Worrying about mortal sin.?

[pm2222]

I tend to worry about if what I do is a mortal sin. I had this problem today. In one of my classes, some kids say sexual jokes, and I tend to laugh at them even though I try not too. Today when the kid was beginning to say the joke, I told myself not to laugh, but other kids in the class began laughing and then I started to smile and laughed for a second. I quickly tried to pray to get my mind off of the joke which helped me not laugh. Is this a mortal sin? I knew i shouldnt have laughed but for some reason I did anyway. Thanks.

 

[Iron_Donkey]

Sin is always intentional (which does include being intentionally negligent). The sort of laughter you spoke of was not intentional and not negligent, so not sinful.

 

[LaSainte]

Even if it were intentional, I don’t believe that laughing at or even telling a sexual joke is a mortal sin. You sound scrupulous.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

I don’t think you committed any mortal sin, but your conscience is probably onto something.

I don’t laugh at sexual jokes or make them anymore - and I know how you must feel.

 

[englishredrose]

One assumes you aren’t the teacher

I find Roman Catholics on these boards at least, worry far too much about sin. For me and I suppose it is because I am Anglican and personally believes it is God who forgives sin, I can relax a lot more about it. That don’t mean to say I think I’ve a right to be able to sin. I don’t mean it from that angle. Just that if I sin and I realise it then it can go to God as soon as I am aware I have sinned and that is the end of the matter for me.

I do confession 3 to 4 times a year and think back about the times I need to talk through and share those ones. I do not split sins into mortal or venile. For me it is all sin anyway. If I need comfort or reassurances on a sin then there is confession.

I really do feel Roman Catholics worry far too much about sin especially when it makes you affraid to live your life as you have just described. If in doubt talk to God about it. If you still in doubt just simply share it with a priest. The priest is there to help you reconcile yourself back to God if you finding it hard to do so on your own with God.

Confession is about reconciliation. Not about worrying about the actualness of the sin.

God be with you

 

[underacloud]

I find Roman Catholics on these boards at least, worry far too much about sin. For me and I suppose it is because I am Anglican and personally believes it is God who forgives sin, I can relax a lot more about it. That don’t mean to say I think I’ve a right to be able to sin. I don’t mean it from that angle. Just that if I sin and I realise it then it can go to God as soon as I am aware I have sinned and that is the end of the matter for me.

I do confession 3 to 4 times a year and think back about the times I need to talk through and share those ones. I do not split sins into mortal or venile. For me it is all sin anyway. If I need comfort or reassurances on a sin then there is confession.

I really do feel Roman Catholics worry far too much about sin especially when it makes you affraid to live your life as you have just described. If in doubt talk to God about it. If you still in doubt just simply share it with a priest. The priest is there to help you reconcile yourself back to God if you finding it hard to do so on your own with God.

Confession is about reconciliation. Not about worrying about the actualness of the sin.

God be with you

If you want to get into a discussion regarding Catholic teachings on mortal sin and confession, feel free to start a thread. But I think it is seriously inappropriate to hijack this thread and offer unsolicited non-Catholic advice on a Catholic forum.

To pm2222, it does indeed sound like you are scrupulous. You need to find a regular confessor who can help you discern your sins better and understand that God is not waiting for you to slip up and to condemn you to hell. God loves you and while He does not want you to sin, neither does He want you to be crippled with fear of damnation.

Mortal sin is a reality, but what you describe is a million miles away from it. Frankly, as others have said, it’s doubtful that you’ve committed any sin at all. A regular confessor will be able to help you understand the nature of sin a lot better.

 

[buildone]

To pm2222, it does indeed sound like you are scrupulous. You need to find a regular confessor who can help you discern your sins better and understand that http://www.nling.info/g.gifGod is not waiting for you to slip up and to condemn you to hell. God loves you and while He does not want you to sin, neither does He want you to be crippled with fear of damnation.

 

[englishredrose]

If you want to get into a discussion regarding Catholic teachings on mortal sin and confession, feel free to start a thread. But I think it is seriously inappropriate to hijack this thread and offer unsolicited non-Catholic advice on a Catholic forum.

To pm2222, it does indeed sound like you are scrupulous. You need to find a regular confessor who can help you discern your sins better and understand that God is not waiting for you to slip up and to condemn you to hell. God loves you and while He does not want you to sin, neither does He want you to be crippled with fear of damnation.

Mortal sin is a reality, but what you describe is a million miles away from it. Frankly, as others have said, it’s doubtful that you’ve committed any sin at all. A regular confessor will be able to help you understand the nature of sin a lot better.

Sorry you thought that I was hyjacking but actually I was simply answering the question in hand. If you don’t like the answer that is your problem. And as I am catholic its appropriate. I do tend to find that there is far too much worry about types of sin when it is all sin. But as you say that is another discussion but I was far from hyjacking. Just giving a full answer to the question in hand

 

[mytruepower2]

All mortal sins are acts of the will. They’re all to do with grave matters (think; one of the ten commandments,) and they’re all done, knowing full well that what’s being done is wrong. Also, you need to not be sorry for sinning. That’s what a mortal sin is.

 

[King_Lazy]

Sorry you thought that I was hyjacking but actually I was simply answering the question in hand. If you don’t like the answer that is your problem. And as I am catholic its appropriate. I do tend to find that there is far too much worry about types of sin when it is all sin. But as you say that is another discussion but I was far from hyjacking. Just giving a full answer to the question in hand

Hi englishredrose. Thank you for contributing the Anglican perspective, but we Catholics worry about sin so much because mortal sin is an act of rebellion against God and quite literally damns your soul to hell. You might see things differently as an Anglican, but from the Catholic perspective, that’s a very serious matter that we have to worry about with fear and trembling (Phi 2:12).

 

[englishredrose]

Hi englishredrose. Thank you for contributing the Anglican perspective, but we Catholics worry about sin so much because mortal sin is an act of rebellion against God and quite literally damns your soul to hell. You might see things differently as an Anglican, but from the Catholic perspective, that’s a very serious matter that we have to worry about with fear and trembling (Phi 2:12).

No offence but then it should be discussed with a priest and not here surely? The public boards are totally the wrong place to discuss any sin and always be discussed with priests only and that way there is no misguided information from anyone. Even if its worry about a sin that mayn’t be a sin. The priest is anyone’s best guide. ?

 

[converting2024]

Hi englishredrose. Thank you for contributing the Anglican perspective, but we Catholics worry about sin so much because mortal sin is an act of rebellion against God and quite literally damns your soul to hell. You might see things differently as an Anglican, but from the Catholic perspective, that’s a very serious matter that we have to worry about with fear and trembling (Phi 2:12).

The olive branch has been extended to and accepted by certain groups of Anglicans. So they are now counted among the Catholic faithful and have valid sacraments. It sounds as if our friend englisnredrose is a part of this group.

To the OP, God bless you for trying not to follow the group when it comes to making jokes out of one of God’s greatest gifts to the world. You have not committed a mortal sin in unintentionally laughing. Attacks on sex are not just limited to contraception. In making it a joke people lose respect for the awesome power of it and begin to see sex incorrectly. It is hard because these days so many have lost sight of what sex really is. We are constantly bombarded with sexual images and jokes in all forms of media. Pray for strength and turn away from the filthiness of sexually infused TV and movies.

 

[King_Lazy]

No offence but then it should be discussed with a priest and not here surely? The public boards are totally the wrong place to discuss any sin and always be discussed with priests only and that way there is no misguided information from anyone. Even if its worry about a sin that mayn’t be a sin. The priest is anyone’s best guide. ?

I agree that the priest is generally the best guide, but what harm in discussing it?

The olive branch has been extended to and accepted by certain groups of Anglicans. So they are now counted among the Catholic faithful and have valid sacraments. It sounds as if our friend englisnredrose is a part of this group.

I don’t know whether englishredrose is a Protestant Anglican or an Anglican in official union with Rome, but in either case, I very much appreciate the perspective ERR offered, and I was merely pointing out why “Roman Catholics worry far too much about sin” from my perspective.

 

[englishredrose]

I agree that the priest is generally the best guide, but what harm in discussing it?

What is wrong about discussing it? Well everything by from what I have read on these boards. People are disclosing far too much about their sins and worrying far too much and really most people would be a lot better of, not posting anything of their sin but taking it simply to the priest. These boards do nothing to dissarm the worrier but hyper the worrier for I know what I’ve been told in confession and from what what have written here, nothing to do with me being anglican and catholic, just I know I am very glad I didn’t rely on the everyday mans views of confession. It is very wrong of anyone to try and say what the priest would say as in whether it be absolved or not. Luckily even most RC priests are far more understanding than the posts on these boards claim to be

I don’t know whether englishredrose is a Protestant Anglican or an Anglican in official union with Rome, but in either case, I very much appreciate the perspective ERR offered, and I was merely pointing out why “Roman Catholics worry far too much about sin” from my perspective.

The church I go to and I am Church of England Anglican but catholic. Which means universal if you don’t know. Reading these boards I actually do think that because when various replies have been made about how their priest handled it, it been far far kinder than the judgements that given across the board. People are really reading this boards and be getting so worked up about something and terrifying them into speaking with their priest when really that is the easiest and best thing they can do. Any advice on confession should be on the lines of sorry we can’t actually help but we encourage you to speak to your priest or a priest with as much encouragment as possible to speak to the priest not trying to preempt what he might say and do.

 

[King_Lazy]

What is wrong about discussing it? Well everything by from what I have read on these boards. People are disclosing far too much about their sins and worrying far too much and really most people would be a lot better of, not posting anything of their sin but taking it simply to the priest.

Indeed, but this sort of discussion is also educational. In this particular case, the question was simple, and the answer was too.

These boards do nothing to dissarm the worrier but hyper the worrier for I know what I’ve been told in confession and from what what have written here, nothing to do with me being anglican and catholic, just I know I am very glad I didn’t rely on the everyday mans views of confession. It is very wrong of anyone to try and say what the priest would say as in whether it be absolved or not. Luckily even most RC priests are far more understanding than the posts on these boards claim to be

No faithful Catholic priest will ever deny absolution to anyone who resolves to try to sin no more.

The church I go to and I am Church of England Anglican but catholic. Which means universal if you don’t know.

Of course I know catholic means universal. And it’s wonderful that you go to confession and that your church practices it.

Reading these boards I actually do think that because when various replies have been made about how their priest handled it, it been far far kinder than the judgements that given across the board. People are really reading this boards and be getting so worked up about something and terrifying them into speaking with their priest when really that is the easiest and best thing they can do. Any advice on confession should be on the lines of sorry we can’t actually help but we encourage you to speak to your priest or a priest with as much encouragment as possible to speak to the priest not trying to preempt what he might say and do.

In principle you are correct that it’s often better to speak to a priest directly, but that’s easier said than done, and discussion can serve to educate. If pm2222 confessed laughing at sexual jokes, the priest might have not realised they were being scrupulous and pm2222 might not have learnt that for something to be a mortal sin, it must be voluntary (and it must require full knowledge and be grave matter, which this isn’t.) What the posters did here was allay OP’s fears.

God bless you, englishredrose

 

[underacloud]

Sorry you thought that I was hyjacking but actually I was simply answering the question in hand. If you don’t like the answer that is your problem. And as I am catholic its appropriate. I do tend to find that there is far too much worry about types of sin when it is all sin. But as you say that is another discussion but I was far from hyjacking. Just giving a full answer to the question in hand

This is a Catholic forum, not a catholic forum.

Your answer - which denies the reality of mortal sin and the need for confession if such sin is committed, and suggests that we should not worry about the “actualness of the sin” - is un-Catholic. To a young Catholic struggling to live their faith and coming to a Catholic forum for advice (presumably Catholic advice!), I feel it is very inapprioriate advice to offer.

What is appropriate is to advise them to discuss with their priest, so we can agree on that.

 

[englishredrose]

Why is it an inappropriate answer to tell someone to discuss it with their priest:shrug:

One cannot do right for doing wrong around here and please if you have something useful to say then chip in but otherwise just leave it if its already been said. You can check previous posts to see if its been said.

 

[englishredrose]

Indeed, but this sort of discussion is also educational. In this particular case, the question was simple, and the answer was too.

No faithful Catholic priest will ever deny absolution to anyone who resolves to try to sin no more.

Of course I know catholic means universal. And it’s wonderful that you go to confession and that your church practices it.

In principle you are correct that it’s often better to speak to a priest directly, but that’s easier said than done, and discussion can serve to educate. If pm2222 confessed laughing at sexual jokes, the priest might have not realised they were being scrupulous and pm2222 might not have learnt that for something to be a mortal sin, it must be voluntary (and it must require full knowledge and be grave matter, which this isn’t.) What the posters did here was allay OP’s fears. That is why it is far better for us to serve the poster by encouraging them to really do contact their priest rather than having mis guided answers here. We can and should be more encouraging to anyone with any struggle with any sin to contact their priest rather than discuss it here. Most priests are not niave and if ‘we’ can learn to trust our priests rather than anonymous boards then people will feel better and the priest will know us better to know how to guide us where appropriate. It is very inappropriate for someone on this board to tell another they are scrupulous or not… None of us know them. That is something between themselves God and priest and no one. literally no one on here can confirm either way about any of us. That is far more inappropriate than me encouraging someone to see their priest.

God bless you, englishredrose

God bless you too

 

[underacloud]

Why is it an inappropriate answer to tell someone to discuss it with their priest:shrug:

Like I said, that is entirely appropriate advice and something we agree on.

Best wishes.

 

[pm2222]

Thank you all for your replies. I do not talk to my priest at our parish on a regular basis, but I do try and go to the same priest for confession. I do think the answers given have helped. It was just a difficult situation, and that happens a lot when sometimes i am in a situation and not sure how to act, and try to do the right thing but still end up doing something I shouldn’t have done.