The problem with blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

[PinkCloud]

I know there are numerous threads about this topic but it still gives me a lot of anxiety. For maybe 3 years I’ve been battling the thoughts about the possibility that I’m beyond the forgiveness and I’m still having a hard time accepting the explanation that to commit the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is to persist in a state of final impenitence. If it’s a final impenitence, then why is it called a “blasphemy”, which is often committed in words? Does that mean that a person, which cursed the Holy Spirit or called him a devil, is beyond forgiveness? What if the person would regret doing it and confess this sin? Would he be forgiven? Because what if there exists a sin that, even repented, would not be forgiven by God?
I’m trying to convince myself that every sin in confession can be forgiven (some of them only by the Holy See but in the end they are forgivable as well). I’ve been repeating to myself numerous times an excerpt from The Council of Trent: “If anyone says that in the Catholic Church penance is not truly and properly a sacrament instituted by Christ the Lord for reconciling the faithful of God as often as they fall into sin after baptism, let him be anathema.” but I’m still afraid that “as often as they fall into sin” doesn’t exclude some kind of “unique sin” that is not forgiven. I’ve also read about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in CCC but, from what I know, it’s not a dogmatic explanation and it’s not infallible.
I’m not sure what to do anymore. It’s a terrible thing to feel like already damned in this life and eternity.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Please speak to your priest. This is not something we here on the forum can address, since it’s clear you are already aware of the correct teaching but are struggling with scrupulous thoughts.

 

[Vico]

…
Does that mean that a person, which cursed the Holy Spirit or called him a devil, is beyond forgiveness?
…

No, every sin can be forgiven up till the point of the judgment at death.

Oxford Languages:

blasphemy, noun
the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.

Sin is voluntary, so “anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit” (Catechism 1864) to death, dies unforgiven. Forgiveness is conditional on repentance.

The Catechism teaches that “The first commandment is also concerned with sins against hope, namely, despair and presumption: By despair , man ceases to hope for his personal salvation from God, for help in attaining it or for the forgiveness of his sins. Despair is contrary to God’s goodness, to his justice - for the Lord is faithful to his promises - and to his mercy.” (Catechism 2091) and for presumption “hoping to be able to save himself without help from on high” or “hoping to obtain his forgiveness without conversion and glory without merit”. (Catechism 2092)

 

[BT3241]

They are not beyond forgiveness they have rejected the holy spirit - rejected God. How can you be forgiven? If they come back to God he will forgive them. Thats what it means. Once you reject the holy spirit you are separated from God thats why its unforgivable.
How do you come back to God if you hate him?

 

[Heavenward]

Let me put it this way:

to persist in a state of final impenitence.

means “To not confess the sin.” If you confessed the sin and the priest has given you an absolution, then it’s not a question of “Can this sin be forgiven” but a statement that it has been forgiven. Heck if you forgot to confess a sin, as long it was not withheld deliberately, then it was forgiven. Remember that in the absolution the priest does not say, “I absolve you of the sins that you have confessed,” but rather “I absolve you of all sins.”

Go talk to a priest about this, like everybody has said. It is very important.

 

[po18guy]

After you speak with Father, consider that you may well be suffering from fairly serious anxiety. Anxiety is the epidemic of our age, with one in five Americans (64 million) believed to be suffering from some form of anxiety. The relentless negative news in the media only fuels this. Our minds are bombarded daily with negativity. It takes its toll.

The gold standard in anxiety therapy id Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - and it is drug free. Catholic counselor Dr. Gregory Popcak offers it for but one example.

 

[Jen7]

I’m not sure what to do anymore. It’s a terrible thing to feel like already damned in this life and eternity.

Before pursuing the religious aspect of this particular sin, I’d look for a therapist that specializes in anxiety. I was skeptical about anxiety therapy until I had to start taking one of my kids there. This child is a new person and so am I just thanks to sitting in the corner of the room during their sessions. Someone who specializes in anxiety will be able to help you through this in a jiffy & teach you techniques you can apply to stress in the future. I honestly think anyone would benefit from a few sessions with an anxiety therapist, esp after what we’ve all been through in 2020!

 

[Hodos]

I know there are numerous threads about this topic but it still gives me a lot of anxiety. For maybe 3 years I’ve been battling the thoughts about the possibility that I’m beyond the forgiveness and I’m still having a hard time accepting the explanation that to commit the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is to persist in a state of final impenitence.

Read Saint Peter’s response when asked three times about his relationship to Christ during Christ’s trial in the scriptures. He heaped curses upon himself and denied his Lord. And yet the Lord himself restored him to grace when he repented of his unbelief.

 

[PinkCloud]

Thank you for treating my problem seriously. It means so much for me.
I mentioned the sin of offending the Holy Spirit in words but I didn’t mean that I did it. Sorry for no claryfying it. I meant it as a theoretical situation because when reading the passage about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit literally it seems to conclude that offending the Holy Spirit in words will never be forgiven. The thought that there could exist a sin which will not be forgiven gave me a lot of anxiety and even to this day I can’t seem to be more peaceful about it.
I think I always used to be a very fearful person when it comes to the matters of faith. I heard that Hello Kitty or Monster High are demonic when I was younger and it’s possible that made me think that every single thing has some kind of possibility to be a sin. I’ve googled a lot “if X is a sin”, and if answer is yes, then if “X is a mortal sin”. The Sacrament of Penance have always been something stressful for me. Before going to Confession I would write a list with the sins I commited and try very hard to remember all of them. So, the Confession was more like an exam to me than a meeting with Jesus. What’s more, not everything I put on a “list of sins” was really a sin. For example, I thought that not praying to Mary, but only to God, could be considered a sin. I also used to confess things that I wasn’t certain if I even commited them. Just in case.
Despite going to psychologist, I feel like I need a spiritual director but I have no idea how to ask a priest for this kind of help. I’m also shy which makes asking for help harder.

 

[Vico]

… I would write a list with the sins I commited and try very hard to remember all of them.

That is good. Sin is voluntary, however, so some acts and omissions that are objectively evil are neither mortal nor venial sins due to partial or no consent. Where there is no culpability it is called material sin rather than formal sin.

 

[po18guy]

Scripture must be read and understood in context. The Church, thank the Lord! has done the heavy lifting for us and has placed this sin in context. As you see, up to the point of death, the Lord extends His hand in friendship, forgiveness and invitation.

However, first get control of the anxiety! It robs you of peace. Our Lord came that we might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). He left us peace. His peace He gave us (John 14:27). If you do not have that peace, and you know that you suffer from anxiety, reach out for help!