Venial & Mortal Sin??? I'm confused...

[JRKH]

Originally Posted by JRKH
Understood…So the question remains…If you love God will you break a promise to Him (getting to confession)? If you fail to get to confession do you truly love God?
This has a great bearing on whether teh act of contrition is “perfect” or not.

Joan,
No-no-no-no-no-no my dear one…Please don’t confuse the issue here.
If you go back and look at the earlier posts you will see that the “untimely death” aspect has already been dealt with.
I’m not talking about situations where you Can’t get to confession.

If you trace back through the conversation, you will find that somebody by the name of “ChristIsTheWay”, expressed the view that a “perfect Act of Contrition - with intent to confess” would be sufficient for the forgiveness of Mortal Sin, even if one did not later confess…
This is the thing that I have a problem with and addressed with him, and then with you.
If a person makes an act of contrition and promises God to get to confession ASAP, and then fails to do so (barring death or serious injury), one of two things must happen…Either the original mortal sin is NOT forgiven…OR…A new mortal sin is incurred by breaking your solomn promise to God…
Either way - Not good…

peace
James

 

[joanofarc2008]

Joan,
No-no-no-no-no-no my dear one…Please don’t confuse the issue here.
If you go back and look at the earlier posts you will see that the “untimely death” aspect has already been dealt with.
I’m not talking about situations where you Can’t get to confession.

If you trace back through the conversation, you will find that somebody by the name of “ChristIsTheWay”, expressed the view that a “perfect Act of Contrition - with intent to confess” would be sufficient for the forgiveness of Mortal Sin, even if one did not later confess…
This is the thing that I have a problem with and addressed with him, and then with you.
If a person makes an act of contrition and promises God to get to confession ASAP, and then fails to do so (barring death or serious injury), one of two things must happen…Either the original mortal sin is NOT forgiven…OR…A new mortal sin is incurred by breaking your solomn promise to God…
Either way - Not good…

peace
James

I would say that a new sin is incurred but I would also say that the contrition could have been perfect at the time but was not followed through due to human failing. After all look at the many confessions of David. Either way we are probably saying much of the same thing just splitting hairs to how exactly we are defining it.

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

I would say that a new sin is incurred but I would also say that the contrition could have been perfect at the time but was not followed through due to human failing. After all look at the many confessions of David. Either way we are probably saying much of the same thing just splitting hairs to how exactly we are defining it.

This pretty much sums up my thinking.

 

[JRKH]

I would say that a new sin is incurred but I would also say that the contrition could have been perfect at the time but was not followed through due to human failing. After all look at the many confessions of David. Either way we are probably saying much of the same thing just splitting hairs to how exactly we are defining it.

This pretty much sums up my thinking.

That makes three of us then…We all agree that if one commits a mortal sin they need to a) Repent, b) Make an act of contrition - with intent to confess and c) Get to confession ASAP…
Failure on any of these points is seriously - not good…

Peace
James

 

[Greg27]

My understanding is that mortal sin is a deliberate transgression of the law of God in some grave matter (i.e. the ten commandments) that essentially cuts you off from God. Catholic theology teaches all post-baptismal sins can be forgiven through the sacrament of reconciliation and genuine repentance and contrition. Pre-baptismal sins are forgiven through faith and receiving the sacrament of baptism.

This is different from excommunication, which is a penalty the church imposes for certain offenses against the Catholic faith or morals (i.e. procuring an abortion, heresy, schism, and apostacy).