Restoring the state of grace

[preyoflove]

How and when is a Catholic, in a state of mortal sin, restored to the state of grace?

It would be appreciated if you include links to articles or websites elaborating on the points of your reply.

Thank you and God bless.

 

[Benadam]

preyoflove:

How and when is a Catholic, in a state of mortal sin, restored to the state of grace?

It would be appreciated if you include links to articles or websites elaborating on the points of your reply.

Thank you and God bless.

when the mortal sin is confessed with contrition and absolution given by a Priest.

 

[preyoflove]

Dying not in a state of grace means dying in a state of mortal sin, correct? Dying in the state of mortal sin earns you hell, right?

Say it was not humanly possible to administer the last rites before death, does a person, who died in a state of mortal sin, before having confessed his sins and receiving absolution for those sins, end up in hell–granted there was an intention to confess those sins as soon as possible?

If not, is he therefore in a state of grace even though he had not yet confessed his sins and had not yet received absolution?

Thank you and God bless.

 

[Fidelis]

preyoflove:

Dying not in a state of grace means dying in a state of mortal sin, correct? Dying in the state of mortal sin earns you hell, right?

Say it was not humanly possible to administer the last rites before death, does a person, who died in a state of mortal sin, before having confessed his sins and receiving absolution for those sins, end up in hell–granted there was an intention to confess those sins as soon as possible?

If not, is he therefore in a state of grace even though he had not yet confessed his sins and had not yet received absolution?

Thank you and God bless.

In this particular hypothetical situation, it seems that if the person had the sincere intent but absolutely no chance to carry it out, he may go to heaven. He could be in a state of grace because God would know his heart and place him there.

Notice that I use the words “may” and “could.” When we discuss things like salvation and how it relates to God’s justice and mercy, hypothetical situations are almost impossible to answer to anyone’s satisfation. All we really know is the normal means of forgiveness that Christ through his Church has provided for us. Beyond that, only God knows and we rely on his infinite mercy in exercising his perfect justice.

 

[Benedictus]

Fidelis:

In this particular hypothetical situation, it seems that if the person had the sincere intent but absolutely no chance to carry it out, he may go to heaven. He could be in a state of grace because God would know his heart and place him there.

In particular, he would need to make an act of perfect contrition in order to be saved. If he only made an act of imperfect contrition, then he’d go to hell.

Of course, only God can know his heart.

 

[chicago]

I think that the answer concerning the dying person is “we don’t know”. Sacramental absolution is the only way we can be certain of forgiveness of mortal sin. Could God choose to show his mercy to someone who can’t confess for whatever reason. Sure. But we couldn’t accurately adjudicate where that person went following death.