Mortal Sins

[jasJis]

Chris Zewe,

I'd like to clarify something for you. If you are recieving the Eucharist, the Body of Christ in the form of Bread, it is a Grave Matter, a serious thing. For it to be a mortal sin, you must be aware and understand that it's a Grave Matter and with complete Freedom of your will, be choosing to do so. Within understanding that it's a Grave Matter, you also understand that you must be receiveing "worthily" (which means you have sincerely asked God for forgiveness of your sins and be open to His love and grace that is offered through the Eucharist). If you know you aren't receiving Him "worthily", and you are still doing so with Freedom of your will, then it is a Mortal sin.
Given your situation, acting in obedience to your parents means that you aren't necessarily acting with complete Freedom of your will. It gets complicated because you have to consider if you have tried to respectfully talk to your parents about it (as opposed to just arguing). Your parents share responsibililty for the Mortal Sin, but again, what part is your responsibility to discuss this respectfully and reasonblly with your parents without it being just a matter of defiance and rebellion against their authority. Did you try just one time and give up? You should never give up, but address again, and again, and work at being respectful, mature, etc.
When ever we work to turn away from something that is "sinful" or bad, God works to give us graces to help us grow as good persons. He doesn't ever walk over our free will, so He is patient and lets us have time to grow. It doesn't have to take one conversation, or two. This is something that can take many months as He willingly and patiently helps you and your parents grow closer. That reality exists now, and will always exist. It is yours and your parent's responsiblity to not give up and be willing to be patient with each other and exercise every effort to work it out.

[remnant]

Praised be Jesus Christ!

On the topic of Grave Matter. I have been thinking a while how to do define this. What is a Grave Matter? The Baltimore Catechism No. 3 does a great job. A grave matter is a sin is something that is always evil and something that is strickly prohibited.

We should get our definition of what is evil through scripture, church teaching and the church Fathers. The strickly prohibited part is what is helpful. If the Church or good authority figures strickly prohibite something it becomes a grave matter.

in Him, with Him, through Him,

remnant