Receiving the Eucharist when doubtful about state of soul

  • Thread starter Thread starter upbeatjonm
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
If you go to a regular confessor, ask him!

I have done this with my priest. He has said that for certain sins, I can receive Holy Communion (not a mortal sin for me). He has also told me that for some sins, I am not to receive.

That helps with removing doubt.
 
If you seriously don’t know if something is a mortal sin - then it can’t be one for you until you find if it is in fact a mortal sin. However, you have an obligation to find out also.
 
As you may know, it is difficult to tell for sure if we are in the state of grace. There is no light bulb which is on or off to be sure.

Many sins, while potentially grave, are sometimes difficult to know if it crossed the line into mortal sin. An example: seeing a beautiful person, and giving a second or third glance at their beauty could become lust. Or it might be normal attraction and only venial.

yes one can sin…mortally or venially…but one needs to not scruple about things either…In particular…certain “ways” of looking or thinking can be grave matters…looking in order to lust in one way or another…but do not take simply the fact that you noticed a persons well proportioned body to be a sin…or felt attraction…though of course make use of reasonable custody of the eyes…and live a chaste and modest life…

Question: if a person has committed a sin, and is not sure whether or not it was mortal (as in above example), should that person abstain from communion?

We are not to receive communion …when we are conscious of mortal sin (grave sin…means the same in this context) and that is when there was grave matter…full knowledge and complete consent…

so yes we need to examine ourselves…but not so far as to scruple about things…

I would discuss this and other things with your confessor…you may be developing a tendency to scruples…or maybe not…
 
Bookcat said:
As you may know, it is difficult to tell for sure if we are in the state of grace. There is no light bulb which is on or off to be sure.

Many sins, while potentially grave, are sometimes difficult to know if it crossed the line into mortal sin. An example: seeing a beautiful person, and giving a second or third glance at their beauty could become lust. Or it might be normal attraction and only venial.

yes one can sin…mortally or venially…but one needs to not scruple about things either…In particular…certain “ways” of looking or thinking can be grave matters…looking in order to lust in one way or another…but do not take simply the fact that you noticed a persons well proportioned body to be a sin…or felt attraction…though of course make use of reasonable custody of the eyes…and live a chaste and modest life…

Question: if a person has committed a sin, and is not sure whether or not it was mortal (as in above example), should that person abstain from communion?

We are not to receive communion …when we are conscious of mortal sin (grave sin…means the same in this context) and that is when there was grave matter…full knowledge and complete consent…

so yes we need to examine ourselves…but not so far as to scruple about things…

I would discuss this and other things with your confessor…you may be developing a tendency to scruples…or maybe not…
Click to expand...
Thanks, this helps a lot.👍
 
upbeatjonm said:
As you may know, it is difficult to tell for sure if we are in the state of grace. There is no light bulb which is on or off to be sure.

Many sins, while potentially grave, are sometimes difficult to know if it crossed the line into mortal sin. An example: seeing a beautiful person, and giving a second or third glance at their beauty could become lust. Or it might be normal attraction and only venial.

Question: if a person has committed a sin, and is not sure whether or not it was mortal (as in above example), should that person abstain from communion?
In other words, when in doubt, shoud we error on the side of receiving communion or not? I go to confession about 1 time a month. Don’t want to become overly scrupulous.
Click to expand...
Three requirements that make a sin mortal: 1: Grave matter
2:advertence( full knowledge) of it’s sinfulness
3: full consent of the will (deliberation)
The absence of any one of these conditions will make a sin not mortal, or not a sin at all.
Chapter three Moral Evil, Fr. John Laux,M.A.

Or the old standby First :seriously wrong, Second:sinner must be mindful of the serious wrong, Third:sinner must fully consent to it.
 
thomas_jd said:
Three requirements that make a sin mortal: 1: Grave matter
2:advertence( full knowledge) of it’s sinfulness
3: full consent of the will (deliberation)
The absence of any one of these conditions will make a sin not mortal, or not a sin at all.
Chapter three Moral Evil, Fr. John Laux,M.A.

Or the old standby First :seriously wrong, Second:sinner must be mindful of the serious wrong, Third:sinner must fully consent to it.
Click to expand...
Understood. However, the first part: grave matter, can have varying degrees of “gravity”, thus the confusion. Example: stealing can be venial (stealing a paperclip from work) to mortal (embezzling a gazillion bucks). However, we can never know for sure where the exact line is where it passes from venial to mortal. If you know such a list, let me know. Sins of the eyes are prime examples of sins with varying degrees of gravity and culpability.
 
upbeatjonm said:
Understood. However, the first part: grave matter, can have varying degrees of “gravity”, thus the confusion. Example: stealing can be venial (stealing a paperclip from work) to mortal (embezzling a gazillion bucks). However, we can never know for sure where the exact line is where it passes from venial to mortal. If you know such a list, let me know. Sins of the eyes are prime examples of sins with varying degrees of gravity and culpability.
Click to expand...
Stealing a small amount (unless from say a homeless person who needs it to servive or something) is NOT GRAVE MATTER. It is light matter. (but still both be say theft)

It is a sin though.

Stealing a large amount is grave matter

Lust is grave matter

Murder is grave matter

etc

As they would say in moral theology …some things “admit of parvity of matter” that is some things can be grave (a large theft) or light matter (stealing a dollar).

Other things do not admit of smallness of matter such as murder.

And of course…some “grave matters” can be made even more grave…such as murder is grave…murder of ones parents is much more grave! (but still both are grave)

With time and good reading (CCC etc) and a good confessor you can figure these things out…

feel free to ask me if you like via PM etc.

Remember too the focus is on following Christ…yes this involves a no to sin…but a greater yes to Christ…following him with joy and growing in virtue…

(not to say you do not have this focus…but I perhaps some need to increase in it)
 
upbeatjonm said:
Understood. However, the first part: grave matter, can have varying degrees of “gravity”, thus the confusion. Example: stealing can be venial (stealing a paperclip from work) to mortal (embezzling a gazillion bucks). However, we can never know for sure where the exact line is where it passes from venial to mortal. If you know such a list, let me know. Sins of the eyes are prime examples of sins with varying degrees of gravity and culpability.
Click to expand...
I think you are being too scrupulous. Grave matter is extremely serious, likely to produce a great harm( Webster’s).
We know when a line has been crossed! If you don’t think it is mortal it isn’t!
This just touches the surface of sin. Read CCC# 1857,1858,1859,1860, and 1861 for a clearer understanding. I think this may take some effort on your part for a better understanding of “grave”. Good luck and God Bless!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top