Venial sins and forgiveness

[NaturalEnquirer]

Hi all,

Can someone explain to me what it means to be forgiven for venial sin? As I understand it (standard disclaimers apply), there are two spiritual consequences of sin:

1. Separation from God (hell), if the sin is mortal
2. Temporal punishment (purgatory), for mortal and venial sins

Now, the Sacrament of Reconciliation effects forgiveness for all sins, but does not (necessarily?) remove temporal punishments, right? For that, we need pious works, or prayer, or indulgences, etc.

So if the consequence of venial sins is limited to temporal punishment, which is not remitted by forgiveness, then… what are we talking about? My best guess is that forgiveness lessens the temporal punishment, but does not eliminate it.

Thanks!

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Hi Natural Enquirer,

Perhaps a solution to your question would be to recast your premise. Instead of the two spiritual consequences of sin you mentioned, how about we change them to:

1. Guilt of sin
2. Punishment for sin (eternal or temporal)

Absolution forgives the guilt of sin (whether of a mortal or venial sin), and punishment is due for sin (eternal punishment due for a unforgiven mortal sin, and temporal punishment is due for forgiven mortal sin and forgiven or unforgiven venial sins).

Therefore, regardless of the the type of sin for which guilt is forgiven (mortal or venial) you may still have temporal punishment due.

I’m sure I could have formulated that in a clearer manner, but do you get my drift?

VC

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Perhaps I could have less wordy and just have said that absolution forgives the guilt of sin (whether mortal or venial), but not the temporal punishment due it.

VC

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

Kinda sorta almost.

Can you clarify what “guilt of sin” means?

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Although other posters might be able to expand on this explanation more eloquently, I would say that “guilt of sin” is the violence (venial) or destruction(mortal) of one’s friendship with God.

Guilt is what incurs the debt of punishment due to sin. Although guilt can be forgiven (and the relationship with God restored), the debt of temporal punishment would remain.

What do you think?
VC

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Hi all,

Can someone explain to me what it means to be forgiven for venial sin? As I understand it (standard disclaimers apply), there are two spiritual consequences of sin:

1. Separation from God (hell), if the sin is mortal
2. Temporal punishment (purgatory), for mortal and venial sins

Now, the Sacrament of Reconciliation effects forgiveness for all sins, but does not (necessarily?) remove temporal punishments, right? For that, we need pious works, or prayer, or indulgences, etc.

So if the consequence of venial sins is limited to temporal punishment, which is not remitted by forgiveness, then… what are we talking about? My best guess is that forgiveness lessens the temporal punishment, but does not eliminate it.

Thanks!

I think you need to think about forgiveness less in terms of “what’s in it for me” (e.g., so I don’t have to go to hell or purgatory or have other unpleasant consequences), and more in terms of “How can I repair my relationship with God, who loves me infinitely, and whom I have offended by my sin?”.

When we have offended anyone by our actions (or inaction), we should seek their forgiveness, whether or not our offense will bring us punishment. All the more so for God, who is infinitely good.

This is the difference between perfect contrition (sorrow for sin because we have offended God) and imperfect contrition (sorrow for sin because we fear punishment).

ALL sin, mortal and venial, offends God. We should seek forgiveness for all of it because it offends Him. Our desire should be never to offend Him, even in small matters.

By “forgiveness” we mean restoration of our relationship/friendship with God, whether it has been completely broken off (mortal sin) or just wounded (venial sin).

Mortal sin MUST be brought to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is a very good idea to confess venial sins as well, as a matter of justice and to help us avoid those sins in the future.

 

[tmango]

I will try to explain it as it was explained to me by a well known priest, Fr. Corapi. He explains sin and reconcilation like this: All sin, whether mortal, which is considered grave sin, or venial, stops or reduces the flow of grace to our soul. When one confesses these sins before Jesus, in the presence of a priest, those sins are washed away, if the sinner is truely sorry for those sins and repents. This repentance is a sorrow for the sins committed and a desire not to repeat those sins.

Now, the soul has been damaged by sin, and even though the sins have been washed away, the damage is still present. Through repentance, prayer, and a person’s own disposition to grace, the soul will begin to repair itself. The more the soul heals, or becomes filled with the Holy Spirit, the more it will be open to a greater flow of grace. As grace increases, so does one’s holiness.

Again, sin will slow or stop the flow of grace. Reconciliation and repentance will restore the flow of grace, if one is disposed to receive it.

According to the CCC - 1472: On the other hand, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin.

I hope this helps.

 

[Just_1_hr_a_wk]

From something seen on another board:

Are serious sins the same as mortal sins?

If not, are they covered under the penitential rite at mass (so one can receive worthily) or are they more like (but not exactly like) mortal sins and need to be confessed at least once a year?




:knight1: :knight1: :knight1: :knight2:

 

[mommyof4]

From something seen on another board:

Are serious sins the same as mortal sins?

If not, are they covered under the penitential rite at mass (so one can receive worthily) or are they more like (but not exactly like) mortal sins and need to be confessed at least once a year?




:knight1: :knight1: :knight1: :knight2:

Yes, serious sin, also referred to as grave sin, is the same as a mortal sin. The penitential rite at the beginning of mass does forgive our venial sins, but not our mortal sins. We can only be forgiven of our mortal sins through the sacrament of confession. One should not receive the eucharist until one goes to confession if one is conscious of a mortal sin.

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

Yes, serious sin, also referred to as grave sin, is the same as a mortal sin. The penitential rite at the beginning of mass does forgive our venial sins, but not our mortal sins. We can only be forgiven of our mortal sins through the sacrament of confession. One should not receive the eucharist until one goes to confession if one is conscious of a mortal sin.

I don’t think that’s true. Grave sin is not necessarily mortal sin - there are three components of mortal sin, only one of which is gravity.

Also, confession is not the only way to be forgiven of mortal sins - perfect contrition can do the trick. Kind of a risky roll of the dice, though.

Thanks for all the replies. I’m still chewing on 'em.

God bless!

 

[Just_1_hr_a_wk]

I don’t think that’s true. Grave sin is not necessarily mortal sin - there are three components of mortal sin, only one of which is gravity.

Also, confession is not the only way to be forgiven of mortal sins - perfect contrition can do the trick. Kind of a risky roll of the dice, though.

Thanks for all the replies. I’m still chewing on 'em.

God bless!

Do you think that serious sins are or are not forgiven in the penitential rite of the Mass?

 

[NaturalEnquirer]

Do you think that serious sins are or are not forgiven in the penitential rite of the Mass?

If they are not mortal, yes.

But I’m a newbie. Am I wrong?

 

[mommyof4]

I don’t think that’s true. Grave sin is not necessarily mortal sin - there are three components of mortal sin, only one of which is gravity.

Also, confession is not the only way to be forgiven of mortal sins - perfect contrition can do the trick. Kind of a risky roll of the dice, though.

Thanks for all the replies. I’m still chewing on 'em.

God bless!

Ok, you made me go look in the Catechism. I searched both terms for “grave” and “mortal” sins, and both times I was given references to the fact that grave/mortal sins separate us from God’s grace.

Yea, I do know about perfect contrition, but I sure wouldn’t count on it- I feel better going to confession.

 

[jpjd]

Do you think that serious sins are or are not forgiven in the penitential rite of the Mass?

For a sin to be mortal requires:

1. full knowledge
2. deliberate consent
3. serious matter

So, it’s possible to commit a serious sin, but if you didn’t know it was a serious sin or you were, say, coerced into doing it, it wouldn’t be mortal sin. And as a venial sin it would be forgiven at Mass.

In case you will ask, are mortal sins forgiven in the penitential rite of the Mass? The answer is no, they are not.

 

[palmas85]

Hi all,

Can someone explain to me what it means to be forgiven for venial sin? As I understand it (standard disclaimers apply), there are two spiritual consequences of sin:

1. Separation from God (hell), if the sin is mortal
2. Temporal punishment (purgatory), for mortal and venial sins

Now, the Sacrament of Reconciliation effects forgiveness for all sins, but does not (necessarily?) remove temporal punishments, right? For that, we need pious works, or prayer, or indulgences, etc.

So if the consequence of venial sins is limited to temporal punishment, which is not remitted by forgiveness, then… what are we talking about? My best guess is that forgiveness lessens the temporal punishment, but does not eliminate it.

Thanks!

Its kind of like a kid breaking a window while playing ball after being told not to. . The breaking of the window is forgiven by the parents** BUT** the kid has to rake leaves or pay for the new window out of his allowance.

Forgiven, but you still have a debt to pay for your negligent or willfull acts of disobedience…

Does that make sense?

 

[Just_1_hr_a_wk]

I don’t think that’s true. Grave sin is not necessarily mortal sin - there are three components of mortal sin, only one of which is gravity.

Also, confession is not the only way to be forgiven of mortal sins - perfect contrition can do the trick. Kind of a risky roll of the dice, though.

Thanks for all the replies. I’m still chewing on 'em.

God bless!

The discussion I was reading had one person virtually insisting that serious sin and mortal sins were different, like it was a 3rd category of sin.

The reasoning was that some have thought that there were three grades (for lack of a better term) in the church before even though this faction did not succeed in having its view made church law.

I am not sure how appropriate (or wise) it is to second guess the church on matters like this.