Mortal vs. Venial Sin

Fr. Mike opens with the scripture passage from 1 John 5: 16-17. "There is such a thing as deadly sin", writes John.

There are 3 stipulations for a sin to be mortal:

1. The offense must be serious
2. You must know it's serious
3. You must give full consent to committing the offense

All sin is wrongdoing and an offense against God. Venial sins harm our relationship with God, but mortal sin breaks our communion with Him. This is true in all relationships. Some offenses will weaken our friendship, but some will cause irreparable damage. We should strive to not offend anyone we're in a relationship with, particularly our Lord.

The wonderful gift is that grace is always available to us. God desires to restore our relationship with Him. No one is beyond the reach of God's grace. It's time to be forgiven.

Key Takeaways

There is a difference between mortal and venial sin.

• There is a difference between venial and mortal sin.
• Mortal sin is a grave action, committed in full knowledge of its gravity and with full consent.
• Venial sin weakens us to the point where it makes committing a mortal sin easier.
• Confession is the Sacrament of Mercy.
• Sin is a wound in our relationship with God and others.
• Grace is always available to us

Questions for Reflection

1. Are you sensitive to the difference between a mortal and venial sin and realize when you have committed one or the other?
2. Do you try to avoid venial sins and confess them regularly to avoid falling into more serious sin?
3. Do you think it's important to examine yourself daily to see a pattern of behaviors which may be sinful or ways where you have failed to love God and others?