Catholic Faith Refresher Course

LESSON 11

MORTAL AND VENIAL SIN

'Amen. amen.I say unto you that whosoever commiteth sin is the servant of sin." (John.8:34)

DIRECTIONS TO THE STUDENT

Because of the lack of religious instruction people today are confused about sin. Many do not realize what sin really is. Many cannot distinguish between small sins and large sins. In this lesson, then, you must learn what sin is. You must understand the list of mortal sins so that you will know what to avoid in your daily life. You must fix deep in your mind the necessity of doing penance daily to atone for your past sins.

A. WHAT IS SIN?

Sin is a willful disobedience of the law of God. The sinner chooses between the will of God and his own will, and chooses to please himself rather than God. The sinner chooses to violate the rights God has over him. Any thought, word, desire or action forbidden by God is a sin.

In the twentieth century too many have the mistaken idea that only violation of government laws are sins. The only law many people know is the law of the government. Now some violations of the laws of the land may not be sins at all, for example, the parking laws. On the other hand many violations of the government laws are real sins because they are also violations of the law of God. A good example is murder.

B. TO BE GUILTY OF SIN -WHAT IS NECESSARY?

To be guilty of sin you must know you are violating a law of God, and deliberately and freely choose to violate that law.

If, for example, in the past you did not know it was a sin not to attend church on Sunday it was not a sin. Now, however, it would be a sin for you, because you know of the law of Sunday worship from your instructions. Again, if you were unjustly forced by someone to do an action so that you had no free choice, it would not be a sin.

C. IS ONE SIN AS BAD AS ANOTHER?

All sins are not equally evil. There are two kinds of sin. A mortal sin, or a big sin, is a violation of an important and serious law of God. The Bible tells us of mortal or deadly sins.

The Bible tells us some sins are so serious that they keep a man out of heaven. These we call mortal sins. ,. Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdomofGod. Do not err: Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers: Nor the effeminate nor liers with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom ofGod." (1 Cor. 6:9-10)

In the Bible (Galatians 5: 19-21) we are told of the works of the flesh that keep one out of heaven. Your own common sense too tells you that stealing a thousand dollars is a serious sin while stealing a dime is usually not a serious matter at all.

A venial sin is a violation of a small law of God. The matter is not serious; therefore the sin is not a mortal or serious sin. Such sins as little acts of disobedience, small acts ofuncharity, some neglect of prayer, being slightly late for Mass and the like are not serious sins.

D. MORTAL SIN KILLS THE GRACE IN YOUR SOUL

Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of God. "Grievous" that is, very great or serious. "Against the law." If we are in doubt whether anything is sinful or not, we must ask ourselves: is it forbidden by God or His Church? and if we do not know of any law forbidding it, it cannot be a sin, at least for us.

Why is this sin called mortal?
This sin is called mortal because it deprives us of spiritual life, which is sanctifying grace. and brings everlasting death and damnation on the soul. When the soul is sent to Hell it is dead forever, because never again will it be able to do a single meritorious act.

To make a sin mortal three things are necessary: a grievous matter, sufficient reflection, and full consent of the will.

"Grievous matter." To steal is a sin. Now, if you steal only a pin the act of stealing in that case could not be a mortal sin, because the "matter," namely, the stealing of an ordinary pin, is not grievous. But suppose it was a diamond pin of great value, then it would surely be "grievous matter."

"Sufficient reflection," that is, you must know what you are doing at the time you do it. For example, suppose while you stole the diamond pin you thought you were stealing a pin with a small piece of glass, of little value, you would not have sufficient reflection and would not commit a mortal sin till you found out that what you had stolen was a valuable diamond; if you continued to keep it after learning your mistake, you would surely commit a mortal sin.

"Full consent:' Suppose you were shooting at a target and accidentally killed a man: you would not have the sin of murder, because you did not will or wish to kill a man. Therefore three things are necessary that your act may be a mortal sin: The act you do must be bad, and sufficiently important;
You must reflect that you are doing it, and know that it is wrong;
You must do it freely, deliberately, and willfully.

E. CAN ALL YOUR TERRIBLE SINS BE FORGIVEN?

There is hope for all of us no matter how great the sins or how often committed. We have the inspired words of Isaiah in the Bible telling us of God's great mercy toward the sinner: "If your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool." (Isaias I :18)

(Ezechiel 18:21) tells us the same thing: "But if the wicked do penance for all his sins which he hath committed and keep all my commandments and do judgment and justice, living he shall live, and shall not die." In this passage penance means sorrow for the sin. Your sins can be forgiven only if you are sorry for them and quit the sins.

F.WHAT DOES VENIAL SIN DO TO YOUR SOUL?

Venial sin makes your soulless pleasing to God. It is the next worst thing to mortal sin. Although it does not destroy grace, it makes your will weaker so that you can more easily fall into mortal sin. However, no number of venial sins will ever add up to a mortal sin. Thus mortal sin is the most terrible of all the evils in the world.

If you die with venial sin you will go to purgatory. You must pay for every venial sin before you get into heaven. Nothing defIled can enter heaven.

G. TEMPTATION A temptation is an attraction to commit a sin. In a temptation first comes the suggestion of evil. Then there is either consent to the temptation or refusal to sin.

Temptation is not a sin. Resisting temptation is virtue. A million temptations do not make one sin; they make a million acts of virtue, by refusing to sin.

Let us give you an example. A drunkard receives a course of instructions in religion. During the course of instructions he gives up his habit of alcohol. He is baptized and enters the Church. Immediately after his Baptism he is tempted again and again, but never drinks any alcoholic beverage. Such a man has not sinned. Such a man is not worse for the temptation but more virtuous than before the temptation.

Everyone is tempted. Everyone has some temptation. Don .t let the devil convince you that the temptation is a sin. " But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured." (James 6:12)

When tempted. say a short prayer; turn your mind away from the attraction whatever it is in your case; and keep away from the occasion of sin.

H. THE NEAR OCCASIONS OF SIN

An occasion of sin is any person. place or thing that may lead you into sin. A near occasion of sin is one that easily leads you into sin. The occasion is different for all of us. For one it is drink; for another it is unchastity; for another it is money.

We should pray with the sacred writer in the Bible: "0 Lord, Father, and God of my life. ..Takefrom me the greediness ( Ecclesiasticus 23:4-6)

It is important to know that to go to the person. place or thing that easily leads you into sin is a sin in itself.

I. WHAT GOD DOES FOR THE PERSON WHO IS TEMPTED TO SIN When you are tempted God gives actual grace. This actual grace is a help from God which enlightens the mind and strengthens the will to do good and avoid evil. The darkness of temptation comes to the mind. God enlightens the mind to see how wrong and foolish the temptation is and God gives strength to your will to say no. St. Paul when tempted, asked the Lord to destroy the temptation. God did not destroy the temptation but told St. Paul: "My grace is sufficient for thee." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Unfortunately. you can go and commit the sin even though you have many actual graces. You are still free! God will not force you. The choice is ultimately with you. If you sin it is entirely your fault. God gives everyone sufficient grace to resist the most trying temptations.

J. THE PRINCIPAL MORTAL SINS IN THE WORLD

We present to you this list of mortal sins so that you will know the following sins are serious. Since they are serious. your conversion to Christ demands that you give them up if you are guilty of any of them. The list in no way pretends to be a complete list of all mortal sins. Rather it is a list of the mortal sins that happen all too frequently today:

I. Missing Mass on Sunday or Holydays of Obligation.

2. Eating meat on Friday(or days perscribed by the Church) and other forbidden days.

3. Any sins against chastity; that is any use of the sex passion outside of marriage: adultery .fornication. masturbation. impure use of the eyes, impure dancing. petting. necking; even serious kissing is a mortal sin; impure or unchaste thoughts or desires deliberately entertained; sins against nature, such as homosexuality.

4. Gambling away the family money. 5. Stealing an expensive article.

6. Unnecessary manual work and/or shopping on Sunday.

7. Murder, or any other unjust killing or harming another.

8. Birth control of any form. For example: abortion, the use of condoms or other birth preventative devices, use of "the pill."

K. PREVENTING SIN IN YOUR LIFE

There are evil tendencies in every man which can lead him to sin. To lead a Christian life you must gain control over these evil tendencies or they will lead you into sin. All of your past sins can be traced to one or other of these evil inclinations in you. These sources of sin are: Pride-an exaggerated love of oneself. Covetousness or greediness-a sinful desire of obtaining the goods of this world. Covetousness can lead to stealing, fraud, and other sins against justice. Lust-a sinful desire for sex pleasure. Anger-an excessive or exaggerated desire for justice. Gluttony-an evil inclination toward too much food or drink causing sins of intemperance. Envy-a sadness because of someone else's good fortune. Sloth-laziness or desire for too much rest. Which one of the above seven evil inclinations has led you into sin? That's the one you will have to conquer.

L. MAKING UP FOR YOUR PAST SINS

Penance means sorrow for sin. When a person realizes the number and seriousness of his sins, he wants to make up for them . The following are suggested as acts of penance:

.Doing faithfully the duties of your daily life, your duty as a father or mother, husband or wife.

.Offer to God in payment for your past sins all the pains and sufferings you must undergo -sick children, poverty, disappointment, bad weather, disagreeable neighbors, the unjust boss at work, and so forth.

.Fast and abstinence. There is a whole section on fast and abstinence CLICK HERE

.Give money to the poor. "Redeem thou thy sins with alms," says the Bible (Daniel 4:24).

.Work directly against the evil tendency that led you into sin. If it was gluttony, give up alcoholic beverages; if it was lust. control your eyes and ears; if it was anger, make yourself meek like Christ, if it was covetousness, give money to the poor; if it was envy, practice love for your neighbor; if it was laziness (sloth), keep yourself busy all the time.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW OF THIS LESSON

1. What is a mortal sin? 4. Can all terrible sins be forgiven?

2. Name some mortal sins. 5. What is a venial sin?

3. What happens if you die in mortal sin? 6. Is a temptation a sin?