What is 'Full Knowledge'?

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7violinS

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Mortal sin consists of 3 things right,
  1. grave matter
  2. full knowledge
  3. deliberate consent
So, for example, if someone steals a 1,000 tv, knows before that it is serioulsy wrong, doesn’t care and goes ahead and steals it = mortal sin.

Someone steals a 50 cent candy bar, knows it’s wrong but doesn’t care = venial sin

What if the one who stole the tv knew it was wrong, but for some reason, didn’t think it was that bad, would they have committed a mortal sin? They knew the act was wrong but not serious, even though it was, would that be full knowledge or partial or what?

By the way, can someone please explain what deliberate consent is? When is it partial?
:o
 
Regarding full knowledge: Confession is not just for mortal sins. It’s so important to go to confession, even for just venial sins, and especially if you’re not sure whether a sin is mortal or venial. Just confess! And leave it to the priest to determine.

Regarding deliberate consent, it’s not a matter of full or partial. It’s a matter of did you freely choose to do it. For example, where you coerced, or under duress, etc. Again, just confess, and leave it to the priest to determine.
 
jpjd said:
Regarding deliberate consent, it’s not a matter of full or partial.
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Actually, it is very much a question of full vs. partial consent. The three conditions for a mortal sin are often stated in two ways:
  1. Serious Matter.
  2. Sufficient reflection.
  3. Full consent of the will.
OR
  1. Serious Matter.
  2. Full knowledge.
  3. Full consent of the will.
I’ve never seen the term “deliberate consent” used. The term seems to merge “sufficient reflection” (i.e., with deliberation or reflection) and “full consent”.

Full knowledge does not imply that one would have to understand every single nuance of the situation. Rather, it means sufficient knowledge to be able to make an accurate judgement about the nature of the act and its licitness, including whether or not it is serious matter.

Therefore, someone who commits an objectively mortal sin (e.g., stealing a tv), who does not understand that it is serious matter, is guilty of only a venial sin.

This is not a “loophole”, and must not be used as an excuse to avoid looking too carefully at things so that one may plead “lack of full knowledge.” God is not a fool. He knows who has tried to understand and who has not.

Regarding “full consent of the will”: the “fullness” or “partialness” of the consent is absolutely relevant. Full consent means just what it says. This is why it is not possible to commit a mortal sin in one’s sleep, or while one is in the twilight of waking up or falling asleep. It is also why someone who is truly addicted to an immoral behavior (e.g., an alcoholic on his way to the bottom) cannot give full consent. One cannot fully give that which one is not in full possession of.
 
Matt_Collins said:
Actually, it is very much a question of full vs. partial consent. The three conditions for a mortal sin are often stated in two ways:
  1. Serious Matter.
  2. Sufficient reflection.
  3. Full consent of the will.
OR
  1. Serious Matter.
  2. Full knowledge.
  3. Full consent of the will.
I’ve never seen the term “deliberate consent” used. The term seems to merge “sufficient reflection” (i.e., with deliberation or reflection) and “full consent”.

Full knowledge does not imply that one would have to understand every single nuance of the situation. Rather, it means sufficient knowledge to be able to make an accurate judgement about the nature of the act and its licitness, including whether or not it is serious matter.

Therefore, someone who commits an objectively mortal sin (e.g., stealing a tv), who does not understand that it is serious matter, is guilty of only a venial sin.

This is not a “loophole”, and must not be used as an excuse to avoid looking too carefully at things so that one may plead “lack of full knowledge.” God is not a fool. He knows who has tried to understand and who has not.

Regarding “full consent of the will”: the “fullness” or “partialness” of the consent is absolutely relevant. Full consent means just what it says. This is why it is not possible to commit a mortal sin in one’s sleep, or while one is in the twilight of waking up or falling asleep. It is also why someone who is truly addicted to an immoral behavior (e.g., an alcoholic on his way to the bottom) cannot give full consent. One cannot fully give that which one is not in full possession of.
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Great post, Matt
 
These posts help quite a bit. I started this because I was with my friend and thought that what I was doing was possibly wrong, then definatly not right but not mortal. I stopped and later thought more about the possibility of it being mortal. And now I’m not sure about wether I realized this before or later or during…I think I considered the morality of the action but ruled it off as venial to quick (:eek: horrible I know) now I’m just confused and stressed. 😦
 
7violinS said:
… now I’m just confused and stressed. 😦
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There really is no reason to be stressed. The Truth shall set you free. It gives you peace. If you come to the conclusion that you committed a mortal sin, you will naturally be very sorry and sad about it, but you should have peace that Jesus has already paid the price for your sin. Then, after going to confession, the sorrow turns to joy.

There is no reason for stress. Apologize to our Lord, resolve to always try to avoid the sin in the future, even if it is venial, and place yourself at the mercy of the Lord. Confess your sin and explain your confusion to the priest. Ask him for guidance so that you can form your conscience to the Truth, and have peace.

You can be sure the devil loves the fact that you’re confused and stressed. Resolving to go to confession and refusing to be stressed before you get there is proof of your faith in Jesus’ mercy and really ticks the devil off.
 
7violinS said:
These posts help quite a bit. I started this because I was with my friend and thought that what I was doing was possibly wrong, then definatly not right but not mortal. I stopped and later thought more about the possibility of it being mortal. And now I’m not sure about wether I realized this before or later or during…I think I considered the morality of the action but ruled it off as venial to quick (:eek: horrible I know) now I’m just confused and stressed. 😦
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What a timely post. I’ve had the same problem. I’ve had a habitual sin for years that I’ve confessed over and over. I always considered it a venial sin. Then at my last confession, when I confessed it, my confessor had me also confess that if I had received communion unworthily, I was contrite. :eek:

It was at that moment that I realized that this matter was grave. And, as I reflected on it, I realized that over the past several months, I had had several occasions that had pointed in this direction. So, when was my “full” knowledge? At my confession or when I began to become aware. Does denial count as incomplete knowledge? I had been shown, but my mind was closed to see.

Errrr, stupid effects of original sin!!!:mad:

And, of course, I was filled with self doubt. If I could fool myself on this issue, what else was a fooling myself on? Suddenly, I didn’t want to go to Communion anymore. How could I take the chance of hurting our Lord in communion?

I think I’ve resolved this for myself. This confessor also told me that I must continually pray *Jesus, I trust in Thee. * So, I’m trusting that He will enlighten me.

Still sometimes I am filled with anxiety.
 
Matt_Collins said:
Actually, it is very much a question of full vs. partial consent. The three conditions for a mortal sin are often stated in two ways:
  1. Serious Matter.
  2. Sufficient reflection.
  3. Full consent of the will.
OR
  1. Serious Matter.
  2. Full knowledge.
  3. Full consent of the will.
I’ve never seen the term “deliberate consent” used. The term seems to merge “sufficient reflection” (i.e., with deliberation or reflection) and “full consent”.
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I have never heard the term “full consent.” I learned it as and have always read it in Catholic sources as “deliberate consent.”

For example, I refer you to: ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?Pgnu=1&Pg=Forum12&recnu=3&number=491031

and this excerpt from there:

“One of the conditions for a sin to be mortal is deliberate consent of the will. If impure thoughts invade your mind, you have not sinned mortally until you deliberately take delight in them. If you try to dispel them as soon as you realize these thoughts are impure, you haven’t sinned at all.
If you find yourself looking at someone in immodest clothing, and try to turn away, but find it difficult, you’re exhibiting weakness more than committing a sin. Each case differs, of course. If your effort was minimal, continuing to look would probably be a sin, though not likely mortal, if your consent was less than deliberate.
Deliberate consent is a definite choice to do something you know is seriously wrong. Full knowledge is being fully aware that an act is gravely sinful, before committing it. However, if you even believe a sin is mortal, and then make a definite choice to commit it, it is mortal for you, even if it wasn’t grave matter. Suspicion alone that the matter is grave may or may not be sufficient to make a sin mortal, depending on how strongly one suspects it. If something you read stimulates your appetites, you are obliged to stop reading. If your response is purely cognitive, there is no sin in continuing to read, especially if it provides useful information for remaining untainted by the world.”
 
It’s my understanding that “full knowledge” simply implies that one knows an act is wrong. One doesn’t have to know it’s called a “mortal sin.”
 
I think FULL KNOWLEDGE IS:

All the poverty in the world, vulnerable people dying for want of teh basic necessities of life, let alone our Western powers and their own governments denying them their rightful share of their rightful resources.

Folk working in sweatshops for upto 18-hours a day on dangerous machinery with no health and safety for a $1 a day. No compensation when they lose limbs due to faulty and downright dangerous machinery, cast out when their work has made them too ill to work, No sick pay, no holiday pay, no benefits, employers trying to defraud them of their pitiful and meagre earnings, while their company owners are often multi-billionares or owned by Western capital.

We on the other hand are too busy to worry or petition or pick up their mantle and carry their war for the establishment of their human rights. We are too busy right now worrying about what is or is not a mortal sin!!!

That is what I think FULL KNOWLEDGE IS and what we WILL BE HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR 👍
 
Sixtus said:
I think FULL KNOWLEDGE IS:

All the poverty in the world, vulnerable people dying for want of teh basic necessities of life, let alone our Western powers and their own governments denying them their rightful share of their rightful resources.

Folk working in sweatshops for upto 18-hours a day on dangerous machinery with no health and safety for a $1 a day. No compensation when they lose limbs due to faulty and downright dangerous machinery, cast out when their work has made them too ill to work, No sick pay, no holiday pay, no benefits, employers trying to defraud them of their pitiful and meagre earnings, while their company owners are often multi-billionares or owned by Western capital.

We on the other hand are too busy to worry or petition or pick up their mantle and carry their war for the establishment of their human rights. We are too busy right now worrying about what is or is not a mortal sin!!!

That is what I think FULL KNOWLEDGE IS and what we WILL BE HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR 👍
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While I can understand your concern, the fact is that good deeds have NO merit if you are in a state of mortal sin. If a person does everything they can to right the wrongs you list above and even succeed in righting many of them, if they die in a state of unrepentant mortal sin these good works count for nothing and the person would be condemned to Hell. It is therefore absolutely necessary that we concern ourselves that we live a life accepting God’s love and try to remain in a state of grace. A daily examination of conscience is important to check if we have committed a mortal sin or not.
 
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