mortal sin and eucharist

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

I must, however, disagree about the neglect. I search my heart before confession, and it's not neglect that causes me to forget my sins, but just the nervousness. Like I said, we're human, we're prone to errors.

I've even written down a list, but it didn't help, because the confessionals so dark I couldnt' read them. So, as my stance is, a person can prepare adequately, and still forget to confess a sin.



And as for the question: I guess she has two questions answered

[thessalonian]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Feb 3 2005, 10:58 AM'] I must, however, disagree about the neglect. I search my heart before confession, and it's not neglect that causes me to forget my sins, but just the nervousness. Like I said, we're human, we're prone to errors.

I've even written down a list, but it didn't help, because the confessionals so dark I couldnt' read them. So, as my stance is, a person can prepare adequately, and still forget to confess a sin.



And as for the question: I guess she has two questions answered [/quote]
To forget a serious mortal sin, is what I believe is neglect. Unless of course it happened long ago and you have made a sincere confession. I am not saying we have to remember every little sin by any means. My list would be too long.

[XIX]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Feb 3 2005, 10:58 AM'] I must, however, disagree about the neglect. I search my heart before confession, and it's not neglect that causes me to forget my sins, but just the nervousness. Like I said, we're human, we're prone to errors.

I've even written down a list, but it didn't help, because the confessionals so dark I couldnt' read them. So, as my stance is, a person can prepare adequately, and still forget to confess a sin.



And as for the question: I guess she has two questions answered [/quote]
If you're referring to me...

1) I'm a "he."
2) I've gotten a lot of knowledge out of this thread.

But my question was vague, so it never got answered.


About a week ago I was discerning really hard about whether I was in mortal sin or not. I didn't think I was in mortal sin but it seemed to be really close. I got to confession before the daily Mass so I didn't have to face the dilemma...but if hypothetically speaking I couldn't, then what should I do if I'm still discerning between venial and mortal?


See, "full consent of will" has always seemed to be really fuzzy terminology to me.

[Socrates]

If your're honestly not sure whether a sin was mortal or not, it's okay to receive communion. If you strongly suspect or feel a sin was mortal, you're probably better off not going. You should't have a lax conscience, but then you shouldn't be scrupulous. Talk to a good priest about it.

Generally "full consent of the will" means it was done without outside force (as someone threatening your life, etc.) and if you were fully conscious (not asleep, or half-asleep) or acting on impulse in a situation where there was no time to make a rational decision.

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

I disagree. If you have any doubt in your mind whether a sin was venail or mortal, I'd refrain from receiving the Eucharist than receiving with what could possibly be a mortal sin on your soul.


Remember, refraining from receiving the Eucharist is not a sin.

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

[quote name='thessalonian' date='Feb 3 2005, 12:04 PM'] To forget a serious mortal sin, is what I believe is neglect. Unless of course it happened long ago and you have made a sincere confession. I am not saying we have to remember every little sin by any means. My list would be too long. [/quote]
I still stick to what I said.


There was a time where the only why I was going to confession was to confess a mortal sin. I got into the confessional, said the little bitty, and then confessed everything but the mortal sin. It didn't dawn on me that I had forgotten to confess it until the next morning during Mass.

I didn't receive, but went and confessed as soon as I could.

[Socrates]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Feb 3 2005, 03:16 PM'] I disagree. If you have any doubt in your mind whether a sin was venail or mortal, I'd refrain from receiving the Eucharist than receiving with what could possibly be a mortal sin on your soul.


Remember, refraining from receiving the Eucharist is not a sin. [/quote]
This is best determined on a case-by-case basis. The person should discuss this privately with a good priest.

Some people have problems with scrupulosity and are forever worrying about whether they commited a mortal sin, even if they didn't do anything seriously wrong.

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

True. But I just wanted to make sure that there is the possibility of forgetting (and not on purpose) to confess a mortal sin from time to time.

[Carnanc]

great care should be taken to examing ourselves before recieving communion to make sure that we do not recieve in mortal sin, but I think it is also important to remember that Christ wants us to recieve Him in the Eucharist, and for the scrupulous, refraining from communion for every doubtful matter is not a good thing. I think that if you are judged to be scrupulous, then you must have a reasonable certainty that you actually have commited a true mortal sin before refraining to recieve. I'm not sure exactly how this works, but I've been told by many good sources that real doubt over the gravity of an action makes on innoncent of mortal sin.

[Socrates]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Feb 3 2005, 03:17 PM'] I still stick to what I said.


There was a time where the only why I was going to confession was to confess a mortal sin. I got into the confessional, said the little bitty, and then confessed everything but the mortal sin. It didn't dawn on me that I had forgotten to confess it until the next morning during Mass.

I didn't receive, but went and confessed as soon as I could. [/quote]
If the sin was truly honestly forgotten (not deliberately or by neglect), then it was forgiven in that confession, even if it was not verbally stated.
One should make a point to confess the forgotten sin the next confession, but there is no need to avoid receving because of this. The sin was already forgiven.

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

Not to second guess you, Socrates, but, for my own piece of mind, could you supply written evidence to back up your claim?

Thank you in advance.

[FutureSoror]

The big problem with this question is that you loose grace when you sin mortally, and receiving in the state of mortal sin won't help you any. You won't recieve those graces until you go to confession and are absolved.

Edited February 7, 2005 by FutureSoror

[Socrates]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Feb 6 2005, 07:51 PM'] Not to second guess you, Socrates, but, for my own piece of mind, could you supply written evidence to back up your claim?

Thank you in advance. [/quote]
I'm sorry - I don't have written material with me at the moment, but I know I've read this a number of times from trusted, orthodox sources. If one truly intends to confess all of his mortal sins and is not aware at the time that he has left something out, the sin is still forgiven. It is the intention to confess that counts. God's mercy is not limited by honest human error. If one relaizes a sin has been inadvertently forgotten, he should make a point to confess it during his next confession, though.

[JP2Iloveyou]

A word of caution here folks: none of us, I presume, are the spiritual directors of anyone else on this board. Many of the questions raised here deal with personal spiritual issues and are best left to a prudent spiritual director. Normally, I refrain from using personal examples, but I will in this case.

I tend to be a scrupulous person and many times I refrain from receiving Communion when I think there is even a possibility that I am in a state of mortal sin. I discussed this with my spiritual director a number of times and he told me that unless I know I am in a state of mortal sin, that I should go to Communion. St. Francis de Sales says that obedience to one's spiritual director is the most important step towards holiness. I wholeheartedly agree.

As far as this discussion goes, let's just stick to what the Church says, shall we? The Church says that if a person is CONSCIOUS of a mortal sin, he or she must not receive Communion before sacramental Confession, excepting a case of dire need (read, near death) where no opportunity for Confession is available. In such a case, a person must make a perfect act of Contrition with the intention of confessing as soon as possible. The same applies to general absolution.

What if you forget to confess a mortal sin that you intended to confess? That sin is still forgiven. You had the intention of making a good confession and you did the best that you could. This frequently happens, I suppose, with people who have been away from the sacrament for years, or are making their first Confession as an adult if they are entering the Church. In such a case, if you remember an unconfessed mortal sin, you should mention it in your next confession, but there is no need to be preoccupied with it. Also, one is free to receive Holy Communion in such cases. Realize, I am not speaking here about mortal sins INTENTIONALLY ommitted from a Confession. In that case, not only have none of your sins been forgiven because that invalidates the Confession, but you also have the added sin of sacrilidge.

Once again though, I reiterate my point. We should be very careful about giving spiritual advice to people who are not our spiritual directees. Perhaps their spiritual director has given them the opposite advice because he knows their souls better than you and by giving them advice, you only confuse that person. The best advice we can give is the advice of St. Francis de Sales. Find a good spiritual director, be completely honest with him, and then be completely obedient to whatever he tells you, excepting of course, things that are sinful.

[Pieta]

The question must stop short at, recieving the sacrament with a mortal sin on one's concience. Run away!!!!!!!!! Ever hear of CONDEMNATION? ouch! Too many people need to remember to "sit one out" now and then.