
Confession is a sacrament that was established by Jesus to allow people to seek forgiveness for their sins. There are two types of sins: mortal sins and venial sins. Mortal sins are those that are considered to be more serious or deadly, and they require confession and forgiveness from a priest. Venial sins, on the other hand, are less serious and can be forgiven by God through sincere repentance and an Act of Contrition. While the specific mortal sins that require confession vary slightly between different Christian denominations, some commonly accepted mortal sins include murder, adultery, and blasphemy.
What You'll Learn
- Mortal sins include contraception, IVF, and abortion
- Sins that require confession include chronic failure to catechize your children
- Sins that cry to God for vengeance include oppression of the poor
- Mortal sins that require confession include skipping Sunday Mass without good reason
- Mortal sins that require confession include denying the Catholic faith
Mortal sins include contraception, IVF, and abortion
The Catholic Church defines a mortal sin as "a sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent". The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that human life must be "respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception". Therefore, any act that goes against this tenet is considered a mortal sin.
Contraception, IVF, and abortion are considered to be grave matters by the Catholic Church and, therefore, fall under the category of mortal sins.
Contraception is considered a mortal sin because it deliberately frustrates "the natural power [of matrimony] to generate life". The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the approval of Pope St. Paul VI, taught in its 1975 Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics that "a person sins mortally when he chooses something which is seriously disordered".
IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is considered a morally evil act by the Catholic Church. It detracts from the dignity of the marital act by separating the goods of marriage (children) from the conjugal act, which is the natural means of bringing new life into the world. Additionally, IVF often involves the production of multiple human embryos, many of which are not implanted and are thus left unused or destroyed. The Church considers this to be the killing of innocent human lives.
Abortion is considered a mortal sin and a crime against human life, dignity, and freedom by the Catholic Church because it is the murder of an unborn person. The Church teaches that procured abortion is an intrinsic evil and cannot be justified, legalized, participated in, or cooperated with, for any reason or under any circumstance.
It is important to note that while the Catholic Church considers these acts to be mortal sins, there may be differing views among individual Catholics and even some Catholic theologians on the morality of contraception, IVF, and abortion.
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Sins that require confession include chronic failure to catechize your children
Failing to catechize your children is considered a mortal sin in the Catholic Church. This is because, as the Catechism of Saint Pius X states, "a mortal sin kicks the Blessed Trinity out of our soul and the only way to regain Jesus' friendship is through confession to a priest".
Catechism is a method of teaching simple truths about who God is, who we are, and how we are to live as Christians based on Holy Scripture. It is a series of questions and answers meant to teach a particular topic. For example, "Who made you?" "God." "What else did God make?" "God made all things." "Why did God make you and all things?" "For his own glory."
Failing to teach your children about God is considered unbiblical. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, God tells his people through Moses that they need to be people of the Word, and that they should "teach [God's words] diligently to your children". Similarly, in Proverbs 22:6, we are told that we should "train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it".
Chronic failure to catechize your children is considered a grave matter, and thus a mortal sin. However, it is important to note that for a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be met: grave matter, full knowledge, and complete consent. The Catechism explains that "one commits a venial sin...when he disobeys the moral law in a grave matter, but without full knowledge or without complete consent".
If you have committed a mortal sin, the Catholic Church requires that you confess your sins to a priest at least once a year. During confession, you will be given penance and will make an Act of Contrition for your sins. After your confession, you will be dismissed with praise and encouraged to spend time with God, giving thanks and praise for His mercy.
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Sins that cry to God for vengeance include oppression of the poor
Sins that cry to God for vengeance are those that are so evil they provoke God to punish the sinners. These sins are:
Willful murder
The "blood of Abel": homicide, infanticide, fratricide, patricide, and matricide.
The sin of sodomy
Non-procreative sexual acts (sodomy).
Oppression of the poor
The "cry of the people oppressed in Egypt, the cry of the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan": oppression of the poor, fatherless children, and widows.
Defrauding workers of their just wages
"Injustice to the wage earner": taking advantage of and defrauding workers.
These four sins are considered more serious than the seven deadly sins. They are referenced in the Jewish Bible, particularly in Genesis 4:10, Genesis 18:20–21, Exodus 22:21–23, and Deuteronomy 24:14–15.
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Mortal sins that require confession include skipping Sunday Mass without good reason
Skipping Sunday Mass without a good reason is considered a mortal sin in the Catholic Church. The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays is based on the Third Commandment: "Remember the sabbath day — keep it holy" (Ex 20:8). While there are reasons that can excuse one from this obligation, such as illness or the need to care for infants, deliberately missing Mass without a valid excuse is considered a grave matter.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants). Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin."
It is important to note that for a sin to be considered mortal, three conditions must be met: grave matter, full knowledge, and complete consent. Therefore, simply missing Mass without full knowledge or consent is not considered a mortal sin. However, if one knowingly and deliberately skips Sunday Mass without a valid reason, it is considered a mortal sin that requires confession.
The Mass is of utmost importance in the Catholic Church, as it is the primary means by which Catholics express their faith and receive the Eucharist. By choosing to miss Mass, one turns their back on Christ and the process of their redemption. Therefore, it is crucial for Catholics to prioritize attending Mass and, in cases where it is missed without a valid reason, to seek confession as soon as possible.
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Mortal sins that require confession include denying the Catholic faith
Mortal sins are those that require confession and result in the loss of sanctifying grace. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a sin is considered mortal when it meets three conditions: grave matter, full knowledge, and complete consent. Grave matter refers to actions that are gravely and objectively evil, such as violating the Ten Commandments. Full knowledge means being aware that the act is considered sinful by God or the Church, even if one doesn't fully understand why. Complete consent implies a deliberate and intentional choice to commit the sin.
Denying the Catholic faith is indeed listed as one of the mortal sins that require confession. This includes any involvement in the occult, such as tarot cards or Ouija boards, as these practices are seen as a direct denial of Jesus Christ. Additionally, failing to teach Catholic children about their faith is also considered a mortal sin, as it is a failure to catechize the next generation.
It is important for Catholics to confess their mortal sins as soon as possible to a priest. Confession is a sacrament that brings reconciliation with God and the Church, repairing the damage caused by sin. Through confession, Catholics can receive God's forgiveness and grace, restoring their relationship with Him.
Other examples of mortal sins include murder, child abuse, contraception, abortion, masturbation, pornography, immodest dress, homosexual acts, chronic failure to teach one's children about the Catholic faith, greatly harming someone's reputation, missing Sunday Mass without a valid reason, denying workers fair wages, drunkenness, blasphemy, skipping Friday penance, and receiving Holy Communion with mortal sins on one's conscience.
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Frequently asked questions
A mortal sin involves an action whose object is grave matter that is committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. Grave matter is generally understood to be something that violates the Ten Commandments.
Mortal sins include abortion, murder, child abuse, adultery, idolatry, and blasphemy.
A mortal sin results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, leading to exclusion from Christ's kingdom and eternal death in hell. Therefore, it is crucial to confess mortal sins to a priest as soon as possible.