mortal sins

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wolfpup

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I haven’t been baptised and I haven’t started RCIA yet, but I wanted to get into the habit of doing an examination of conscience so that I can be fully prepared and in good practice when I actually get around to doing it for real.
I really need help discerning the difference between a venial and mortal sin, especially in cases of things like lust. With other sins, from what I know, it doesn’t seem like they can become mortal in an ordinary situation - would this be generally correct? When doing an examination of conscience, how can I find out if a sin I have committed is mortal, is what I am really asking.
I am guessing mortal sins aren’t something committed on a day to day basis -about how often do committed catholics fall into serious sin (although this will be different for everybody)? Are they something that are even a problem for someone who is committed to their faith?
I am really trying to test the water - because it seems a bit odd for communion with God to be cut off by something that those who are serious about their faith fall into regularly.
 
There are many excellent examines easily available on Catholic websites. Look through a few and find one that focuses on the sins you are concerned about.

Mortal sins involve grave matter, so a teen taking $5 from mom’s purse is not the same thing as a man robbing a bank.

However, small bad habits can grow into large issues if not checked. This same teen may go from taking a few dollars from mom to falsifying expense reports to embezzlement.

That is why regular confession is such a good thing. It calls our attention to even our smaller faults, and gives us grace to persevere.
 
My thanks to both of you.
Mortal sins involve grave matter, so a teen taking $5 from mom’s purse is not the same thing as a man robbing a bank.
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So even if we are directly breaking one of the 10 commandments we may not be incurring mortal sin? Interesting. I looked up a list of mortal sins and most of them are things that I would never do anyway.

Is it true that we must provide details, such as the number of times, the event in which the sin took place and exactly what happened only for mortal sin, and that we be can more brief with venial sins- such as saying “I commited the sin of __” rather than going into detail about how much I stole or what exactly I lusted after?
 
wolfpup said:
My thanks to both of you.

So even if we are directly breaking one of the 10 commandments we may not be incurring mortal sin? Interesting. I looked up a list of mortal sins and most of them are things that I would never do anyway.

Is it true that we must provide details, such as the number of times, the event in which the sin took place and exactly what happened only for mortal sin, and that we be can more brief with venial sins- such as saying “I commited the sin of __” rather than going into detail about how much I stole or what exactly I lusted after?
Click to expand...
You should give enough detail so the priest understands what you are confessing. So, you should say, " I stole $5.00 from my mom’s purse" or “several times during the past month I took a couple dollars out of my brother’s wallet”. Instead of saying" “I got angry” say, “when my daughter talks back to me I get angry, this seems to be happening more often lately.” Of course, any sin you confess, even venial ones, you should be sorry for and have the intention of avoiding in the future.
 
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