Questions on mortal sin

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Hi! I have a question about mortal sins.
To make a sin mortal three things are necessary:
(1) the thought, desire, work, action, or omission must be seriously wrong or considered seriously wrong;
(2) The sinner must be mindful of the serious wrong;
(3) The sinner must fully consent to it (Baltimore Catechism).
from: concernedcatholics.org/sins.htm
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And I was just wondering, that in order for a sin to be a mortal one, does that mean that these three things be done at the same time? Or maybe just one or two?

And what if you commit a sin, and you have no idea that you’re committing a sin but regret/realize that what you’ve done is bad afterwards, is that mortal sin? For example, lying unexpectedly but you weren’t aware that you’re lying and you realize that what you’ve done is wrong, is that considered a mortal sin?

Thanks!
 
Mortal sin

Mortal sin is defined by St. Augustine (Reply to Faustus XXII.27) as “Dictum vel factum vel concupitum contra legem æternam”, i.e. something said, done or desired contrary to the eternal law, or a thought, word, or deed contrary to the eternal law. This is a definition of sin as it is a voluntary act. As it is a defect or privation it may be defined as an aversion from God, our true last end, by reason of the preference given to some mutable good. The definition of St. Augustine is accepted generally by theologians and is primarily a definition of actual mortal sin. It explains well the material and formal elements of sin. The words “dictum vel factum vel concupitum” denote the material element of sin, a human act: “contra legem æternam”, the formal element. The act is bad because it transgresses the Divine law. St. Ambrose (De paradiso, viii) defines sin as a “prevarication of the Divine law”. The definition of St. Augustine strictly considered, i.e. as sin averts us from our true ultimate end, does not comprehend venial sin, but in as much as venial sin is in a manner contrary to the Divine law, although not averting us from our last end, it may be said to be included in the definition as it stands. While primarily a definition of sins of commission, sins of omission may be included in the definition because they presuppose some positive act (St. Thomas, I-II:71:5) and negation and affirmation are reduced to the same genus. Sins that violate the human or the natural law are also included, for what is contrary to the human or natural law is also contrary to the Divine law, in as much as every just human law is derived from the Divine law, and is not just unless it is in conformity with the Divine law.
👍
newadvent.org/cathen/14004b.htm
 
jcian12 said:
Hi! I have a question about mortal sins.

And I was just wondering, that in order for a sin to be a mortal one, does that mean that these three things be done at the same time? Or maybe just one or two?

And what if you commit a sin, and you have no idea that you’re committing a sin but regret/realize that what you’ve done is bad afterwards, is that mortal sin? For example, lying unexpectedly but you weren’t aware that you’re lying and you realize that what you’ve done is wrong, is that considered a mortal sin?

Thanks!
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If you do something and are not aware at the time that it is a serious sin, then for you it is not a mortal sin.

HOWEVER, if you do it again, now knowing that it IS a potentially mortal sin, then the second time, IT IS A MORTAL SIN FOR YOU.

So, being wiser, DON’T DO IT AGAIN.

AND, the circumstances that “led” you to committing the act would constitute “a near occasion of sin”. So you also have an obligation to avoid the circumstances … you also need to avoid, what for you, is a near occasion of sin.

If you deliberately put yourself in a circumstance that for you is a near occasion of sin, then THAT could also be, for you, a mortal sin.

If you meet with friends after work and have a few drinks and that leads to sinful acts … having fights or driving drunk or having sex outside of marriage, or spending money you need for supporting your family, etc, then you must not only give up the fighting, drunk driving, frivolous spending, and sex, but must also avoid the bar … because it leads you to mortal sin. Maybe even avoiding drinking.

You will need to change your habits … so that instead of visiting the bar after work, you go home a different way or stop at church for a late afternoon Mass.

In psychology, it is sometimes called “pattern interruption”. … changing your patterns of behavior.

Requires some sincere thought.

Sometimes, it only takes a very small change in behavior to get you off the hook.

If you get off a bus on the way home, and then walk past a bar and go in and get drunk, etc, … then maybe all you have to do is to get off the bus AFTER the bar, so you no longer have to walk in front of the bar … and then walk in.

Simplified example.

Think about it.

How can you change the pattern of how you act.
 
jcian12 said:
Hi! I have a question about mortal sins.

And I was just wondering, that in order for a sin to be a mortal one, does that mean that these three things be done at the same time? Or maybe just one or two?
/QUOTE]

Catechism of the Catholic Church:

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

Compendium:

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent.
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jcian12 said:
Hi! I have a question about mortal sins.

And I was just wondering, that in order for a sin to be a mortal one, does that mean that these three things be done at the same time? Or maybe just one or two?

And what if you commit a sin, and you have no idea that you’re committing a sin but regret/realize that what you’ve done is bad afterwards, is that mortal sin? For example, lying unexpectedly but you weren’t aware that you’re lying and you realize that what you’ve done is wrong, is that considered a mortal sin?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
So…all three need to be there together!

As to the second question…if you had no idea you were committing a sin…

You did not commit a mortal sin.

We do though have an obligation to form our conscience…so study the Compendium of the Catechism or the Catechism itself …or some other good sources etc…
jcian12 said:
For example, lying unexpectedly but you weren’t aware that you’re lying and you realize that what you’ve done is wrong, is that considered a mortal sin?
Click to expand...
to tell a lie not knowing it is not even knowing at all that your lying is not an actual sin 🙂

Such is called a mistake…and error.

And lies can be mortal or venial…often they are not serious (like being under oath in a court etc that is just one example) so are venial (not that they should be done!)

Let us live in Christ

BC
 
Remember too if you read the Baltimore Cat. there are some things out of date .

The Cathechism of the Catholic Church

and the Compendium of the Catechism (Issued by Pope Benedict XVI)

are the ones to reference.

From the Compedium:
  1. When does one commit a mortal sin?
1855-1861
1874

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.
  1. When does one commit a venial sin?
1862-1864
1875

One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html
 
jcian12 said:
Hi! I have a question about mortal sins.

And I was just wondering, that in order for a sin to be a mortal one, does that mean that these three things be done at the same time? Or maybe just one or two?

!
Click to expand...
it means what it says, all three conditions must be present
it must be gravely sinful
you must know it is sinful and know its gravity
and you must act with full intention and free will consent

if you are doubtful simply bring it up in confession, simply the name of the sin, an adjective if necessary, the verb for the action, and add if necessary, Father I did not know at the time it was sinful but I just found that out, and I am still very sorry for what I did. comments on this forum are personal opinion, more or less informed, and sometimes backed up by relevant Church teaching. Counsel that helps you spiritually and absolves your sin takes place in confession, so that is where these personal situations should be raised.
 
Thanks to all those who replied! And I was just wondering, what do they mean by “grave matter”?
 
jcian12 said:
Thanks to all those who replied! And I was just wondering, what do they mean by “grave matter”?
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adultery, Lust, murder, Blasphemy…

The “matter itself”…the kind of sin that is…is “serious”

Murder is a grave matter. If I do it with full knowledge and deliberate consent I commit a moral sin (mortal sin, grave sin, or serious sin).

(the terms mortal sin, serious sin, grave sin by the way is used interchangeablely…)
 
1858 Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: "Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother."132 The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger.
 
some things are always grave matter (murder, lust)…some things can be either grave matter (Theft: stealing a car) or venial matter (Theft: stealing a pencil)
 
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