Saved by faith and more

[steve_b]

The thought that the proverbial killing, raping, and pillaging could sometimes be no more than venial sins can be very challenging sometimes. As is the thought that someone who “would never hurt a fly” could nevertheless commit mortal sin and persist in it.

Inability to distinguish between venial and mortal sin is a key feature of scrupulosity.

SCRUPULOSITY

The habit of imagining sin where none exists, or grave sin where the matter is venial. To overcome scrupulosity, a person needs to be properly instructed in order to form a right conscience, and in extreme cases the only remedy is absolute obedience (for a time) to a prudent confessor.

your understanding is one diminishes fault. That’s NOT the definition
L:

But yeah, I know, I am an outsider, or a newbie at best, and with a past like mine, who am I to take on those who have more pedigree than I could ever have!

Carry on.

To hit a target, the proper sequence of events is ready, aim, fire. Your sequence was Fire, ready, aim. Ya can’t hit any target THAT way.

 

[dcana]

Good works are a post not a pre element to Justification.

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

• James 2:24

 

[Lucy107]

The OP question seems like one that ought to be readily answerable with a simple copy-paste from the CCC.