Mortal or venia l?

[confusedcatholic1]

I think it was very wicked. I went to the thrift store and was checking out a Catholic Book, when I saw something that seemed much more interesting. A St Benedict Prayer Card was being used as a bookmark. I didn’t want to buy the book, so I pocketed the prayer card because it seemed neat, but didn’t buy the book. On one hand, it wasn’t mine, but on the other, they were selling the book, not the bookmark. I feel a little guilty. But it intrigued me since it is from an abbey I know of, and it says who either made it or it belongs to: “Adrian Parcher, O.S.B. Monk of St Martin’s Abbey Ordained Priest May 23, 1959”. Is this a mortal or venial sin?

 

[Fauken]

Please discuss this with your priest in confession. We cannot help you with this.

 

[LittleFlower378]

This is not grave matter. It was probably a venial sin.

 

[LovelyLadybug]

It’s just a bookmark. It’s not like robbing the bank. You still shouldn’t have done it, but it was most likely venial.

 

[Sirach2]

There was no grievous matter involved here, so it is not a mortal sin. IOW, you did not secretly steal a very expensive item. Somebody probably left it in the book as a means of spreading their devotion to you or others, as they chanced upon it in the book. (Kinda like Jehovah’s Witnesses leaving their literature at your door or elsewhere in public.) In that case, it may not even be venial sin. Had you left it at the desk, thinking it belonged to someone else, your conscience would feel better, but I don’t think that was necessary.

EDIT: I read your post again and realized you found this in a “thrift store,” where the items are donated. Obviously, the owner who donated the book did not care about the bookmark, nor would you be expected to return it.