When do you commit a mortal sin?

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Nelka

New member
Is it when I commit the act on when I know I will commit it but before it is committed?

On Saturday 30th I have to start work at 3pm and finish on Sunday 31st at 12pm meaning I will miss Mass that weekend.

Am I already in mortal sin or will I fall into it that weekend when the last Mass finishes?

Unfortunately they scrapped the Sunday 5pm Mass.

Thanks.
 
Is this an every week schedule, or a one-time-only?

In any case, talk to your pastor.
 
Explain to your employer your obligation to attend Mass on Sundays. Most companies make accommodations for religious exemptions. If your does not, then your position would only be sinful if you don’t have grave cause to miss Mass.

“On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass; they are also to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord’s Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body.” Canon 1247

" 1. The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day.
2. If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the liturgy of the word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families. " Canon 1248.

EWTN states that:

“Reasons such as the necessity to work to support one’s family, child care, personal sickness or the care of the sick, necessary travel etc. would excuse a person on a particular occasions.”

This is something that you must answer for yourself. Do you absolutely have to work that shift, and would not working it jeopardize your employment and ability to support your family?
 
Nelka said:
The Masses are the same but I haven’t worked a shift like this before
Click to expand...
My diocese has a church which offers a 7:00PM. Is it possible that might be the case with your diocese? Also, are there any college Newman Centers in your area? They usually have late Sunday masses.
 
Nelka said:
Is it when I commit the act on when I know I will commit it but before it is committed?

On Saturday 30th I have to start work at 3pm and finish on Sunday 31st at 12pm meaning I will miss Mass that weekend.

Am I already in mortal sin or will I fall into it that weekend when the last Mass finishes?

Unfortunately they scrapped the Sunday 5pm Mass.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
The imputability of a sin arises because it is voluntary. Once the will is determined for a sinful act or omission, even then the sin has occurred, therefore it can be in thought (in the heart).

It is not necessarily voluntary if it results from a change of schedule or imperfect planning.

Catechism
2181 … Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.
Click to expand...
 
@Nelka

May I ask what kind of job this is?

I note that you are going to work a 21 hour shift. Is this normal?

Blessings
 
Strange no one has yet told this poster outright, that there will be no sin at all, in this case?

No one is bound to the impossible.

I assume the poster has no means of adjusting the schedule.
 
Last edited:
No sin if you are required to work. If it makes you feel better, ask your priest to dispense you (although as busy as he is this weekend, it would be an act of charity to just know that you are not sinning…)
 
NEITHER, in this case because it is NOT a willed action.

Confess it but KNOW that it was not a Mortal sin.

Pray a Rosary and ask God to be with you in Spirit.

BUT as to your Mortal sin question:

Serious issue
Knowledge that it IS a serious issue & will be a Mortal sin
& then the DESIRE to FREELY do it anyway

ARE the essential conditions for a Mortal sin.

GOd’s on OUR side:relaxed:

God Bless you

Patrick
 
omgriley said:
EWTN states that:

“Reasons such as the necessity to work to support one’s family, child care, personal sickness or the care of the sick, necessary travel etc. would excuse a person on a particular occasions.”
Click to expand...
There are times during travel, say in another city or in foreign country, where going for mass (on Sundays/days of obligation) would be inconvenient due to planned iterinary or too little time for that, not that it cannot be done other than the inconveniences. That can put one on a spot.
 
Reuben_J said:
There are times during travel, say in another city or in foreign country, where going for mass (on Sundays/days of obligation) would be inconvenient due to planned iterinary or too little time for that, not that it cannot be done other than the inconveniences. That can put one on a spot.
Click to expand...
I suppose this would all depend on how flexible one’s “planned itenirary” is. For example, one could have too little time for it because they need to be at the airport to catch their flight and attending Mass might risk missing the flight. I think we can agree that’s grave cause due to travel necessary travel. But does skipping Mass due to, say, a planned tourist attraction rise to the level of “necessary travel”? I’d say not. At that point one might need to readjust their plans.

Besides, missing mass because of the need to catch a flight is still somewhat easily avoidable. One could simply book their flight for a time which allows them to attend Mass and get to the airport on time. I understand this is not always possible, but it isn’t always impossible either.
 
Mortal sin is committed when you decide to commit a mortal sin. Since it’s likely pertinent, I’ll note that deciding to do something that you believe to be mortally sinful, is a mortal sin, even if it turns out that the conduct in question is not actually sinful, since sin consists essentially in the will to disobey God.

If you cannot attend Mass because of your work schedule, contact your pastor to obtain a dispensation. I’d also note that, in America anyway, employers are required to grant reasonable religious accommodations, so I’d recommend talking to your employer about this.
 
One of the requirements for mortal sin is grave matter. If the conduct in question is not sinful, then even if the person believes he committed a mortal sin, he did not.

Mortal sin does not occur when we make a decision. We have free will. We can change our decision before the sin takes place. As a matter of fact, our guardian angels and others in heaven may help us change our minds before we sin.
 
Fr. Prummer’s Handbook of Moral theology (once widely used in seminary formation, in any case the statements referred to are matters of no dispute among theologians):

Handbook Of Moral Theology : Dominic M. Prummer OP : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (p. 60, second principle)

Handbook Of Moral Theology : Dominic M. Prummer OP : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (on p. 74, evil desires)

The act of choosing to disobey the will of God in a serious matter is grave matter.
 
Thanks for the post. I have been thinking wrongly for my whole life!
 
If you are caring for others then I do not see where there is a concern. Someone needs to be there to take care of them. From what you have written, it doesn’t look like you signed up knowing this was going to be the situation (ie you were going to have to miss mass) and it looks like you are not comfortable with it.

Like others on this thread I would discuss your situation with your priest. I believe he will say it is okay.

Also I would suggest that you ask your employer to try not to schedule this situation again. But understand it might be unavoidable.

Related story: a family member was a registered nurse before the days of Saturday evening masses and there were no Sunday evening masses. Sometimes she had to work day shift on Sundays as it was her turn and that was what her schedule demanded of her. She accordingly missed mass. Her confessor told her that she did not need to confess that situation because she had to work to support her family.

Peace
 
Talk to your Pastor.

He may give you a dispensation from that Mass obligation.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top