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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Question concerning whether I committed mortal sin	Lisa	Monday, April 25, 2016
Question: I was drinking alcohol one night as I was watching TV and I got a little drunk. I realized that I had too much to drink and quit. The next day I went to Mass and worried whether I could receive Jesus in Holy Communion, but since I decided that my drinking incident wasn't a mortal sin, I went Communion . Now I am more worried that I may have offended Jesus by receiving Him! Please help me.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Lisa: Drunkenness is a sin. The Bible is clear on that. [Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:18] As to whether your drunkenness was a mortal sin in the circumstances you describe -- not likely. You did quit when you realized that you drank too much. Your drinking did not endanger other people. Your drinking did not cause you to be fired at work or to renege on essential responsibilities (like paying bills or gambling away your rent money). Thus, I think this instance was a venial sin. If you have doubts do ahead and confess this in the Sacrament of Confession. The Church encourages the confession of venial sins too as the Sacrament can straighten you from committing even venial sin. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Question concerning whether I committed mortal sin

Lisa

Monday, April 25, 2016

Question:

I was drinking alcohol one night as I was watching TV and I got a little drunk. I realized that I had too much to drink and quit. The next day I went to Mass and worried whether I could receive Jesus in Holy Communion, but since I decided that my drinking incident wasn't a mortal sin, I went Communion . Now I am more worried that I may have offended Jesus by receiving Him! Please help me.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Lisa:

Drunkenness is a sin. The Bible is clear on that. [Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:18]

As to whether your drunkenness was a mortal sin in the circumstances you describe -- not likely. You did quit when you realized that you drank too much. Your drinking did not endanger other people. Your drinking did not cause you to be fired at work or to renege on essential responsibilities (like paying bills or gambling away your rent money). Thus, I think this instance was a venial sin.

If you have doubts do ahead and confess this in the Sacrament of Confession. The Church encourages the confession of venial sins too as the Sacrament can straighten you from committing even venial sin.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum