tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post4061055127049144942..comments2024-03-05T14:07:28.062-08:00Comments on Ask Sister Mary Martha: I ConfessSister Mary Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580244097177195453noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-19178236228025233872010-04-17T16:05:00.550-07:002010-04-17T16:05:00.550-07:00The three necessary conditions for a sin to be mor...The three necessary conditions for a sin to be mortal:<br /><br />That the matter is serious (just what kind of thoughts are you having about Mrs. Sheffield?).<br /><br />That you have full knowledge that you are committing a sin<br /><br />And that you are in full cooperation with the commission of the sin.<br /><br />But I would agree that an unbidden bad thought about someone, when the thought is quickly swatted away like a fly, would not likely be any sort of sin, let alone a mortal one.JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08433061807436268115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-39230985784075281952010-04-13T13:55:31.582-07:002010-04-13T13:55:31.582-07:00The name of the Sacrament (correct me if I am wron...The name of the Sacrament (correct me if I am wrong): <br /><br />1. In the 1983 Code of Canon Law: The Sacrament of Penance<br /><br />2. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n.1423 ff): no less than FIVE titles.<br /><br />I am unhappy with the exclusive use of the title "Reconciliation" for this Sacrament. Perhaps the best presentation is that of the Catechism, in which each of the titles draws attention to a different aspect of the Sacrament.<br /><br />My personal <i>preference</i>, if we were to use just one title, would be "confession" - driven mainly by Adrienne von Speyr's book of that title.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09339499088443959192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-71962417419873386232010-04-13T11:14:42.498-07:002010-04-13T11:14:42.498-07:00Dear SMM, I enjoy your blog for it's grace an...Dear SMM, I enjoy your blog for it's grace and wit, even when, as a separated sisteren, I disagree. Your horse wasn't so high that it would hurt to fall off...Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638799349745874062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-81541108082935166122010-04-12T15:07:17.694-07:002010-04-12T15:07:17.694-07:00You know, unless you are just wallowing in hatred ...You know, unless you are just wallowing in hatred and maybe planning her demise, entertaining unkind thoughts about old Ms. Sheffield is not a mortal sin. Just having the thoughts pop into your head unbidden is really nothing more than a temptation, and if you refuse to give in to them, it's not a sin at all.<br /><br />I remember in catechism learning about perfect and imperfect contrition, and how the former can get you forgiven without even going to confession. Of course, an ingredient of perfect contrition is the desire to get oneself to confession ASAP, so it's not really a way around the sacrament. Perfect contrition is sorrow for one's sins for the pain it causes God. It's selfless and, I was taught, impossible without the special grace of God. Imperfect contrition, sorrow for sins because you are afraid of going to hell (or even just purgatory if they're venial), is good enough for the confessional, but won't get you forgiven outside the sacrament.<br /><br />It sounds like something St. Thomas or one of his followers would have come up with. Anyway, I think the take-home lesson is that God (being all-powerful and "the Boss") can choose to forgive you outside the sacrament, but you have to have contrition (sorrow) for the sin and intend to go to confession. That's because, as Sister pointed out, it takes two to fix the relationship.Robynhttp://www.leavethelightson.info/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-65660556829483934622010-04-12T12:34:56.037-07:002010-04-12T12:34:56.037-07:00Please comment on what constitutes a mortal sin. ...Please comment on what constitutes a mortal sin. The questioner stated that he/she rarely gets out of Mass without having a sinful thought about Mrs. Sheffield. If it's just a thought and not something that's nurtured into something bigger, I doubt it's a mortal sin and hence no fear of eternal damnation when that bus rolls into you. Or else we're all in big trouble.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05690348821757283659noreply@blogger.com