Venial/Mortal Sin

[nickybr38]

Why is it that we treat venial sin as if it’s not serious? I was raised in a Protestant tradition and I was taught ALL sin is equally abhorrent and yet it seems as if Catholics trivialize venial sin.

It’s almost as if because venial sin is forgiven at Mass that people don’t think about them or try to avoid them… I could be wrong! This has just been my experience.

Aren’t we supposed to strive to avoid ALL sin, even venial? So why treat venial sin as if it’s no big deal?

I think I know what the Church teaches, this is more aimed at Catholics and behaviors I’ve observed (more offline then online by the way).

Isn’t all sin equally abhorrent to God? Shouldn’t we strive to be holy and doesn’t being holy mean striving not to commit even the slightest sin?

Sure, we’re going to fall short but I don’t know… it seems like there’s this attitude that it’s too ‘hard’ so don’t worry about trying.

What are your thoughts on venial sin? Do you take it seriously or do you not worry about it?

 

[Swiss_Guy]

Why is it that we treat venial sin as if it’s not serious? I was raised in a Protestant tradition and I was taught ALL sin is equally abhorrent and yet it seems as if Catholics trivialize venial sin.

It’s almost as if because venial sin is forgiven at Mass that people don’t think about them or try to avoid them… I could be wrong! This has just been my experience.

Aren’t we supposed to strive to avoid ALL sin, even venial? So why treat venial sin as if it’s no big deal?

I think I know what the Church teaches, this is more aimed at Catholics and behaviors I’ve observed (more offline then online by the way).

Isn’t all sin equally abhorrent to God? Shouldn’t we strive to be holy and doesn’t being holy mean striving not to commit even the slightest sin?

Sure, we’re going to fall short but I don’t know… it seems like there’s this attitude that it’s too ‘hard’ so don’t worry about trying.

What are your thoughts on venial sin? Do you take it seriously or do you not worry about it?

Well, your Protestant background is wrong. Even original Protestantism (Lutheranism) doesn’t teach that all sin is equally bad. I would disagree about Catholics trivializing venial sin - it weakens your relationship with God. Catholics just don’t take it as seriously as mortal sins because mortal sins destroy your relationship with God. I think your wrong on the trying to avoid them, because if you indulge in your venial sin, doesn’t it turn mortal? Which is exactly why I thought we are to avoid all sin, so in this you are right. Not all sin is equal in God’s eyes - if that means venial = mortal. All mortal sins are equal in God’s eyes though.

I try to avoid venial sins, but it’s these sins that we commit everyday, and which are forgiven through prayer without penance/reconcilation/confession. I take them seriously, but I don’t go paranoid over them as we commit them everyday (except the Virgin Mary and a few others didn’t)

 

[Boulder257]

Sin is wrong, no matter whether venial or mortal. I can see your point that it appears that some people minimize venial sin. It may not be as bad as mortal sin (because it does not fully seperate us from God) but it still hurts Him, us, and others. There is definitely a distinction between the two, but both are wrong.

 

[Bookcat]

Compendium of the Catechism (this was issued by Pope Benedict XVI)

1. 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.

1. 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.

---

Also from the Catechism

1863 Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul’s progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good; it merits temporal punishment. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. However venial sin does not set us in direct opposition to the will and friendship of God; it does not break the covenant with God. With God’s grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness."134

While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins. But do not despise these sins which we call “light”: if you take them for light when you weigh them, tremble when you count them. A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession.135

 

[followingtheway]

Why is it that we treat venial sin as if it’s not serious? I was raised in a Protestant tradition and I was taught ALL sin is equally abhorrent and yet it seems as if Catholics trivialize venial sin.

It’s almost as if because venial sin is forgiven at Mass that people don’t think about them or try to avoid them… I could be wrong! This has just been my experience.

Aren’t we supposed to strive to avoid ALL sin, even venial? So why treat venial sin as if it’s no big deal?

I think I know what the Church teaches, this is more aimed at Catholics and behaviors I’ve observed (more offline then online by the way).

Isn’t all sin equally abhorrent to God? Shouldn’t we strive to be holy and doesn’t being holy mean striving not to commit even the slightest sin?

Sure, we’re going to fall short but I don’t know… it seems like there’s this attitude that it’s too ‘hard’ so don’t worry about trying.

What are your thoughts on venial sin? Do you take it seriously or do you not worry about it?

The Bible says there are sins that do not lead unto death meaning Hell. (I John 5:16-17) and those sins is Venial sins.

 

[nickybr38]

The Bible says there are sins that do not lead unto death meaning Hell. (I John 5:16-17) and those sins is Venial sins.

Yes, but just because they do not lead to Hell does not mean they shouldn’t be taken seriously. Do we avoid sin merely because it could harm us? Or because sin harms others?

 

[nickybr38]

Well, your Protestant background is wrong. Even original Protestantism (Lutheranism) doesn’t teach that all sin is equally bad. I would disagree about Catholics trivializing venial sin - it weakens your relationship with God. Catholics just don’t take it as seriously as mortal sins because mortal sins destroy your relationship with God. I think your wrong on the trying to avoid them, because if you indulge in your venial sin, doesn’t it turn mortal? Which is exactly why I thought we are to avoid all sin, so in this you are right. Not all sin is equal in God’s eyes - if that means venial = mortal. All mortal sins are equal in God’s eyes though.

I try to avoid venial sins, but it’s these sins that we commit everyday, and which are forgiven through prayer without penance/reconcilation/confession. I take them seriously, but I don’t go paranoid over them as we commit them everyday (except the Virgin Mary and a few others didn’t)

Yes, I understand the concept that some things are more wrong then others… but I have a hard time trivializing even the smallest of sins.

I always thought the punishment we receive from sin is less God directly punishing us for the sin and more a natural reaction to our disordered nature once we indulge in sin. For example, when I sin enough I no longer wish to be in God’s presence… being apart from God IS the punishment but it is not God who enacts it but us because we have aligned ourselves to the darkness and not to His holiness. Does that make sense or am I totally messing this up?

In that sense, a multitude of venial sins could be just as likely to lead us away from God as one terrible mortal sin… a predisposition to venial sins can show a heart that is not seeking God but instead seeking other things. In that way all sins become equal because all sins will lead us away from our Father. Some will strike us with one blow while others will chip away with time. You know what I mean?

Ah, I don’t know. I’m just having a hard time sorting out this disregard for venial sin that I’m being exposed to in my new brothers and sisters.

 

[Joe_5859]

I think we need to strike a balance as we navigate between the twin dangers of laxity and scrupulosity. If we are lax, we can certainly fall into the trap of not taking it seriously enough. But if we are scrupulous, we can make the opposite error and take it too seriously.

I think you’re right that we shouldn’t dismiss venial sin as “no big deal”. But it is hard for us to be purged of all our shortcomings all at once. A few at a time is the most I can handle anyway.

It’s like clearing away cobwebs in the basement. First, you want to take care of the big stuff. Then you start getting the smaller stuff. And just when you think you’re alright, God shines the light in those hard to reach corners and says “You missed a spot.” It’s all part of the spiritual journey.

 

[rben20]

I’ve had a question from this. Maybe your protestant background can help. I don’t understand why some denominations those “non-denom” or “bible churches” say all sin is equal. What is the logic in that? Its clear in Scripture there are classes of sin.

 

[Bookcat]

old thread…

 

[nickybr38]

I’ve had a question from this. Maybe your protestant background can help. I don’t understand why some denominations those “non-denom” or “bible churches” say all sin is equal. What is the logic in that? Its clear in Scripture there are classes of sin.

It is an old thread but I’ll answer anyway.

I’m not 100% sure how that works. But when I was growing up I was often led to believe that all sin was equally detestable to God. Ironically as a Protestant I rarely read the Bible. I’d crack it open for Bible studies but always in the context of studying the verses within a pre-formed context. Anyway, because I rarely just READ the Bible (outside of contextual studies) it never really occurred to me that there were different classes of sin.

Sorry I couldn’t be of more help but that was my experience. I simply listened to those who taught me and never questioned what they were saying about sin.

 

[Bezant]

Why is it that we treat venial sin as if it’s not serious? I was raised in a Protestant tradition and I was taught ALL sin is equally abhorrent and yet it seems as if Catholics trivialize venial sin.

It’s almost as if because venial sin is forgiven at Mass that people don’t think about them or try to avoid them… I could be wrong! This has just been my experience.

Aren’t we supposed to strive to avoid ALL sin, even venial? So why treat venial sin as if it’s no big deal?

I think I know what the Church teaches, this is more aimed at Catholics and behaviors I’ve observed (more offline then online by the way).

Isn’t all sin equally abhorrent to God? Shouldn’t we strive to be holy and doesn’t being holy mean striving not to commit even the slightest sin?

Sure, we’re going to fall short but I don’t know… it seems like there’s this attitude that it’s too ‘hard’ so don’t worry about trying.

What are your thoughts on venial sin? Do you take it seriously or do you not worry about it?

I’m not keen about separating sin in categories where one sort will in itself send you to Hell un-confessed, and one sort doesn’t.

 

[rben20]

Of course it’s an old thread but rather revive one with questions than create an entire new thread. I use search unlike many Thanks for the replies thus far.