Understanding Mortal Sins: Children And Their Innocence

The Catholic Church teaches that for a sin to be considered mortal, it must meet three conditions: it must be a sin of grave matter, committed with full knowledge, and done with deliberate consent. The Church has also clarified that all three conditions must be met for a sin to be considered mortal. This means that the sin is serious, and the sinner is aware of the gravity of their actions and their consequences.

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, before reaching the age of discretion, a child cannot sin mortally or venially. However, after reaching this age, their first rational thought is about their identity, and if they do not direct themselves to God, they will be guilty of a grave sin of omission, failing to love God.

While it is generally believed that children cannot commit mortal sins, there are differing opinions on this matter. Some priests and theologians argue that it is nearly impossible for a child to commit a mortal sin as they may not fully understand the concept of sin and its consequences. On the other hand, others believe that children can commit mortal sins, especially if they are unbaptized, as their first rational act will either be one of implicit faith or a mortal sin.

St. Thomas Aquinas on the ability of children to commit mortal sins

St. Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, discusses the seven deadly sins, or mortal sins, and their corresponding virtues. These sins are pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.

Mortal sins are those that, due to action and intention, are of a graver nature than venial sins. Venial sins are relatively minor, whereas mortal sins create the threat of eternal damnation and a full turning away from God on the part of the sinner. Mortal sins are irreparable, whereas venial sins are reparable. Venial sin is called such from the Latin "venia", meaning pardon.

Aquinas takes the position that so long as people retain the use of reason and free will, if they are moved by passion to do a gravely disordered act, then they sin mortally. Only if they are so overcome by passion that they no longer have the ability to judge and to act freely are they excused from mortal sin, as they are excused from sin altogether.

Aquinas also considers the case of a person who believes that fornication is a venial sin and is of such a mindset that they would definitely refrain from it if they knew it were a mortal sin. He argues that if the ignorance entirely excuses the sin, then the person would not commit a mortal sin, since they would not sin at all. But if the ignorance is not invincible and does not entirely excuse the sin, then the ignorance itself is a sin, and contains within it a lack of divine love, inasmuch as a man neglects to learn those things through which he can preserve himself in divine love.

The necessity of confession for children

The Catholic Church teaches that children who have reached the age of reason (usually around seven years old) are required to confess their sins to a priest at least once a year. This confession is not merely a moral lesson or a ritual but a necessary sacrament for reconciliation with God. Even children who have been baptized can commit venial sins, and it is essential that they learn to confess and receive forgiveness.

According to St. Thomas Aquinas, a child who has not been baptized will, upon reaching the age of reason, either turn their heart to God or turn away from Him. If they turn to God, they will receive sanctifying grace and be forgiven of their original sin. However, if they turn away, they commit a mortal sin, adding to the original sin on their soul. This act of turning away from God is a grave sin of omission, as the child fails to love God and instead becomes wholly intent on self-love.

The Church requires that children of discretion, including those around seven years old and older, confess their sins annually. This confession is not merely a formality but a valid sacrament that requires true contrition. The penitent must have committed at least some venial sin to make a valid confession. Confession is about acknowledging and seeking forgiveness for our sins, and without sin, there can be no confession.

The religious knowledge required for a child's first Confession and Communion is that they understand, to the best of their ability, the mysteries of faith necessary for salvation. They should be able to distinguish the Eucharistic from ordinary corporeal bread and approach the Eucharist with devotion appropriate for their age. The responsibility for ensuring that children receive Confession and Communion falls on those caring for them, including parents, confessors, teachers, and pastors.

Confession is intimately connected to Communion, and it is beneficial for children who regularly receive Communion also to receive confession frequently. If children are not encouraged to confess their venial sins at a young age, they may be less likely to confess their mortal sins as adolescents and adults. By neglecting confession, we deprive our children of graces and put their faith at risk.

The Church's view on the difficulty of committing mortal sins

Some priests and theologians have argued that it is nearly impossible to fulfil these three conditions, especially for children. However, this view has been explicitly condemned by the Church, particularly by St. John Paul II. He cautioned that "care will have to be taken not to reduce mortal sin to an act of 'fundamental option'—as is commonly said today—against God, intending thereby an explicit and formal contempt for God or neighbour".

The Church has never taught that a mortal sin requires a conscious rebellion from God. Instead, St. John Paul II explained that "mortal sin exists also when a person knowingly and willingly, for whatever reason, chooses something gravely disordered". This choice "includes contempt for the divine law, a rejection of God’s love for humanity and the whole of creation; the person turns away from God and loses charity".

Therefore, the Church's view is that it is not difficult to commit a mortal sin. Even a child can commit a mortal sin, especially if they are unbaptised.

The three conditions for an action to be a mortal sin

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, there are three conditions that must be met for an action to be considered a mortal sin. These are:

• "Grave matter": The sin must be serious in nature and a grave violation of the moral law. The Catechism specifies that grave matter is outlined by the Ten Commandments, which include prohibitions on murder, adultery, theft, bearing false witness, and defrauding others.
• "Full knowledge": The individual must have a clear understanding of the sinful nature of their actions. This means they are aware that their actions are wrong and go against God's will.
• "Deliberate consent": The person must freely choose to commit the sin with full consent. This implies a conscious decision to engage in the sinful act, even if they do not explicitly say, "Away with God!" Their choice demonstrates a rejection of God's love and a turning away from God.

These three conditions must all be present for an action to be considered a mortal sin. The absence of any one of these conditions would result in the sin being classified as a venial sin, which weakens charity and can lead to mortal sin if left unaddressed.

The consequences of committing mortal sins

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a mortal sin is one that "destroys in us the charity without which eternal beatitude is impossible. Unrepented, it brings eternal death". In other words, it cuts us off from God forever unless it is "redeemed by repentance and God's forgiveness".

The Catechism also states that three conditions must be met for a sin to be considered mortal: (1) "grave matter", (2) "full knowledge", and (3) "deliberate consent". Grave matter refers to the seriousness of a sin, which can be evaluated through the Ten Commandments. Full knowledge means being aware that the action is wrong, while deliberate consent implies doing it anyway.

The consequences of committing a mortal sin are severe. It can lead to eternal death and cut us off from God's love and grace. However, through sincere repentance and seeking God's forgiveness, it is possible to be reconciled with God and receive His mercy.

St. Thomas Aquinas, a renowned theologian, offers further insight into this topic. He suggests that before reaching the age of discretion, a child is incapable of committing either mortal or venial sins. However, once they attain the age of reason, their first rational thought revolves around their identity, and they must direct themselves towards their Creator. If they turn inward and make themselves their own last end, this act of omission becomes a grave sin as they fail to love God.

Additionally, St. Thomas Aquinas argues that mortal sins are not always direct violations of the Ten Commandments but are specifically those that involve injustice. This is because the commandments primarily pertain to justice and its components. Therefore, the crucial question to ask is whether an action places something else above God or turns an individual away from God.

In conclusion, the consequences of committing mortal sins are severe, but through repentance and God's forgiveness, reconciliation is possible. It is important to note that children below the age of reason are not considered capable of committing mortal sins, according to St. Thomas Aquinas.

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