Question about the unforgivable sin

[someperson]

I hear that the unforgivable sin is final impertinence. However Jesus says it’s blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and Thomas Aquinas says 6 sins are blasphemies against the holy spirit are despair,presumption, obstinacy, resisting truth, and envy of another’s spiritual welfare. So are these sins unforgivable? What if they are committed multiple times with knowledge of it being bad? Can someone please explain?

 

[kapp19]

Many distinctions must be made.

Try reading Article 3 - it explains the senses in which a sin which can actually be forgiven is “unforgivable.” SUMMA THEOLOGIAE: Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Secunda Secundae Partis, Q. 14)

 

[Vico]

I hear that the unforgivable sin is final impertinence. However Jesus says it’s blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and Thomas Aquinas says 6 sins are blasphemies against the holy spirit are despair,presumption, obstinacy, resisting truth, and envy of another’s spiritual welfare. So are these sins unforgivable? What if they are committed multiple times with knowledge of it being bad? Can someone please explain?

Final impenitence is dying unreconciled with God, through loss of faith, despair, or a blasphemous rejection of God’s love.

 

[Inquiry]

Consider it this way. An adulterer may long for his next tryst even as he confesses to his last one and his confession is still good. His sin, difficult as it is to stop, does not actually interfere with his craving for God nor his fear of punishment. He can still hold a desire to stop sinning despite his attachment to the sin itself.

Not so for the blasphemer. His denial of forgiveness or salvation means he cannot ask for forgiveness or salvation. One who despairs can’t ask for the mercy he rejects. The presumer cannot try to avoid a punishment he does not fear. The impenitent cannot ask forgiveness for something he does not regret. The sin sits like a boulder in the path to reconciliation; forgiveness is impossible until it is moved.

Note, this cuts both ways. If someone can meet the requirements for reconciliation they are not blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. Someone who asks for forgiveness despite overwhelming fear that it is not forthcoming is not actually in despair. That’s faith in the face of fear. Someone who doesn’t hate the sin but does fear the consequence is not fully impenitent. That’s imperfect contrition.