Is despondency really a mortal sin?

Basil the Great · May 16, 2011

I recall reading a list of mortal sins a while back and was quite shocked to see that despondency was listed. Now despondency is basically deep depression. As one who has fought moderately deep depression several times in my life, though not for at least 15 years now, I can testify that is a terrible thing. Having said that, I think very few people choose to be depressed and many people that are depressed seem to have inherited a depression gene from their ancestors. While I suppose it might be conceiveable for despondency to be a mortal sin, I find it hard to see the circumstances in which such would happen.

Life is full of terrible heartache. You lose a spouse or a child or a parent. Your spouse cheats on you. You spouse deserts you or divorces you. You come down with an illness and are in terrible pain, etc. I cannot believe that God would charge someone with the mortal sin of deep depression, just because life dealt them a terrible blow and they are unable to overcome their grief.

I suspect that some Early Church Fathers listed despondency as a grave sin, as they felt it could lead to suicide. This is understandable. However, I cannot imagine having to deal with deep depression and then have the burden of worrying about whether or not you are also in a state of mortal sin for allowing yourself to be deeply depressed.

I recall a story told to me by a good Catholic friend of mine. His grandmother's sister lost her husband in a tragic accident and she was never the same. She often sat and just stared. Apparently she was despondent for years.

Sorry, but despondency being mortal sin is really hard for me to understand.

Michie · May 16, 2011

I think the term despondency is misunderstood. I was told it meant apathy or indifference.

Depression & the symptoms of depression cannot be labeled as mortal unless you do it willingly & with full knowledge of what you are doing.

Lady Bug · May 16, 2011

I guess I'll forever be in mortal sin if despondency as it is being described is a mortal sin

There's only so much I can take on this.

princess_ballet · May 16, 2011

I think this might've been before we as human beings really understood depression and the reality that people do not choose to be depressed.

balesom · May 16, 2011

princess_ballet said:
I think this might've been before we as human beings really understood depression and the reality that people do not choose to be depressed.

Agreed. I've spent quite a bit of time of my life with depression, and not once did I choose it. So that makes it to where we don't have full consent, so it wouldn't be grave, correct?

Memento Mori · May 16, 2011

Basil the Great said:
Sorry, but despondency being mortal sin is really hard for me to understand.

Well, what's a mortal sin? It's a sin that ruptures our relationship with God. It's a sin that's grave and involves our full consent and knowledge.

Is it surprising that despair is a grave sin? When you are in a despondent state, you have no faith in Providence and no hope in God's mercy. This is a serious offense against Providence. Is it surprising that this could be mortal - that it could rupture one's relationship with God? Without mitigating circumstances, I'd say it *has* to rupture our friendship with Him.

So I guess the real problem is determining when we are actually consenting to the temptation to despair. I don't think that's an easy question.

CruciFixed · May 16, 2011

Lady Bug said:
I guess I'll forever be in mortal sin if despondency as it is being described is a mortal sin

There's only so much I can take on this.

I don't think depression is the same as apathy and I think the despondency that is considered mortal sin is the apathy toward God?

Also.......nice to see you posting Ladybug!

Memento Mori · May 16, 2011

balesom said:
Agreed. I've spent quite a bit of time of my life with depression, and not once did I choose it. So that makes it to where we don't have full consent, so it wouldn't be grave, correct?

It would be grave but not mortal.

BAFRIEND · May 16, 2011

dont always mistake depression as being soley a clinical diagnosis

the Church traditionally has labeled suicide as being a damning act as it shows a lack of hope and faith- an absence of the Holy Spirit

CruciFixed · May 16, 2011

Some people cannot afford the care to not be depressed. Depression is a mental health disorder it is not always controllable. I hate when people do not realize that mental illnesses are CONDITIONS not things you can actively choose not to have. Maybe if God demands we not be depressed or we're in mortal sin he should not allow people to have disease in their brain? How is a chemical imbalance a person's fault?

For me...depression comes and goes and I can go to sleep depressed and wake up fine. For ME depression CAN be a concious decision.

For someone who is clinically depressed or someone who is suffering from a tragedy depression is not an active state they choose its a mental health condition.

Memento Mori · May 16, 2011

Brikkz said:
Some people cannot afford the care to not be depressed. Depression is a mental health disorder it is not always controllable. I hate when people do not realize that mental illnesses are CONDITIONS not things you can actively choose not to have. Maybe if God demands we not be depressed or we're in mortal sin he should not allow people to have disease in their brain? How is a chemical imbalance a person's fault?

For me...depression comes and goes and I can go to sleep depressed and wake up fine.

I think we're mistaken to identify the sin of despair with depression. Someone who is depressed is capable of faith and Christian hope. Fortunately the theological virtues aren't feelings.

Basil the Great · May 17, 2011

Jared R said:
It would be grave but not mortal.

I think I get your point, Jared. However, I have been told that the two words mean the same thing, when being discussed in Catholic circles. I have been under the impression that the current Catechism changed the term mortal sin to grave sin, but the meaning certainly did not change. Have I missed something here re: the two terms?

Memento Mori · May 17, 2011

Basil the Great said:
I think I get your point, Jared. However, I have been told that the two words mean the same thing, when being discussed in Catholic circles. I am aware that the current Catechism changed the term mortal sin to grave sin, but the meaning certainly did not change.

That's true. I mean that it's grave matter but the sin is not mortal (resulting in spiritual death).

gabrielListens · May 17, 2011

It is certainly NOT a sin:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:3 NIV

JoabAnias · May 17, 2011

Basil the Great said:
Sorry, but despondency being mortal sin is really hard for me to understand.

First I would ask where the list came from and analyze the source carefully.

But to answer the question otherwise:

1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."131

Someone with a mental illness is not likely to meet all three of those. Only God may know.

Despondency, which is defined as a depression of spirits from loss of courage or hope; or dejection, is not exactly the same as -

DESPAIR
The sin by which a person gives up all hope of salvation or of the means necessary to reach heaven. It is therefore not mere anxiety about the future or fear that one may be lost. It is rather a deliberate yielding to the idea that human nature cannot co-operate with God's grace, or that the despairing person is too wicked to be saved, or that God has cast one away. It is a grave crime against God's goodness. Experience also shows that a tendency to despair can seriously injure one's physical and mental health, and ironically can lead to all kinds of sinful indulgence. (Etym. Latin de, the opposite of + sperare, to hope: desperatio, hopelessness, despair.)

And it would seem either would require an action for the condition to result in sin.

The glossary of the Catechism defines suicide as, "The willful taking of one’s own life; a grievous sin against the fifth commandment. A human person is neither the author nor the supreme arbiter of his life, of which God is sovereign master."

*However, the catechism points out that; "2282 .... Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide."

Does that make sense?

thereselittleflower · May 17, 2011

I would also like to point out that words used theologically have theological meanings, which may not correspond to the popular secular sense of the word.

This results in confusion when people read the words of the Church and try to impute secular popular defintions onto a word used theologically.

If Despondency was indeed the word used, it would be a mistake to impute the popular use of the word, referring to a level of depression, a medical mental state, to the Church's use of it.

Basil the Great · May 17, 2011

Despondency was the actual word given and I doubt that I can easily find the source, though I can try.

benedictaoo · May 17, 2011

Basil the Great said:
I recall reading a list of mortal sins a while back and was quite shocked to see that despondency was listed. Now despondency is basically deep depression. As one who has fought moderately deep depression several times in my life, though not for at least 15 years now, I can testify that is a terrible thing. Having said that, I think very few people choose to be depressed and many people that are depressed seem to have inherited a depression gene from their ancestors. While I suppose it might be conceiveable for despondency to be a mortal sin, I find it hard to see the circumstances in which such would happen.

Life is full of terrible heartache. You lose a spouse or a child or a parent. Your spouse cheats on you. You spouse deserts you or divorces you. You come down with an illness and are in terrible pain, etc. I cannot believe that God would charge someone with the mortal sin of deep depression, just because life dealt them a terrible blow and they are unable to overcome their grief.

I suspect that some Early Church Fathers listed despondency as a grave sin, as they felt it could lead to suicide. This is understandable. However, I cannot imagine having to deal with deep depression and then have the burden of worrying about whether or not you are also in a state of mortal sin for allowing yourself to be deeply depressed.

I recall a story told to me by a good Catholic friend of mine. His grandmother's sister lost her husband in a tragic accident and she was never the same. She often sat and just stared. Apparently she was despondent for years.

Sorry, but despondency being mortal sin is really hard for me to understand.

I'm always very surprised when ever I read threads like this.

Of course not, you aren't damned if you suffer from depression.

A little common sense sure goes a long way. Its despondency towards God, indifference towards the faith, apathy towards your salvation.

WarriorAngel · May 17, 2011

Basil the Great said:
I recall reading a list of mortal sins a while back and was quite shocked to see that despondency was listed. Now despondency is basically deep depression. As one who has fought moderately deep depression several times in my life, though not for at least 15 years now, I can testify that is a terrible thing. Having said that, I think very few people choose to be depressed and many people that are depressed seem to have inherited a depression gene from their ancestors. While I suppose it might be conceiveable for despondency to be a mortal sin, I find it hard to see the circumstances in which such would happen.

Life is full of terrible heartache. You lose a spouse or a child or a parent. Your spouse cheats on you. You spouse deserts you or divorces you. You come down with an illness and are in terrible pain, etc. I cannot believe that God would charge someone with the mortal sin of deep depression, just because life dealt them a terrible blow and they are unable to overcome their grief.

I suspect that some Early Church Fathers listed despondency as a grave sin, as they felt it could lead to suicide. This is understandable. However, I cannot imagine having to deal with deep depression and then have the burden of worrying about whether or not you are also in a state of mortal sin for allowing yourself to be deeply depressed.

I recall a story told to me by a good Catholic friend of mine. His grandmother's sister lost her husband in a tragic accident and she was never the same. She often sat and just stared. Apparently she was despondent for years.

Sorry, but despondency being mortal sin is really hard for me to understand.

1. Concerning Mortal Sins

According to Gennadios Scholarios, George Koressios, the Orthodox Confession, and Chrysanthos of Jerusalem, mortal sins are those voluntary sins which either corrupt the love for God alone, or the love for neighbor and for God, and which render again the one committing them an enemy of God and liable to the eternal death of hell. [11] Generally speaking, they are: pride, love of money, sexual immorality, envy, gluttony, anger, and despondency, or indifference. [12]
Concerning Mortal Sins, Pardonable Sins, and Sins of Omission

There is, indeed, an art of utilising our faults. The great secret is to accept humbly, not, of course, the fault itself or the injury done to God, but the interior humiliation and the confusion inflicted on our self-love, so as to establish ourselves in humility, confident and peaceful. Is not pride the principal cause of our failings? Now, it is a powerful remedy against this pest to accept the shame as something we have only too well deserved.
HOLY ABANDONMENT:

They were translated into the Latin of Western Christianity (largely due to the writings of John Cassian[citation needed]), thus becoming part of the Western tradition's spiritual pietas (or Catholic devotions), as follows:[7]

Gula (gluttony)
Fornicatio (fornication, lust)
Avaritia (avarice/greed)
Superbia (hubris, pride)
Tristitia (sorrow/despair)
Ira (Wrath)
Vanagloria (vainglory)
Acedia (acedia)

These 'evil thoughts' can be collected into three groups:[7]

lustful appetite (Gluttony, Fornication, and Avarice)
irascibility (Wrath)
intellect (Vainglory, Sorrow, Pride, and Discouragement)

Seven deadly sins - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

...Only to the point - i would think - that it leads us to grave sins such as despair in suicide and or giving up on God.

And it may lead some to give up loving and cherishing God and ergo we become faithless and an empty shell - which is distrust.

It probably leads to many sins... so ergo it could be mortal..when we lack the will to trust and believe.

I dont think having deep depression of itself is a sin [for some it is a chemical imbalance], but that if it is out of self love it reaches into the whole pride thing.

My first example is Orthodox of the East - but felt it fit.

benedictaoo · May 17, 2011

Basil the Great said:
Despondency was the actual word given and I doubt that I can easily find the source, though I can try.

Despondency is one of the symptoms of depression. Its a sin if its willful and directed towards the Holy Spirit and not connected with clinical depression.

But there is an element to it that is some emotional issue but at the end of the day, God knows you and knows if you can over come what ever the issues are and if you are choosing too be despondent.

Is despondency really a mortal sin?

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