From: D
Hello Father. Before I begin I would like to say how grateful I am for your
site. Thank you for putting it online. Any here is my question. If a person
has mortal sin on their soul, truly intends to confess, but something
happens to them before they can confess, and they die, do they still go to
Hell? Just something I' ve been wondering about. Thank you for your time.
**********
The answer is found in the act of contrition:
O my God,
I am heartily sorry for
having offended Thee,
and I detest all my sins,
because I dread the loss of heaven,
and the pains of hell;
but most of all because
they offend Thee, my God,
Who are all good and
deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve,
with the help of Thy grace,
to confess my sins,
to do penance,
and to amend my life.
Amen
A sincere act of contrition, which includes the resolve to confess ones sins, brings forgiveness, even of mortal sin. When one realizes they have committed a sin, they should immediately ask Jesus for forgiveness, say an act of contrition and make a plan for confession. This does not mean one needs to call the priest and immediately schedule a confession, but at the earliest convenient opportunity to receive reconciliation. Here at Holy Family, for example, we have the Sacrament of Penance every Saturday morning, Wednesday evening and first Thursdays of each month.
Some sins involve habitual behavior, for example, outbursts of anger or sexual addiction. It is important in those cases to not only continually ask Jesus for forgiveness and healing, but to set up a plan, like monthly confession and perhaps seeking other help, anger management, counseling or an SA group.
God bless,
Fr. Phil Bloom
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