Catholic Replies

Catholic Replies

A weekly Q & A by Fr. James Drummey

What is meant by the sin against the Holy Spirit that cannot be forgiven either in this world or in the next world (found in Matthew 12: 31-32)?

It seems probable that this passage refers to the sin of final impenitence, the obstinate rejection of God’s mercy and love even at the moment of death. While a person who is truly sorry for sin will always be pardoned, the person our Lord was talking about does not seek pardon and completely and finally rejects the assistance of the Holy Spirit offers to turn that person away from evil and back to God.