Question about something I'm in some doubt over

[kantus12]

Right, so I’ll be quick.

My brother and I were playing a board game together last night (crazy, I know).
However, one thing both of us had quite forgotten was that my brother is not exactly a graceful loser. At one point, the dice roll came up very badly for him, and he nearly threw a small fit. He stopped shortly afterwards, and he felt awful about it, and we made up shortly after that. The thing is, though, that Christmas Mass is coming up and he’s not sure whether or not he ought to receive Communion or not, There may or may not be time to go to Confession before Christmas Mass, and he’s really quite distraught about this. What do you guys think?

 

[AJB328]

I wouldn’t say that a mortal sin was committed which would of course disqualify someone from worthily receiving communion. In this case it just sounds like venial sin that could wait until the next scheduled confession as long as he has true contrition.

That’s if all he did was stomp around and pout. If as a result of losing he was so distraught that he went out and robbed a liquor store, than that would be a different matter.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Sounds like venial sin to me - I don’t know that he had enough time to consider what he was doing by the time he was doing it - throwing the fit, that is. He should probably confess the venial sin of losing his temper so that he can receive the graces of the sacrament to help him in overcoming this vice.

 

[Beryllos]

Matthew 5:23-24 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

“So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”

It sounds like you and your brother are reconciled, so come and offer your gift.

 

[edward_george]

It’s a game. People’s emotions get up in the heat of the moment. I don’t see how this was a sin, and it’s certainly nowhere near what a mortal sin consists of. To review, a mortal sin is committed when there is

1. Grave Matter
2. Free Consent of the Will
3. Full Knowledge (i.e. sufficient reflection upon the matter at hand to know that it was grave).

I don’t see how any of those are present here. Getting mad while playing a game happens, it’s nothing too serious unless he is prone to fits of violence or something.

-ACEGC

 

[George_Stegmeir]

I don’t know how old your brother is, but if he is old enough to separate himself from your parents, he should try to get to the Church 15 or 20 minutes early and go into the Sacristy. If someone asks what he wants, he should say simply: “I need to see the Priest before Mass”. When the Priest come in to put on his Vestments, your brother could go up to the Priest and ask him to hear his Confession. This, the Priest surely will do.