Explain Mortal Sin to a Freshman in High School

[grannymh]

A mortal sin is a deliberate thought or deed contrary to love for God or love for neighbor. Since God is love, such an act is incompatible with the divine life in the soul. It breaks that relationship with God. If we refuse to turn back to God and away from that sin–ie if we choose to cling to that sin until death rather than the love of God–then we will be permanently separated or at variance with the love of God. That’s what damnation is, ultimately.

FYI, here’s how the CCC defines:
1855 Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.

1856 Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us - that is, charity - necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation:

When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object . . . whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or perjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery. . . . But when the sinner’s will is set upon something that of its nature involves a disorder, but is not opposed to the love of God and neighbor, such as thoughtless chatter or immoderate laughter and the like, such sins are venial.130

I am not finished with my thinking about all this.

I often use the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition as my source for what I am talking about. It is as if I am saying – look at this and you will find out that I am not making up what I just said.

Yet, with a Freshman student, I am a bit worried that I will sound like I am saying – see, I am right and your are wrong so straighten up and fly right. Maybe I am the one who needs these references, perhaps using them as a form for meditation. I am not all that familiar with “meditation.” Check next week and find out what happens.

 

[pianistclare]

This is a good youtube video

youtube.com/watch?v=U_aYl66JelY

Kids love youtube.

 

[CradleJourney]

I am not finished with my thinking about all this.

I often use the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition as my source for what I am talking about. It is as if I am saying – look at this and you will find out that I am not making up what I just said.

Yet, with a Freshman student, I am a bit worried that I will sound like I am saying – see, I am right and your are wrong so straighten up and fly right. Maybe I am the one who needs these references, perhaps using them as a form for meditation. I am not all that familiar with “meditation.” Check next week and find out what happens.

Throwing another analogy out there that worked for my kids:

God is our loving parent and creator.

Think about how it is as a child relating to your parents - sometimes willfully or accidentally, through action or inaction, you break a rule, cause harm and/or fail to be the loving, grateful, helpful child they desire and you wish to be. But when you do so, you can apologize, take action to make things better - but never can you actually go back and make it so that the harm didn’t happen. (Even if you say you’re sorry, and they forgive you, a lie you told still has caused damage to the trust they have in you. Even if you replace a broken item, it’s still not the original.) This is what venial sin, reconciliation and why we still have purgatory - even if we’ve been forgiven our sin.

On the next level though - what if the child decides they hate their parents, don’t need them anymore, cause severe harm, refuse to apologize and/or just leave. If a rebellious (adult) child is constantly causing trouble and not attempting to repent their behavior then they are going to be shut out of the parent’s home. This is mortal sin.
The parents can seek out the child. They can be ready to fully forgive the child. They still love the child. But the child must make the move to return to the parents and ask forgiveness. Eventually the parents die and the child can never return home. (We only have till our own death to return home to God.)

 

[grannymh]

This is a good youtube video

youtube.com/watch?v=U_aYl66JelY

Kids love youtube.

The session I watched was excellent. Some adults need to watch it.

Is there a way to access the entire teaching because in the segment I watched, it referred to a previous session. Thank you.

 

[grannymh]

Throwing another analogy out there that worked for my kids:

God is our loving parent and creator.

Think about how it is as a child relating to your parents - sometimes willfully or accidentally, through action or inaction, you break a rule, cause harm and/or fail to be the loving, grateful, helpful child they desire and you wish to be. But when you do so, you can apologize, take action to make things better - but never can you actually go back and make it so that the harm didn’t happen. (Even if you say you’re sorry, and they forgive you, a lie you told still has caused damage to the trust they have in you. Even if you replace a broken item, it’s still not the original.) This is what venial sin, reconciliation and why we still have purgatory - even if we’ve been forgiven our sin.

On the next level though - what if the child decides they hate their parents, don’t need them anymore, cause severe harm, refuse to apologize and/or just leave. If a rebellious (adult) child is constantly causing trouble and not attempting to repent their behavior then they are going to be shut out of the parent’s home. This is mortal sin.
The parents can seek out the child. They can be ready to fully forgive the child. They still love the child. But the child must make the move to return to the parents and ask forgiveness. Eventually the parents die and the child can never return home. (We only have till our own death to return home to God.)

I am also a Mom of 6. I said to my friend that I was looking forward to when they all turned 18 and would be on their own.

I have a question that I can’t quite formulate. Maybe you can help. From what I hear, the parent analogy currently works. How does one then explain God as Himself?

 

[grannymh]

Your average “Catholic high school freshman” will go comatose, with glazed over eyes and slack jaw, 30 seconds into such a discussion.

Better, I think, to explain it in terms they understand: relationships.

Sin is all about the ways we harm or destroy our relationship with God. Picture it this way: imagine that your BFF sits down at the lunch table with your biggest crush and starts talking/flirting with them. Would you be mad at your friend? (You better believe it!) Would that kill your friendship? (Probably not – you’d be really mad for a while, but chances are, you’d eventually forgive your BFF (presuming they didn’t keep up that nonsense).)

But, now imagine that your BFF takes your crush out on a date – and they end up in a hotel. Would your friendship be completely dead in the water? (Yeah, probably – it’s hard to see how someone could be so uncaring about you and your feelings to have done that to you.)

But… what if they did that but they didn’t know that the person was your crush? In other words, they didn’t know that they were hurting you that bad, and weren’t intending to hurt you? Would it still hurt really, really bad? Yeah. But, would you be able (eventually) to forgive them? I hope so, since they did it without knowing or intending to stomp the life out of your friendship.

That’s what ‘mortal and venial’ sin is all about. Venial sin hurts our relationship with God; mortal sin kills it dead. Really serious sin can be mortal (if we know what we’re doing and we choose it intentionally); but serious sin that isn’t known or chosen intentionally is still just venial sin – it just hurts (rather than kills) that relationship.

The awesome thing is that God completely forgives us. Even when we don’t “deserve” to be forgiven – even when we do something totally awful – God is there to completely forgive us and renew that relationship with Him.

I have been stuck on the opening in this post.
“Your average “Catholic high school freshman” will go comatose, with glazed over eyes and slack jaw, 30 seconds into such a discussion. ”

Does this indicate that the average Catholic high school Freshman is ignorant of God as He is in the real world? Or does this indicate that the average Catholic high school Freshman does not believe in the presence of God? Could it be that the average Catholic high school freshman does not know the difference between heaven and hell? Or why we should care?

I ask these silly questions because I am now wondering if we adults consider that the current average Catholic high school Freshman is too young to hear about God so allegories are used. Now allegories are good and very useful, but I would think that basic teaching about God should be done first and then the allegories can be used as support. From what I read – I am in the wrong.

 

[Crusaderbear]

"don’t do anything you will be ashamed of (or be paying for) is a start, but it would not cover sleeping with a boyfriend or girl friend.

Actually, the was exactly the situation that came to mind…prom time, a girl accidentally dropped a very explicit note, I found it, next morning she came by, I presented it to her and simply said, it’s you body, your life, don’t do anything you’ll have to pay for the rest of your life…

It worked. In those days I wasn’t required to do any more, and she was a bright, tho naive young lady!

The real problem with teens is they think they are bulletproof and will live forever. Good luck!

 

[Bookcat]

From Compendium issued by Pope Benedict XVI

1. How are sins distinguished according to their gravity?

1854

A distinction is made between mortal and venial sin.

**395. When does one commit a mortal sin?
**
1855-1861
1874

One commits a mortal sin when there are simultaneously present: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. This sin destroys charity in us, deprives us of sanctifying grace, and, if unrepented, leads us to the eternal death of hell. It can be forgiven in the ordinary way by means of the sacraments of Baptism and of Penance or Reconciliation.

396. When does one commit a venial sin?

1862-1864
1875

One commits a venial sin, which is essentially different from a mortal sin, when the matter involved is less serious or, even if it is grave, when full knowledge or complete consent are absent. Venial sin does not break the covenant with God but it weakens charity and manifests a disordered affection for created goods. It impedes the progress of a soul in the exercise of the virtues and in the practice of moral good. It merits temporal punishment which purifies.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

 

[Bookcat]

Good for all especially the youth:

Messages from world youth day with Pope Benedict XVI Here are some…

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2011/august/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20110820_veglia-madrid_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2011/august/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20110818_accoglienza-giovani2-madrid_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20110821_xxvi-gmg-madrid_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/travels/2011/index_madrid_en.htm

One can find also others from him and from Pope Francis…etc

 

[Deconi]

Please give a complete reasonable explanation of Mortal Sin that a Catholic Freshman in High School will be able to comprehend. Include meaning, nature, importance along with a list of mortal actions. It may be helpful to start with the meaning of soul.

A partial explanation can still be useful. Every effort is appreciated.

Thank you sincerely.

To a FRESHMAN??

Try this;

Sin is sin! - and ranges from*** thought*** to*** physical*** activity.

I want to stab you - Thought
I stab you - Physical

Venial to Mortal:
Thinking of Slap to Slap against thinking of Stab to Stab - means different levels of ‘sin’ requires different ‘justice’

The thought process and actual physical activities to apply the ‘sin’ all come under Divine scrutiny in order for the penalty to be just!

In Catholicism, if you read Canon Law and Catechism, even venial can be ‘mortal sin’ just as a grave act can be ‘venial’ regarding Divine justice.

Human laws do not have this *aspect *and judge always according to level of physical act gravity with an eye on thought process (intent)

 

[pianistclare]

The session I watched was excellent. Some adults need to watch it.

Is there a way to access the entire teaching because in the segment I watched, it referred to a previous session. Thank you.

hmmm I’ll check.

 

[Gorgias]

I have been stuck on the opening in this post.
“Your average “Catholic high school freshman” will go comatose, with glazed over eyes and slack jaw, 30 seconds into such a discussion. ”

Does this indicate that the average Catholic high school Freshman is ignorant of God as He is in the real world? Or does this indicate that the average Catholic high school Freshman does not believe in the presence of God? Could it be that the average Catholic high school freshman does not know the difference between heaven and hell?

No. It simply means that, IMHO, if you approach this with a 14-year-old in an abstract, theoretical way that appears to them as not relevant, then they’ll quickly lose interest. On the other hand, if you frame it up in terms of an analogy that speaks to things they care deeply about (in this context, their interest in friends and relationships), then they’ll stand a better chance of paying attention long enough to ‘get it.’

I ask these silly questions because I am now wondering if we adults consider that the current average Catholic high school Freshman is too young to hear about God so allegories are used.

No; but it’s an interesting question. After all… the Church teaches us that God used allegories to teach us his Divine Revelation.

Now allegories are good and very useful, but I would think that basic teaching about God should be done first

Good luck with that.

You asked how to approach a discussion about mortal and venial sin (not about confession, which is what you didn’t like about the analogy). Allegories work just fine, pedagogically, if what they do enable a student to grasp the essential distinctions in a particular discussion.

 

[Gorgias]

I don’t think the analogy is meant to go that far (and upon further reflection, I would probably opt for a different offense than going off to a hotel room).

What would work better, in your opinion? I was trying to find some action – in the context of friendships and relationships – that a teen would identify with as being the kind of thing that would absolutely kill a relationship.

But it seems useful to me is conveying the sense that sin damages our relationship to God (and others) to varying degrees… But a lot of times, people can view sin as merely breaking arbitrary rules rather than damaging a relationship. That’s where I think the analogy would be helpful and resonate.

Right – and that’s what what asked: describe mortal and venial sin. It’s all about the ways we harm our relationship with God.

 

[grannymh]

Note to the high school students who are reading this thread.
I sincerely respect your intelligence.

While allegories are definitely helpful as supporting the many truths surrounding Mortal Sin, I do not doubt your capability to grapple with truth head on.

And yes, I do consider that some of the allegories on this thread can be used first in order to set the stage for real inquiry. Thank you to those who presented them. Now I am wondering if anyone cares to describe their reaction to one of the allegories that was presented to them in their early teens.

 

[grannymh]

No. It simply means that, IMHO, if you approach this with a 14-year-old in an abstract, theoretical way that appears to them as not relevant, then they’ll quickly lose interest. On the other hand, if you frame it up in terms of an analogy that speaks to things they care deeply about (in this context, their interest in friends and relationships), then they’ll stand a better chance of paying attention long enough to ‘get it.’

Thank you.

It sounds like if the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not relevant to their interest in friends and relationships, a high school Freshman would not be interested in the Real Presence of God in the Eucharist.

Going back to the opening post, there is this request.
“Please give a complete reasonable explanation of Mortal Sin that a Catholic Freshman in High School will be able to comprehend. Include meaning, nature, importance along with a list of mortal actions. It may be helpful to start with the meaning of soul.”

Obviously, loosing a good relationship with a close friend can be a good way to describe Mortal Sin which is described as “A grave infraction of the law of God that destroys the divine life in the soul of the sinner (sanctifying grace), constituting a turn away from God.” CCC Glossary, Mortal Sin, page 889.

Granted that not all high school freshmen have a driver’s license. Thus, there is the issue of culpability regarding attendance at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In post 1, I did ask for a list of mortal actions.

Obviously, maintaining a good friendship relationship can be a good way to describe the value of going to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sunday.

What I am concerned about is – How do I raise the level of friendship with other humans to the level of friendship with the Maker of human nature? Genesis 1: 26-27.

Honestly, when I went back to the CCC Glossary, :doh2: there is the explanation of Mortal Sin. It does not sound abstract or theoretical to me. But to a Freshman ???

I find myself in a muddle.

 

[Gorgias]

Note to the high school students who are reading this thread.
I sincerely respect your intelligence.

While allegories are definitely helpful as supporting the many truths surrounding Mortal Sin, I do not doubt your capability to grapple with truth head on.

So do I. Yet, my assertions don’t say that they are incapable of ‘grappling’. I’m merely pointing out that presentation is critical in engaging teens, especially in matters that are abstract.

 

[Gorgias]

Thank you.

It sounds like if the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not relevant to their interest in friends and relationships, a high school Freshman would not be interested in the Real Presence of God in the Eucharist.

I think that, if a high school freshman hadn’t been raised in a way that already raised their level of awareness of the sacrifice of the Mass, such that they already recognized the Real Presence (of Christ, not of God ) in the Eucharist, then it would be an uphill battle to teach them about it. Perhaps I have more experience teaching religion to jaded teens.

Granted that not all high school freshmen have a driver’s license. Thus, there is the issue of culpability regarding attendance at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Agreed. When I’ve talked to 13-16 year olds about this issue, I’ve mentioned that, since they don’t have a car or a driver’s licence, they aren’t primarily at fault. And then I ask them how they get to other places… and they realize with whom the fault lies. :sad_yes:

Obviously, maintaining a good friendship relationship can be a good way to describe the value of going to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sunday.

Yes, I agree. In conversations with teens, I’ve asked them what kind of friend they’d consider themselves to be if they never talked to their friends in school or at home, and never called or texted them, or had any contact with them. They get it, then, when I mention spending time with God in the Mass on Sunday.

What I am concerned about is – How do I raise the level of friendship with other humans to the level of friendship with the Maker of human nature? Genesis 1: 26-27.

Baby steps. Start with the understanding of the necessity of friendship with God. Later, the profundity of the relationship with one’s Creator can be broached…

Honestly, when I went back to the CCC Glossary, :doh2: there is the explanation of Mortal Sin. It does not sound abstract or theoretical to me. But to a Freshman ???

Umm… this definition (?): “A grave infraction of the law of God that destroys the divine life in the soul of the sinner (sanctifying grace), constituting a turn away from God. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter, full knowledge of the evil of the act, and full consent of the will.”

Look at what a teen has to understand in order even to begin thinking about this definition:

• Law of God * divine life in the soul * sanctifying grace * grave matter * full knowledge * full consent of the will
  .

Unless they already understand these (abstract (?)) theological notions, all they’ll hear in this definition is “blah blah blah **God **blah blah blah **sinner **blah blah blah evil.” Not exactly the best way to help them understand mortal sin, IMHO.

 

[grannymh]

I think that, if a high school freshman hadn’t been raised in a way that already raised their level of awareness of the sacrifice of the Mass, such that they already recognized the Real Presence (of Christ, not of God ) in the Eucharist, then it would be an uphill battle to teach them about it. Perhaps I have more experience teaching religion to jaded teens.

I put in bold the above point which needs a bit of clarification regarding the meaning of the Eucharist.

Jesus Christ is True God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus Christ is one Person with two natures. He is True God and True Man. True God and True Man is the Incarnation.

In the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is wholly present.
From link therealpresence.org/eucharst/book/dctrine1.htm

From 1. Meaning of the Real Presence

“… the Holy Eucharist means “the whole Christ.” Everything which belongs to Christ - everything which makes Christ Christ ‑ is present in the Blessed Sacrament. This consequently means that Christ is present in His divinity as God and in His humanity as man.”

Act of Adoration

I adore Thee, O Jesus, true God and true Man, here present in the Holy Eucharist, humbly kneeling before Thee and united in spirit with all the faithful on earth and all the blessed in heaven. In deepest gratitude for so great a blessing, I love Thee, my Jesus, with my whole heart, for Thou art all perfect and all worthy of love. Give me grace nevermore in any way to offend Thee, and grant that I, being refreshed by Thy Eucharistic presence here on earth, may be found worthy to come to the enjoyment with Mary of Thine eternal and everblessed presence in heaven. Amen.

 

[grannymh]

. Perhaps I have more experience teaching religion to jaded teens.

Subsequently, I have been thinking about today’s “jaded teens” and am glad you shared that point.
Thank you.

 

[Gorgias]

I put in bold the above point which needs a bit of clarification regarding the meaning of the Eucharist.

Jesus Christ is True God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus Christ is one Person with two natures. He is True God and True Man. True God and True Man is the Incarnation.

In the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is wholly present.

Absolutely true; Jesus is fully human and fully divine. So, in order to be precise, it’s important to describe the Eucharist properly so that we know how God’s present in the Eucharist: it’s the real presence of Christ.