Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
vain delusions and halluciantions	carmen	Monday, November 22, 2004
Question: I had fallen under a spell and believed vain delusions about myself and had mystical hallucinations and was hospitalized. I continued to recieve the sacraments devoutly all the while believing these delusions. The prayers on your web page have helped to free me from the delusions though I have confessed them I still feel terribly guilty. Were the Holy Communions I received sacreligous during the years I belived the delsions. Is believing delusions of granduer a sin? What is their source? How does one know that one is in a state of Grace? Thank you for all you prayers on the web site and advice. Gratefully, C
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Carmen: Well, I do not know the details of your experiences, but if you actually had delusions and hallucinations this is a psychiatric problem and not within the realm of a free will choice. Thus whatever the content of delusions and hallucinations you would not likely be held culpable for them. Your Holy Communion during those years should be okay. Delusions of grandeur is normally a psychiatric problem. It is far more than mere conceit or pride, but stemming from a disorder (usually from imbalances of brain chemistry). I qualified psychiatrist can discern whether or not a person actually has delusions or not. As for how one knows they are in a State of Grace is to be free from mortal sin. To commit a mortal sin, three things are required. 1) the sin must be grave (venial sin does not count) 2) the person must know that the sin is grave 3) the person must be able to freely choose to commit the sin A psychiatric problem would impair a person's ability to freely choose to commit the sin, and thus while the sin committed may be grave, the culpability may be reduced and thus not be counted as mortal. One should never decide on their own whether or not a grave sin or mortal. All grave sin should be brought to the Sacrament of Confession. One may ask, what sins are grave? In the Catechism whenever one sees the terms "serious sin", "grave sin", "grave matter" these are all sins that are grave in nature. If in doubt, ask your confessor. We can know we are in a State of Grace when we have no mortal sins on our soul. When we go to confession and the priest absolves us, at that moment we move into a State of Grace. Small sins (venial sins) do not destroy the State of Grace, but such venial sins weaken that grace. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

vain delusions and halluciantions

carmen

Monday, November 22, 2004

Question:

I had fallen under a spell and believed vain delusions about
myself and had mystical hallucinations and was hospitalized.
I continued to recieve the sacraments devoutly all the while
believing these delusions. The prayers on your web page have helped to free me from the delusions though I have confessed them I still feel terribly guilty.

Were the Holy Communions I received sacreligous during the years I belived the delsions.

Is believing delusions of granduer a sin? What is their source?

How does one know that one is in a state of Grace?

Thank you for all you prayers on the web site and advice.

Gratefully,
C

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Carmen:

Well, I do not know the details of your experiences, but if you actually had delusions and hallucinations this is a psychiatric problem and not within the realm of a free will choice. Thus whatever the content of delusions and hallucinations you would not likely be held culpable for them. Your Holy Communion during those years should be okay.

Delusions of grandeur is normally a psychiatric problem. It is far more than mere conceit or pride, but stemming from a disorder (usually from imbalances of brain chemistry). I qualified psychiatrist can discern whether or not a person actually has delusions or not.

As for how one knows they are in a State of Grace is to be free from mortal sin.

To commit a mortal sin, three things are required.

1) the sin must be grave (venial sin does not count)
2) the person must know that the sin is grave
3) the person must be able to freely choose to commit the sin

A psychiatric problem would impair a person's ability to freely choose to commit the sin, and thus while the sin committed may be grave, the culpability may be reduced and thus not be counted as mortal.

One should never decide on their own whether or not a grave sin or mortal. All grave sin should be brought to the Sacrament of Confession.

One may ask, what sins are grave? In the Catechism whenever one sees the terms "serious sin", "grave sin", "grave matter" these are all sins that are grave in nature. If in doubt, ask your confessor.

We can know we are in a State of Grace when we have no mortal sins on our soul. When we go to confession and the priest absolves us, at that moment we move into a State of Grace.

Small sins (venial sins) do not destroy the State of Grace, but such venial sins weaken that grace.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.