Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 11/26/2011

Question
So I pray the rosary everyday with my mom and I have told her that fridays is a day of penance or abstaining from meat, We ate meat yesterday and the rosary, I think, usually counts as her penance but yesterday we left the rosary for late and so we decided not to do it, a first my mom said so, but then later even after we were going to, I wanted to go to sleep and so decided to skip it. But as I was going to sleep, i remembered that my moms penance is this because she does not do anything else and that I should have reminded her that she needed her penance but it was late and everyone else was in bed already so my anxiety started creeping in whether or not i am in mortal sin. If I had told her, she would have probably said that it's ok, and so on. Now I am so worried.

Answer

Peace

Sorry for the delay, my computer was down.

There are three factor that make something a mortal sin. The following is from the Catechism approved by Blessed John Paul (the Great) II:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a mortal sin as follows:

"Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God's law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him." (C.C.C. # 1855)

"Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us - that is, charity - necessitates a new initiative of God's mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the Sacrament of Confession." (C.C.C. # 1856)

"Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself.     It results in the loss of charity and the private of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace.     If it is not redeemed by repentance of God's forgiveness, it causes exclusion to make choices for ever, with no turning back.     However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God." (C.C.C. # 1861)

"To choose deliberately - that is, both knowing it and willing it - something gravely contrary to the divine law and to the ultimate end of man is to commit a mortal sin.     This destroys in us the charity without which eternal beatitude is impossible.     Unrepented, it brings eternal death." (C.C.C. # 1874)


I can't read your conscience but it seems to be over worried.

         Your servant but Christ's first
         George