[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]  Dr Taylor Marshall™️ [@TaylorRMarshall](/creator/twitter/TaylorRMarshall) on x 217.4K followers Created: 2025-07-16 15:31:25 UTC Is mortal sin “normal” for Christians? Last Sunday I heard a sermon on “unless your righteousness abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:20) The priest reminded us that we who are baptized are called to extreme holiness through our connection to Christ. When we read the Church Fathers and early canons and councils, we see that the expectation for the baptized is that there should be no grave sin whatsoever after baptism. The sacrament of confession was often limited to once or twice in a lifetime, and serious sins carried penances of X or XX years of not receiving Communion. I'm not saying we need to go back to this rigor. I am also not holding myself up as a saint or as one having perfectly fulfilled the commands of Christ. I have failed and I'm unworthy. I certainly need confession more than once or twice in my lifetime. Yet we should expect that baptism and the sacramental life frees us from mortal sin through Christ. If the Catholic clergy and laity are no different morally than the non-baptized, do we really exemplify the universal call to holiness in Christ? Thoughts? XXXXXXX engagements  **Related Topics** [christ](/topic/christ) [marshall](/topic/marshall) [Post Link](https://x.com/TaylorRMarshall/status/1945506563449360742)
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Dr Taylor Marshall™️ @TaylorRMarshall on x 217.4K followers
Created: 2025-07-16 15:31:25 UTC
Is mortal sin “normal” for Christians?
Last Sunday I heard a sermon on “unless your righteousness abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:20)
The priest reminded us that we who are baptized are called to extreme holiness through our connection to Christ.
When we read the Church Fathers and early canons and councils, we see that the expectation for the baptized is that there should be no grave sin whatsoever after baptism. The sacrament of confession was often limited to once or twice in a lifetime, and serious sins carried penances of X or XX years of not receiving Communion.
I'm not saying we need to go back to this rigor.
I am also not holding myself up as a saint or as one having perfectly fulfilled the commands of Christ. I have failed and I'm unworthy. I certainly need confession more than once or twice in my lifetime. Yet we should expect that baptism and the sacramental life frees us from mortal sin through Christ.
If the Catholic clergy and laity are no different morally than the non-baptized, do we really exemplify the universal call to holiness in Christ? Thoughts?
XXXXXXX engagements
