What constitutes a "grave" sin?

[MARYBEKAH]

I posted this in the AAA forum by accident

Can someone who is well-versed in the Catechism help me figure this out? I know the definition of a mortal sin vs. a venial sin. I know that a mortal sin has to have all of the following factors present:

1. It has to be of a “grave matter”
2. The person has to fully understand that it is a mortal sin.
3. The person had to consciously and willfully commit the sin.

My question is this: What constitutes a “grave” matter? How bad does a sin have to be to be considered mortal? I’ve really been struggling with a lot of things lately. I always try to live my life in accordance with the teachings of the church, but sometimes I find myself going in the wrong direction. I go to confession once or twice a month, and my preist always tells me to take it one day at a time, and I do, but I still find myself struggling.

Here’s an example: I am enrolling my daughter in a state-funded pre-school program in another county. My mom currently watches my kids during the day while I work, and she lives in the county that is providing this program; she will be the one who will drop off/pick up my daughter to and from the school, since she is about 5 minutes away from the school, whereas my work is about 20 minutes away. When I fill out the application, I will have to use her address since she’s in that county, in order for my daughter to be accepted into the program. I realize that this is dishonest, and I feel very bad about it. Is it such a grave offense that it will separate me from God? I’m a convert and so any help that anyone can give will be very greatly appreciated

God bless!

 

[Ron_Conte]

St. Thomas Aquinas: “Therefore when the soul is so disordered by sin as to turn away from its last end, viz. God, to Whom it is united by charity, there is mortal sin; but when it is disordered without turning away from God, there is venial sin.”
(St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, II-I, Q. 72, A. 5.)

Pope John Paul II: “And when through sin, the soul commits a disorder that reaches the point of turning away from its ultimate end, God, to which it is bound by charity, then the sin is mortal; on the other hand, whenever the disorder does not reach the point of a turning away from God, the sin is venial. For this reason venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity and therefore eternal happiness, whereas just such a deprivation is precisely the consequence of mortal sin.”
(Pope John Paul II, Reconciliation and Penance, n. 17)

I don’t think that the matter of lying on an application is a grave matter, so it would not be a mortal sin. But even if it is only a venial sin, shouldn’t you refrain from sinning?

 

[Holly3278]

St. Thomas Aquinas: “Therefore when the soul is so disordered by sin as to turn away from its last end, viz. God, to Whom it is united by charity, there is mortal sin; but when it is disordered without turning away from God, there is venial sin.”
(St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, II-I, Q. 72, A. 5.)

Pope John Paul II: “And when through sin, the soul commits a disorder that reaches the point of turning away from its ultimate end, God, to which it is bound by charity, then the sin is mortal; on the other hand, whenever the disorder does not reach the point of a turning away from God, the sin is venial. For this reason venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity and therefore eternal happiness, whereas just such a deprivation is precisely the consequence of mortal sin.”
(Pope John Paul II, Reconciliation and Penance, n. 17)

I don’t think that the matter of lying on an application is a grave matter, so it would not be a mortal sin. But even if it is only a venial sin, shouldn’t you refrain from sinning?

Indeed, one should refrain from sinning. The reason being that the more venial sins one commits, the closer one is to committing a mortal sin. That and God hates all sin, not just mortal sin.

 

[jmcrae]

I posted this in the AAA forum by accident

Can someone who is well-versed in the Catechism help me figure this out? I know the definition of a mortal sin vs. a venial sin. I know that a mortal sin has to have all of the following factors present:

1. It has to be of a “grave matter”
2. The person has to fully understand that it is a mortal sin.
3. The person had to consciously and willfully commit the sin.

My question is this: What constitutes a “grave” matter?

This is a very complex subject, because there are so many areas to consider. However, the best place to start is with the Ten Commandments, and then to look at them in the light of the teachings of Christ. For example, we know that murder is wrong. (Thou shalt not kill.) Jesus then teaches us that what leads to murder (anger, spite, jealousy) is equally sinful.

Thou shalt not steal - well, accidentally walking off with someone’s Bic pen would probably be venial; robbing a bank would definitely be grave. Stealing what someone has to live on, regardless of how small the amount, would also be grave.

Here’s an example: I am enrolling my daughter in a state-funded pre-school program in another county. My mom currently watches my kids during the day while I work, and she lives in the county that is providing this program; she will be the one who will drop off/pick up my daughter to and from the school, since she is about 5 minutes away from the school, whereas my work is about 20 minutes away. When I fill out the application, I will have to use her address since she’s in that county, in order for my daughter to be accepted into the program. I realize that this is dishonest, and I feel very bad about it. Is it such a grave offense that it will separate me from God? I’m a convert and so any help that anyone can give will be very greatly appreciated.

If it were me, I would talk to the administration to find out whether an exception can be made for my daughter’s case, and if not, then I would move on and find a school that my child can attend without having to lie about where she lives.

Have you considered the amount of stress your daughter will be under, if she is not allowed to tell the truth about where she lives, in case she gets kicked out of school? This is a subject that will come up naturally in conversation during the school day. How do you expect your five-year-old to handle this?

 

[MARYBEKAH]

she’s not 5-she’s 2 1/2…but I see what you are saying

She is at my mom’s house most of the day until I leave work. If I cannot get her into a program that is in close enough proximity for my mom to drop her off and pick her up, she will not be able to enroll in any type of program like this until she starts school, because I am not able to leave work twice a day to do the running. When she starts actual school, it will be different and I will make the appropriate arrangements. I hate the whole situation

 

[jmcrae]

she’s not 5-she’s 2 1/2…but I see what you are saying

She is at my mom’s house most of the day until I leave work. If I cannot get her into a program that is in close enough proximity for my mom to drop her off and pick her up, she will not be able to enroll in any type of program like this until she starts school, because I am not able to leave work twice a day to do the running. When she starts actual school, it will be different and I will make the appropriate arrangements. I hate the whole situation

Well, like I said before, talk to the administration about making an exception.

I think that once you explain the situation, they would most likely accomodate you - and if they are so legalistic and rule-bound that they can’t make an exception for you based on your situation, I can’t see how it would be a good school for your daughter to attend, anyway - but I feel sure that since your daughter is going to and from your Mom’s house, which is within the district, they should not have a problem with it.