I think I know your confusion. I presented this very topic last night to my 6th grade PREP Confirmation Class and it always generates the most questions. Unfortunately, there is no “list” per se. You’ve probably had this before, but just so we are on the same page: Mortal vs. Venial Sins
Catholics break sin into two categories as found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. In the Old Covenant (between God and the Jews), there were sins that merited the death penalty and sins that could be forgiven by an offering (the sacrifice of an animal or fruits/grains). In the New Covenant (between God and us through Jesus) these sins are no longer material ones (you can’t be killed because you committed a mortal sin) but spiritual ones (mortal sin separates us from God).
Mortal sin is called mortal because it is the “spiritual” death of the soul (separation from God). It destroys charity and is incompatible with God’s love. If we are in the state of grace it loses this supernatural life for us. If we die without repenting we will lose Him for eternity. However, by turning our hearts back to Him and receiving the Sacrament of Penance we are restored to His friendship. Catholics are not allowed to receive Communion if they have unconfused mortal sins.
Venial sins are slight sins. They do not break our friendship with God, although they injure it. They involve disobedience of the law of God in slight (venial) matters. For example, if we gossip and destroy a person’s reputation it would be a mortal sin. However, normally gossip is about trivial matters and only venially sinful.
A Mortal sin requires
three conditions to exist at the same time:
- The object must be grave matter. Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments. Some sins are more grave than others – murder is a greater sin than theft.
- The sin must be committed with full knowledge that it is a mortal sin. This means that you must know that the act is sinful and opposed to God’s law. Feigned ignorance or hardness of heart do not reduce full knowledge. Unintentional ignorance can diminish or remove the graveness.
- The sin must be committed with full or deliberate consent (you must do it voluntarily). This means that you make a personal choice to commit the sin. Many factors (feelings, passions, external pressure, emotional disorders) can diminish personal freedom.
Venial Sins are committed when:
- We do not observe God’s law in a less serious matter
- When we do not have full knowledge or give full consent in a grave matter.
Most folks struggle with mortal sin condition #1 - is it grave matter? And if grave, how grave (i.e. stealing is grave but stealing a dime from a bank is less grave than stealing $5,000 from an orphanage).
What I tell my kids is that a good place to start is with the 10 commandments, the 7 deadly sins and a good examination of conscience (here is just one
catholic-pages.com/penance/examine.asp; type “catholic examination of conscience” into a search engine to find others). Keep in mind that not everything on these examination lists may be a mortal or venial sin for you. When you see something on the conscience exam that you don’t understand why it is a sin, take it to your RCIA folks, your Priest or the good folks here on the forums. The more you understand the “Catholic” nature of sin the easier it will be to recognize it when you do it (“having a beer” is NOT a sin; No No No NOT oh please God not…
)
The last piece of advice I give is to keep a “sin book”. Take a pad and at the end of the day do an exam of conscience, writing down what you think may have been your sins. I take mine to confession and use it as a memory jogger (and then throw the paper away when I receive absolution). Frequent examination of conscience and reception of the sacrament of confession will help to recognize and respond to sin. And don’t lose faith - it is a lifelong journey but the Lord is walking with you all the way.
