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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Ignorance of Mortal Sin	Deanne	Thursday, February 7, 2008
Question: Years ago, after going through an RCIA program I converted to Catholicism. My first confession was an honest attempt to recall all the sins I could, but I don't think I really understood the concept of mortal sin. For years I prayed, went to Mass regularly, felt close to God, and considered myself a devout Catholic. In reality, I was a "cafeteria" Catholic who didn't think it was necessary to believe all the Church taught and thought it was just a better fit for me than other denominations. Recently I began to get genuinely serious about my faith and started to read up on teachings of the Church. I realized how horribly sinful much of my behavior has been over the years. You see, as a Protestant, I actually thought the way I lived my life didn't really matter so long as I loved the Lord because I was covered by Christ's sacrifice on Calvary. (In fact, I actually used to feel sorry for Jews because I assumed they, not having said the official "sinner's prayer", were still under the Old Covenant and had to seriously follow the Ten Commandments! Wow, was I ever confused!) Last year I made a tearful, heartfelt general confession, but the more I learn, the more I realize there were things I should have confessed so I have tried to backtrack and throw in old sins with the new. I am to the point where I can't even remember what I have confessed already and just wish I could get on with my future. I am haunted by questions about what could have happened back when I was in serious sin if I had died. If people know they are in serious sin but don't understand that it destroys relationship with God, can it be said they are in invincible ignorance? Or does the law written in their hearts make such behavior inexcusable before God and cost them the possibility of heaven? You say that those in hell are there because they don't want to be with God, yet I look at my own situation and know I did want to spend eternity with God but was blind to the reality of my sin. I find this confusing.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Deanne: Why be "haunted" by what would have, could have, happened in the past? The past is the past. Let it go and get on with your life. As for sins of the past that you don't remember, do not worry. When you make a good and honest confession, and it sounds like you did that with your General Confession, all sins, even the ones you do not remember are forgiven and gone. They no longer exist. You don't have to fret over whether or not you forgot to mention some long past sin. If you "happen" to remember an old sin that you have not confessed you can bring it up in your next confession, but keep in mind that IT IS ALREADY FORGIVEN. You need not be in anxiety over past sins. Make a honest confession and all is forgiven -- even the forgotten sins. When you make a good confession, you begin with a new slate. It is a new beginning. Worry about your current sins, the old ones are forgiven. As for invincible ignorance, no one is in invincible ignorance of the basic knowledge of right and wrong. That is written on everyone's heart according to the Bible. The doctrine of invincible ignorance says that if a person, through no fault of his own, does not know Christ or His Church, but yet seeks God with a sincere heart, he too may find salvation according to God's mercy. A person who knows they are in serious sin cannot be in ignorance for they are not ignorant that they have sinned. Anyone who seriously sins and refuses to ask for forgiveness risks his soul to hell. The Church does teach the concept of "diminished responsibility" which states that a grave (serious) sin may not be charged as mortal against a person if the person had some genuine condition that does not allow him to be fully responsible for his actions. Thus, only God can judge whether or not someone actually goes to hell. Those who believe they are "once saved, always saved" and thus think that it no longer matters what they do, may be in for a rude awakening. It does matter what they do. If such persons are so arrogant as to think they do not have to ask God for forgiveness because they already have their "ticket" may find their ticket invalidated. There is no license for sin. St. Paul in the Bible make that point. God will judge them according to His justice and mercy. The solution is easy to resolve. If one sins, ask God for forgiveness according to whatever tradition taught by the denomination one is a member. If Catholic, that means the Sacrament of Confession. 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

Ignorance of Mortal Sin

Deanne

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Question:

Years ago, after going through an RCIA program I converted to Catholicism. My first confession was an honest attempt to recall all the sins I could, but I don't think I really understood the concept of mortal sin.

For years I prayed, went to Mass regularly, felt close to God, and considered myself a devout Catholic. In reality, I was a "cafeteria" Catholic who didn't think it was necessary to believe all the Church taught and thought it was just a better fit for me than other denominations.

Recently I began to get genuinely serious about my faith and started to read up on teachings of the Church. I realized how horribly sinful much of my behavior has been over the years. You see, as a Protestant, I actually thought the way I lived my life didn't really matter so long as I loved the Lord because I was covered by Christ's sacrifice on Calvary. (In fact, I actually used to feel sorry for Jews because I assumed they, not having said the official "sinner's prayer", were still under the Old Covenant and had to seriously follow the Ten Commandments! Wow, was I ever confused!)

Last year I made a tearful, heartfelt general confession, but the more I learn, the more I realize there were things I should have confessed so I have tried to backtrack and throw in old sins with the new. I am to the point where I can't even remember what I have confessed already and just wish I could get on with my future.

I am haunted by questions about what could have happened back when I was in serious sin if I had died. If people know they are in serious sin but don't understand that it destroys relationship with God, can it be said they are in invincible ignorance? Or does the law written in their hearts make such behavior inexcusable before God and cost them the possibility of heaven?

You say that those in hell are there because they don't want to be with God, yet I look at my own situation and know I did want to spend eternity with God but was blind to the reality of my sin. I find this confusing.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Deanne:

Why be "haunted" by what would have, could have, happened in the past? The past is the past. Let it go and get on with your life.

As for sins of the past that you don't remember, do not worry. When you make a good and honest confession, and it sounds like you did that with your General Confession, all sins, even the ones you do not remember are forgiven and gone. They no longer exist. You don't have to fret over whether or not you forgot to mention some long past sin.

If you "happen" to remember an old sin that you have not confessed you can bring it up in your next confession, but keep in mind that IT IS ALREADY FORGIVEN. You need not be in anxiety over past sins. Make a honest confession and all is forgiven -- even the forgotten sins.

When you make a good confession, you begin with a new slate. It is a new beginning. Worry about your current sins, the old ones are forgiven.

As for invincible ignorance, no one is in invincible ignorance of the basic knowledge of right and wrong. That is written on everyone's heart according to the Bible.

The doctrine of invincible ignorance says that if a person, through no fault of his own, does not know Christ or His Church, but yet seeks God with a sincere heart, he too may find salvation according to God's mercy.

A person who knows they are in serious sin cannot be in ignorance for they are not ignorant that they have sinned. Anyone who seriously sins and refuses to ask for forgiveness risks his soul to hell.

The Church does teach the concept of "diminished responsibility" which states that a grave (serious) sin may not be charged as mortal against a person if the person had some genuine condition that does not allow him to be fully responsible for his actions.

Thus, only God can judge whether or not someone actually goes to hell.

Those who believe they are "once saved, always saved" and thus think that it no longer matters what they do, may be in for a rude awakening. It does matter what they do. If such persons are so arrogant as to think they do not have to ask God for forgiveness because they already have their "ticket" may find their ticket invalidated. There is no license for sin. St. Paul in the Bible make that point. God will judge them according to His justice and mercy.

The solution is easy to resolve. If one sins, ask God for forgiveness according to whatever tradition taught by the denomination one is a member. If Catholic, that means the Sacrament of Confession.

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