid of them would be the sin. As long as we don’t bring them to mind and try to rid ourselves of them when they are there, then it’s not a sin.

Hopefully that helps!!

 

[Matt_707]

Yep, you guys nailed it on the head. I love this quote on the topic…

“Give me the grace good Lord, to set the world at naught; to set my mind fast upon Thee” - St. Thomas More

PAX

-Matt

 

[houston1]

Hi

I’ve been thinking about sin in general…

I think I’m beginning to figure this out but it’s still confusing so I’d appreciate any help

If a person has a thought - like an angry thought, or an impure thought, - but they disagree with it and don’t want it, then it’s either not a sin or venial sin? Mortal sin is only if the person knows it’s wrong, but agrees with it anyways and wants it and chooses it?

I know this is a very basic question but I just want to make sure.

Thanks

This sounds like temptation. If you do not dwell on the thought, you commit no sin. Furthermore, if you avoid the temptation to dwell on those thoughts (and receive some sort of pleasure from them) you are actually exercising virtue.

 

[Shin]

‘As they who endeavor to drive away a bad thought deserve a great reward from Heaven, in the same way they who resist holy inspirations expose themselves to the danger of falling into the greatest sins.’

St. Ignatius of Loyola

 

[Bookcat]

From what I have been told and heard, it is not a sin. It would be a sin if you were to act on it. That’s about it.

One does not have to act. one can sin in ones thoughts…

 

[Bookcat]

Hi

I’ve been thinking about sin in general…

I think I’m beginning to figure this out but it’s still confusing so I’d appreciate any help

If a person has a thought - like an angry thought, or an impure thought, - but they disagree with it and don’t want it, then it’s either not a sin or venial sin? Mortal sin is only if the person knows it’s wrong, but agrees with it anyways and wants it and chooses it?

I know this is a very basic question but I just want to make sure.

Thanks

A person can sin in ones thoughts…as Jesus points out well and the Church teaches (looking at a woman in order to lust for example).

But when it comes to thoughts that just “come to one out of the blue” …these are not sins if one does not consent to them. Or one can not help the fact that they come…but one does not consent…there is no sin.

and any sin is going to have the will involved…

For a mortal sin it would have to be grave matter…and then with full knowledge the person would give deliberate consent…complete consent.

 

[aspirant]

If a person has a thought - like an angry thought, or an impure thought, - but they disagree with it and don’t want it, then it’s either not a sin or venial sin?

If a person does not consent to it, it’s not a sin at all.

Mortal sin is only if the person knows it’s wrong, but agrees with it anyways and wants it and chooses it?

If it is grave matter, the person knows it’s wrong, and the person consents to/chooses it, yes, it would be a mortal sin. If I deliberately wished to murder my mother, for example, that would be a mortal sin. If it is not grave matter, the sin would be venial.

 

[Monica4316]

Thanks everyone

what if a person gets an unwanted thought… and at first they’re really shocked by it and try to block it out and distract themselves. But after a while, the temptation gets stronger and the thought begins repeating in their mind… and later when they’re half asleep, it repeats in their minds constantly and they just can’t stop it anymore, and it’s like they’re letting it happen through weakness but still not believing what the thought means. Would this be a mortal sin? cause it seems there is consent, but out of weakness than anything… then later when they’re more awake, the next day, they go back to (successfully) blocking the thought

 

[Matt_707]

Thanks everyone

what if a person gets an unwanted thought… and at first they’re really shocked by it and try to block it out and distract themselves. But after a while, the temptation gets stronger and the thought begins repeating in their mind… and later when they’re half asleep, it repeats in their minds constantly and they just can’t stop it anymore, and it’s like they’re letting it happen through weakness but still not believing what the thought means. Would this be a mortal sin? cause it seems there is consent, but out of weakness than anything… then later when they’re more awake, the next day, they go back to (successfully) blocking the thought

Good point…

It is most definitely not a mortal sin. There has to be FULL consent. Also, I don’t even think with full consent thoughts can be mortal sins. Of course it is not spiritually healthy and is still a venial sin, I do not think it would bring our souls out of a state of grace.

God Bless!

-Matt

 

[Monica4316]

thanks

I’m not clear on what full consent means… if a person gave in to a thought out of weakness, (but not out of malice), and didn’t truly agree with the thought even while it happened, and realized their mistake and repented right afterwards… is that for sure venial?

maybe I have OCD but for the past month this has been happening to me a lot and it’s not something I always have the strength to control. For example, when I’m tired, it happens more easily.

Right now, I’m just saying to myself that I’m not interested or curious in these thoughts, and push them away, and that works. although the temptation is still there… maybe this is the cross I have to carry in life.

 

[Bookcat]

thanks

I’m not clear on what full consent means… if a person gave in to a thought out of weakness, (but not out of malice), and didn’t truly agree with the thought even while it happened, and realized their mistake and repented right afterwards… is that for sure venial?

maybe I have OCD but for the past month this has been happening to me a lot and it’s not something I always have the strength to control. For example, when I’m tired, it happens more easily.

Right now, I’m just saying to myself that I’m not interested or curious in these thoughts, and push them away, and that works. although the temptation is still there… maybe this is the cross I have to carry in life.

Catechism:

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.

1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."131

---

Regarding when one is tempted and one wonders if one gave compete consent…various theological works give some helpful signs of not having complete consent…such as:

being half asleep…distracted by another matter and hardly noticing the thought…after the act or thought one scarcely remembers what happened…one hesitates but does not want to offend God and so after the moments of hesitation one rejects the temptation…one resists thoughts but in a half hearted way or in a weak manner putting up half resistance (hence partial consent so perhaps a venial sin)…

---

Please remember to relax…do not fight so much directly…read what I wrote before…do not fear them…just simply do not consent and gently turn to something else…

 

[AndyF]

Monica:

Just don’t entertain the thought. In other words don’t take interest in it by making a mental action to continue in it’s pleasure. A priest once told me to think, “I love you Jesus” which pretty well throws cold water on it.

The more you practice this, the less at home these mental free loaders feel, and the less they want to stay.

Andy

 

[aspirant]

what if a person gets an unwanted thought… and at first they’re really shocked by it and try to block it out and distract themselves.

As long as the thought is truly unwanted, not deliberately chosen, there is no sin. Especially when you are actively resisting it.

when they’re half asleep, it repeats in their minds constantly and they just can’t stop it anymore

If you are not conscious, you are not consenting.

Also, I don’t even think with full consent thoughts can be mortal sins.

Moral theologians do not agree with you about this. Consenting to gravely evil actions, even if one does not commit the act in deed, is a mortal sin. This is based directly on Jesus’ teaching: “anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” As in my previous example: If I deliberately wished to murder my mother, that would be a mortal sin. Many gravely immoral acts, like covetousness, occur primarily in the will.

 

[Matt_707]

thanks

I’m not clear on what full consent means… if a person gave in to a thought out of weakness, (but not out of malice), and didn’t truly agree with the thought even while it happened, and realized their mistake and repented right afterwards… is that for sure venial?

maybe I have OCD but for the past month this has been happening to me a lot and it’s not something I always have the strength to control. For example, when I’m tired, it happens more easily.

Right now, I’m just saying to myself that I’m not interested or curious in these thoughts, and push them away, and that works. although the temptation is still there… maybe this is the cross I have to carry in life.

The way you are describing it indicates that it is certainly not a mortal sin… It is great you are very concerned about it, but you are in the clear

Of course, it is something to try to overcome and really “take the bull by the horns” if you know what I mean. It is definitely something you would want to discuss with a priest during confession also.

I think that everybody struggles with these thoughts… I know I do. What has been working for me, as of late, is telling myself that these thoughts will not bring happiness to my life. Only Jesus and his most Blessed Mother will. So I steer away from them with ease.

Hope that helps! God Bless you.

-Matt

 

[Matt_707]

Moral theologians do not agree with you about this. Consenting to gravely evil actions, even if one does not commit the act in deed, is a mortal sin. This is based directly on Jesus’ teaching: “anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” As in my previous example: If I deliberately wished to murder my mother, that would be a mortal sin. Many gravely immoral acts, like covetousness, occur primarily in the will.

That makes sense. Thank you.

-Matt