Three questions regarding sin

[Thyme]

Hello, I have a few questions regarding sin:

• What sort of prayer should be said for forgiveness of sin? If I think I’ve sinned, I say in my head something like, “Please forgive me for … and help me not to do it again.” Is this sort of prayer okay?
• What sends you to Purgatory? Does everyone who doesn’t go to Hell go there, to attone for all sins, even those that have been forgiven, is it for sins you haven’t asked for forgiveness for or is it for something else?
• This sounds like a silly question, but I’ve been wondering; since we’ve been told to pray unceasingly, is it wrong to pray when on the toilet? Would God be offended? I’m not sure if he would, because he sees it all the time. It may only be a human thing to find it disrispectful, so it could be a sin to think there is a time you shouldn’t pray.

Thanks for reading this!

 

[MtnDwellar]

Your prayer is good. The Act of Contrition is common: catholicsupply.com/existing/practof.html

Regarding atonement: All sins must be atoned for. All sins are forgiven prior to purgatory. Atonement is a way of perfecting the soul. Nothing imperfect will enter heaven.

The other reason is justice. Example: I throw my baseball through your window. I apologize and say that it will not happen again. You forgive me. Great! I still have to replace the window.

 

[catherine126]

This sounds like a silly question, but I’ve been wondering; since we’ve been told to pray unceasingly, is it wrong to pray when on the toilet? Would God be offended? I’m not sure if he would, because he sees it all the time. It may only be a human thing to find it disrispectful, so it could be a sin to think there is a time you shouldn’t pray.

Two principles that I keep in mind with this question:

-Jesus was God in the flesh.
-God understands physiology because He was the one who designed us in the first place.

That being said, I think a sincere prayer in any circumstance is valuable…

What do others think?

 

[Mumbles140]

Two principles that I keep in mind with this question:

-Jesus was God in the flesh.
-God understands physiology because He was the one who designed us in the first place.

That being said, I think a sincere prayer in any circumstance is valuable…

What do others think?

I won’t comment one way or the other as a general answer, but for me personally, I would question how spiritually and mentally committed I can be towards my prayers while doing any other activity in addition to praying. I have a hard enough time focusing for prayer on the subway while headed to work, and that’s just standing up and holding the rail…

 

[Scoobyshme]

Hello, I have a few questions regarding sin:

• What sort of prayer should be said for forgiveness of sin? If I think I’ve sinned, I say in my head something like, “Please forgive me for … and help me not to do it again.” Is this sort of prayer okay?
• What sends you to Purgatory? Does everyone who doesn’t go to Hell go there, to attone for all sins, even those that have been forgiven, is it for sins you haven’t asked for forgiveness for or is it for something else?
• This sounds like a silly question, but I’ve been wondering; since we’ve been told to pray unceasingly, is it wrong to pray when on the toilet? Would God be offended? I’m not sure if he would, because he sees it all the time. It may only be a human thing to find it disrispectful, so it could be a sin to think there is a time you shouldn’t pray.

Thanks for reading this!

As previously stated, the Act of Contrition is the prayer you want to say as soon as you’ve sinned.

When we sin, we are due some temporal punishment. When we go to Confession, we’re given a penance. IF that penance does not atone for all our temporal punishment, then we can make up the difference in Purgatory (provided we die in the state of Sanctifying Grace.)

Prayer is appropriate wherever you are.

 

[Thyme]

When we sin, we are due some temporal punishment. When we go to Confession, we’re given a penance. IF that penance does not atone for all our temporal punishment, then we can make up the difference in Purgatory

Thanks to all the answers, but I have a question about this statement. So, does that mean that if your penances have been enough, you may go straight to Heaven?

If so, could I fast as an extra penance, even if I am not told to do so by the priest?

 

[Mumbles140]

Thanks to all the answers, but I have a question about this statement. So, does that mean that if your penances have been enough, you may go straight to Heaven?

If so, could I fast as an extra penance, even if I am not told to do so by the priest?

Think of your sins as being written in chalk on a blackboard (symbolizing your soul). Whenever you go to confession and obtain absolution, an eraser wipes away the sins. However, there still remains the residue (i.e. chalk dust) which the eraser cannot clean. These stains are removed through purification in Purgatory. However, through certain works and actions, in the full mercy of God, we have the ability to complete such acts that will begin to erase those ‘stains’ from our souls before Purgatory (indulgences).

I’m sorry if this comes off sounding elementary, but that is how I’ve had to explain the necessity of Purgatory and the Church’s true belief in indulgences to friends in the past, and they’ve said it was ‘easy to visualize’ so I stuck with it.

 

[TheQuestioner]

If so, could I fast as an extra penance, even if I am not told to do so by the priest?

Of course! We are encouraged to do penance whenever or wherever we can. We can even offer up regular things like walking to the grocery store or exercise as penance. Extra penance, like going out of your way to do an act of penance, i believe is even better.

 

[Thyme]

Think of your sins as being written in chalk on a blackboard (symbolizing your soul). Whenever you go to confession and obtain absolution, an eraser wipes away the sins. However, there still remains the residue (i.e. chalk dust) which the eraser cannot clean. These stains are removed through purification in Purgatory. However, through certain works and actions, in the full mercy of God, we have the ability to complete such acts that will begin to erase those ‘stains’ from our souls before Purgatory (indulgences).

Of course! We are encouraged to do penance whenever or wherever we can. We can even offer up regular things like walking to the grocery store or exercise as penance. Extra penance, like going out of your way to do an act of penance, i believe is even better.

Thank you. I need to look up indulgences and penance. Are these teachings as certain as the teachings of heaven and hell? The only time I’ve heard these mentioned is on this forum.

 

[Edward_H]

Great answers already.

Act of Contrition: these are good ones already offered.

Others: “Father I have sinned against heaven and against you” “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner”.

All acts can be raised up as conversation to God, a prayer.

Say, for example, before a meeting: Father, make this my prayer.

This doesn’t mean that your conversation with God will be foremost in your attention all the time…but begin with that intention. It then becomes a virtual intention. God gives it its effect, not us!

This also doesn’t mean that our walking around prayers…will substitute for more intense, purposeful prayer, as Jesus’s example in the Gospels show us.

Maybe don’t look at prayer in terms of strict formula. Formal verbal prayers are excellent…and they are one of many ways of praying each day.

When I need to have what could be difficult conversations with people (e.g., my children), I often begin it my glancing at a crucifix on the wall, or my desk, or even in my mind’s eye, asking the Holy Spirit for grace and help.

I can’t help but think that Jesus working with St Joseph at times carried on a great conversation with his Father in heaven, no?

 

[Monica4316]

Hello, I have a few questions regarding sin:

• What sort of prayer should be said for forgiveness of sin? If I think I’ve sinned, I say in my head something like, “Please forgive me for … and help me not to do it again.” Is this sort of prayer okay?

that’s fine, but you can also say the Act of Contrition
“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments - the loss of Heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin, Amen”.
I find that works really well

• What sends you to Purgatory? Does everyone who doesn’t go to Hell go there, to attone for all sins, even those that have been forgiven, is it for sins you haven’t asked for forgiveness for or is it for something else?

Purgatory is for those who are going to Heaven but aren’t perfect yet. It says in the Bible, nothing impure can enter Heaven. To get to Purgatory rather than hell, a person needs to have repented of all their mortal sins, and needs to have gone to Confession if there was an opportunity. (if they die on their way to Confession that’s different, but we shouldn’t ever put off the Sacrament if we have a choice). If there are venial sins, the person wouldn’t go to hell, but it’s important to repent of venial sins too.

Purgatory can’t take away mortal sin… only venial sin. But the main purpose of Purgatory is actually to just get rid of our imperfections… all our attachments, pride, to perfect our love for God, etc… so it’s best to try hard to repent of all sins

I heard a saying once… aim for Purgatory, and you might end up in hell. Aim for Heaven, and you might end up in Purgatory or Heaven.

• This sounds like a silly question, but I’ve been wondering; since we’ve been told to pray unceasingly, is it wrong to pray when on the toilet? Would God be offended? I’m not sure if he would, because he sees it all the time. It may only be a human thing to find it disrispectful, so it could be a sin to think there is a time you shouldn’t pray.

Thanks for reading this!

haha I don’t think that God would be offended and I wouldn’t say that’s a sin (if done with no disrespect and with a good intention) - but it might be best to not pray during that time unless there’s a reason to. The reason I say this is because if you’ll be praying and wondering if you’re being disrespectful or not, - that would only harm your intention and prayer, and might become a temptation too. I think maybe it’s best to just avoid it and pray at other times. I guess the problem here is just our human weakness.

God bless

 

[Thyme]

I would like to thank you all. Every post has helped my understanding.

I’ve heard that for a sin to be mortal, the person must have full knowledge that what they are about to do is a sin, but if people realised that what they are planning on doing is a sin, why would they do it?

Am I taking this too literally?

 

[MtnDwellar]

So, does that mean that if your penances have been enough, you may go straight to Heaven?

If so, could I fast as an extra penance, even if I am not told to do so by the priest?

My understanding is that the penance prescribed by the priest is more of a symbol of the need for penance than actual atonement.

Yes, more penance is a good thing. Again, my understanding, is that at judgement, our sins will be measured against our grace. Grace can be obtained through the sacraments, prayer, good works, or through suffering.

I’ve heard that for a sin to be mortal, the person must have full knowledge that what they are about to do is a sin, but if people realised that what they are planning on doing is a sin, why would they do it?

Am I taking this too literally?

It happens all of the time! Please don’t think that because a person doesn’t know that he is sinning that the act does not offend God. These actions, although not requiring forgiveness, still must be atoned for.

There is also a sin of negligence. We are resposible for learning what is a sin or is not a sin.

 

[Thyme]

My understanding is that the penance prescribed by the priest is more of a symbol of the need for penance than actual atonement.

Yes, more penance is a good thing. Again, my understanding, is that at judgement, our sins will be measured against our grace. Grace can be obtained through the sacraments, prayer, good works, or through suffering.

It happens all of the time! Please don’t think that because a person doesn’t know that he is sinning that the act does not offend God. These actions, although not requiring forgiveness, still must be atoned for.

There is also a sin of negligence. We are resposible for learning what is a sin or is not a sin.

Thank you. I’m disappointed I was never told this before. I’ve never been told about mortal sin or that you can atone for sins while on earth as well as purgatory.

Please don’t think that because a person doesn’t know that he is sinning that the act does not offend God. These actions, although not requiring forgiveness, still must be atoned for.

Does that mean that we may be sent to purgatory for the sins we’ve forgotten? Can I do penances for forgotten sins? Am I right to believe that by doing penances, we can shorten/remove our time in purgatory?

 

[Mumbles140]

Does that mean that we may be sent to purgatory for the sins we’ve forgotten? Can I do penances for forgotten sins? Am I right to believe that by doing penances, we can shorten/remove our time in purgatory?

When I was younger, I was taught by a religious education instructor to finish my confessions with “for these and all my sins, please forgive me.” One should always attempt to make a thorough confession, which is best done by going regularly, but there are going to be times where a couple of venial sins might slip through the cracks of your memory, so acknowledging the idea of ‘sins forgotten’ and asking for their forgiveness as well can never hurt!

 

[MtnDwellar]

Thank you. I’m disappointed I was never told this before. I’ve never been told about mortal sin or that you can atone for sins while on earth as well as purgatory.

Well, it is not a secret! LOL I have found that I need to work at understanding my faith. The Catholic religion is very rich and deep. The answers are here, it takes effort to find them. The CAF is a good source.

Does that mean that we may be sent to purgatory for the sins we’ve forgotten? Can I do penances for forgotten sins? Am I right to believe that by doing penances, we can shorten/remove our time in purgatory?

Yes, yes, and yes!
We really do not know how badly our sins have offended God or the effects that they have had on others. Even though we don’t remember a sin, we are still responsible for our actions. Penance will help. We really have to try to live a life that fills us with grace.

 

[Thyme]

Well, it is not a secret! LOL I have found that I need to work at understanding my faith. The Catholic religion is very rich and deep. The answers are here, it takes effort to find them. The CAF is a good source.

You’re right, it is very rich and deep and I wish everyone realised this. CAF has helped me so much.

Yes, yes, and yes!
We really do not know how badly our sins have offended God or the effects that they have had on others. Even though we don’t remember a sin, we are still responsible for our actions. Penance will help. We really have to try to live a life that fills us with grace.

I’m scared of purgatory. I know to go there would mean you’re saved, but saints have explained about how horrible it is to be there because of separation from God and it scares me. If you’re dying, can’t a priest hear your confession, pray with you and give you Holy Communion? Couldn’t a priest make sure that you die in a state of indulgence?

Sorry for all these questions, but thanks for the answers!

 

[MtnDwellar]

I’m scared of purgatory. I know to go there would mean you’re saved, but saints have explained about how horrible it is to be there because of separation from God and it scares me. If you’re dying, can’t a priest hear your confession, pray with you and give you Holy Communion? Couldn’t a priest make sure that you die in a state of indulgence?

I am sorry. I don’t know much about indulgences. I am looking into it. Hopefully, someone else can give us some help.

 

[Mumbles140]

I’m scared of purgatory. I know to go there would mean you’re saved, but saints have explained about how horrible it is to be there because of separation from God and it scares me. If you’re dying, can’t a priest hear your confession, pray with you and give you Holy Communion? Couldn’t a priest make sure that you die in a state of indulgence?

Sorry for all these questions, but thanks for the answers!

From my understanding of indulgences, there isn’t a ‘state of indulgence’ that you can be in for a ‘cut the line’ pass into Heaven. And though we may be separated from the fullness of God’s glory while in Purgatory (I don’t actually know the exact teachings on this matter), the idea is that we are being purified to be fully presented before the Lord as He intended through our creation - and the road down that path cannot be worse than total separation from God in eternal damnation.

Though not doctrinal or leading to the truth in any sort of way, I have found that Dante’s Purgatorio and C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce have really made me examine my own thoughts about the necessity of Purgatory, and I now no longer look upon it as something to be fearful of.

 

[Scoobyshme]

Thanks to all the answers, but I have a question about this statement. So, does that mean that if your penances have been enough, you may go straight to Heaven?

If so, could I fast as an extra penance, even if I am not told to do so by the priest?

To get to heaven, you must also have no attachment to sin.

What does that mean!?

Here’s how I explain it:

Suppose a young man and woman are getting married. They’re standing before the altar, and the priest gets to the point where he asks the young man, “Do you take this woman to have and to hold, in sickness and health, etc…” And, he promptly answers enthusiastically, “I do!” Then he turns to the young woman, “Do you take this man to have and to hold, in sickness and health, etc…” and she has this faraway glazed look in her face. A couple moments of silence later, someone nudges her and she says, “Oh! Yes. do.” They finish the wedding and in the limo on the way to the reception, he asks her, “What was going on when it got to the I do part?” She says, “Well, I love you and am married to you now. And I’ll be your wife till death do us part. But at that particular moment, I was thinking of my previous boyfriend and how great he was for me. But don’t worry about that. I’m yours now.” How do you think that young man felt at that moment? That’s how God feels when we put anything between Him and us. That’s attachment to sin.