catechism #1470
Hello once again Br. Ignatius,
Thank you so much for your answers to my questions. You have been so helpful and I read your essay (Three Secret Strategies of Satan). It cleared up the confusion I was experiencing and I see now that the Holy Spirit was leading me in the right direction. I feel peace and am comforted. Thank you.
Now for another question:
In Catechism #1470, "...For it is now, in this life, that we are offered the choice between life and death, and it is only by the road of conversion that we can enter the Kingdom, FROM WHICH ONE IS EXCLUDED BY GRAVE SIN..." 79 (footnote of: Cf 1 Cor 5:11; Gal 5:19-21; Rev. 22:15). #1472: Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore MAKES US INCAPABLE OF ETERNAL LIFE, the privation of which is called the 'eternal punishment' of sin."
I was told that only those with unrepentent MORTAL sin would lose their eternal salvation, yet it seems that the Catechism is saying that those in GRAVE sin can as well. This seems confusing to me. Can those in unrepentent grave sin lose their eternal salvation should they die in such a state? Or is it only in a state of mortal sin?
And if so, then what is to stop a person from continuously committing grave sins if they think it's only mortal sins that cause loss of eternal salvation? I know that venial sins committed and not expiated(?) here cause us, who are going to heaven, to first go through the cleansing state of purgatory. Is this the same for those with grave sin(s)?
The Bible gives us a list of such grave (serious) sins: adultery, fornication, sodomy, greediness, hate, drunkeness, glutony, and so on ... and states that those doing such things will not inherit the Kingdom of heaven.
I am confused -- help!
Thank you and God bless you,
QUESTION from Claire on June 5, 2004
from Claire
ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on June 7, 2004
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Dear Claire: This has to do with technical language. In this case, Grave sin = mortal sin. When we see the term "grave matter" that means a sin that MAY BE mortal or not depending upon whether the person fits the criteria for mortal sin. The criteria for a sin to be mortal is:
1) must be grave matter If a person commits a sin that is an objectively "grave matter" or "serious sin", like adultery, abortion, murder, etc., then that sin is not MORTAL unless criteria #2 and #3 are true too. Also, things like addiction, mental defect, and other matters may reduce our culpability for what is otherwise a grave or mortal sin. Anyway, the Catechism is using the term grave sin to mean mortal sin in the paragraph you quoted.
God Bless, |