State of this person's soul?

[wjp984]

If one is an otherwise faithful practicing Catholic except he or she occasionally takes a few vacations and almost always does not bother going to mass while on vacation, what would happen if he or she was on vacation and died on Saturday? Would this person have a mortal sin on them because had they lived they would have sinned by not going to mass or since they died before actually committing the sin that they in all probability would have committed are they still in a state of grace?

 

[thistle]

If one is an otherwise faithful practicing Catholic except he or she occasionally takes a few vacations and almost always does not bother going to mass while on vacation, what would happen if he or she was on vacation and died on Saturday? Would this person have a mortal sin on them because had they lived they would have sinned by not going to mass or since they died before actually committing the sin that they in all probability would have committed are they still in a state of grace?

Deliberately missing Mass on Sunday (or Saturday evening to fulfill the Sunday obligation) is a grave sin. If a person knows it to be a grave sin and commits it anyway then the grave sin becomes a mortal sin and the person is not in a state of grace and suddenly dying unrepentent would mean not being saved.

 

[wjp984]

I know that and perhaps I worded it a little confusing. This is one of those hypotheticals for the fun of it. The question is if you die on a Friday (I’ll change it to Friday so there is no confusion) but you planned on missing mass on Sunday, are you still in a state of grace since you did not actually committ the sin yet or did you sin and die in a state of mortal sin because the intent was there and probably would have been carried out if you lived until Monday.

 

[Liberanosamalo]

I don’t know. Because only God knows if you would have reconsidered your plans at the last minute and decided to go to Mass. A sin isn’t a sin until it’s actually done. Even if you were planning it, you might have repented and turned away from it at the last minute.

 

[Katie1723]

If one is an otherwise faithful practicing Catholic except he or she occasionally takes a few vacations and almost always does not bother going to mass while on vacation, what would happen if he or she was on vacation and died on Saturday? Would this person have a mortal sin on them because had they lived they would have sinned by not going to mass or since they died before actually committing the sin that they in all probability would have committed are they still in a state of grace?

A faithful Catholic deliberately missing Mass ?? Sounds kinda like an oxymoron to me.
Kathy

 

[StCsDavid]

I know that and perhaps I worded it a little confusing. This is one of those hypotheticals for the fun of it. The question is if you die on a Friday (I’ll change it to Friday so there is no confusion) but you planned on missing mass on Sunday, are you still in a state of grace since you did not actually committ the sin yet or did you sin and die in a state of mortal sin because the intent was there and probably would have been carried out if you lived until Monday.

So is planning to commit mortal sin a mortal sin in itself is the question here. If I plan to commit murder, but get hit by a bus before I get chance to carry out my plan, have I mortally sinned? I believe I would have to error on the side of saying yes it is a mortal sin. Planning to do evil is a grave matter and I’m doing with full knowledge and consent.

Now the scenario you described could have some mitigating factors. Maybe the person is planning to miss mass on Sunday because they are vacationing in an area where there are no Catholic churches. In such a case, a person could plan on missing mass on Sunday, and part of that plan would be to get a dispensation from their priest before they go on vacation.

Good question.