
In the Catholic Church, a sin is considered to be mortal when it meets three conditions: the sin must be of grave matter, it must be committed with full knowledge, and it must be committed with deliberate consent. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines grave matter as specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour your father and your mother'. The Catechism further explains that mortal sin is a sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. Thus, for a sin to be considered mortal, it must be committed with full knowledge and complete consent.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Type | Mortal or Venial |
Cause | Free will |
Nature | Moral evil |
Definition | A morally bad act |
Examples | Blasphemy, hatred of God, murder, theft, fornication, adultery, etc. |
What You'll Learn
The three conditions for a mortal sin
Mortal sin is a gravely sinful act that can lead to damnation if a person does not repent before death. It is a refusal of God's offer of love and life and turns man away from God.
There are three conditions that must be met for an act to be considered a mortal sin:
- Grave Matter: The sin must be serious and contrary to the moral law. It must involve a grave disorder in regard to God, our neighbour, ourselves, or society. Examples include sacrilege, blasphemy, perjury, murder, hatred, prostitution, and sexual relations outside of marriage.
- Full Knowledge: The person committing the sin must be aware of the sinful nature of their actions and the gravity of the offense. This includes having knowledge of the Ten Commandments and understanding the universal norms of morality.
- Deliberate Consent: The sin must be committed freely and deliberately. Coercion, fear, anxiety, emotional wounds, and habits can interfere with a person's ability to give full consent.
If all three of these conditions are met, the act is considered a mortal sin. These conditions help to distinguish mortal sins from venial sins, which are less serious and do not completely cut us off from God's grace.
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The difference between mortal and venial sins
The Catholic Church distinguishes between two types of sins: mortal and venial. This classification is based on the seriousness of the sin and its impact on an individual's relationship with God. Understanding the difference between these two types of sins is essential for Catholics as it guides their spiritual growth and path to salvation.
Mortal sin, often referred to as "sin that cries to heaven for vengeance," is considered a grave breach of God's law. It severs an individual's relationship with God and, if unconfessed and unresolved, can lead to eternal damnation. The key characteristic of a mortal sin is that it is a deliberate turning away from God and a conscious choice to do evil. To qualify as a mortal sin, three conditions must be met: the act must be of grave matter, it must be committed with full knowledge, and it must be done with deliberate consent. Grave matter refers to serious actions that contradict the fundamental principles of the faith. Full knowledge implies a conscious awareness of the sinful nature of the act, while deliberate consent signifies a person's free will to choose to commit the sin.
Venial sins, on the other hand, are less serious transgressions that weaken an individual's relationship with God but do not completely break it. These sins are committed when individuals fall short of perfect morality, often due to human weakness, ignorance, or negligence. While venial sins do not entirely separate one from God's grace, they still need to be addressed and rectified through penance and spiritual growth. Unlike mortal sins, venial sins do not necessarily involve a conscious decision to turn away from God. They are often the result of momentary lapses in judgment or failures in virtue.
The distinction between mortal and venial sins has important implications for Catholics. Mortal sins must be confessed and absolved through the Sacrament of Reconciliation before an individual can receive Holy Communion. If a person were to receive Communion while aware of having committed a mortal sin and without first seeking reconciliation, it would be considered sacrilegious. Venial sins, while not requiring the Sacrament of Reconciliation for their forgiveness, are still important to acknowledge and address through prayer, acts of charity, and spiritual discipline.
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The seven capital sins
Each of the seven capital sins can lead to other sins. For example, anger can lead to evil speaking, violence, or murder.
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The distinction between material and formal sin
For example, a person who takes the property of another while believing it to be their own commits a material sin. However, if they took the property believing it belonged to someone else, whether their belief was correct or not, it would be a formal sin.
Another example would be a doctor who prescribes contraceptives. As the doctor intends for their patient to use them, they are cooperating formally in the patient's sinful act and committing a formal sin.
In the case of material cooperation, the person's actions unintentionally help another person do something wrong. This can be morally acceptable or unacceptable depending on how closely related it is to evil. For instance, delivering telephone books does not intend for anyone to use them to make a call to arrange an abortion. This kind of material cooperation is not morally wrong because it is far removed from the eventual wrongdoing.
On the other hand, a nurse working in an abortion operating room, even if they do not agree with the procedure, is too closely related to the evil act to be permitted to continue their job. This would be an example of proximate material cooperation, which is not permissible.
Heresy
The Catholic Church makes a distinction between formal and material heresy. Formal heresy is when an individual is aware that their belief goes against Catholic teaching and yet continues to hold that belief obstinately. This is sinful because the heretic knowingly holds an opinion that is destructive of the virtue of Christian faith and challenges the Divine authority of the Church.
Material heresy, on the other hand, occurs when an individual is unaware that their heretical opinion denies some truth that is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith. In this case, the opinion of a material heretic may produce the same objective results as formal heresy, but because of their ignorance, they commit no sin.
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The distinction between original and actual sin
Original sin is the sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, which Christians believe caused the Fall of Man and introduced death and sin into the world. This is differentiated from actual sin, which is committed by a free personal act of the individual will.
Original sin is a topic that divides Christians. Those who believe in it say that it is essential to Jesus' saving mission. It is the reason why Christians need to be "born again" to "see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Those who reject the idea of original sin might say it is unfair for God to punish people for something they didn't do.
The Council of Trent defined original sin as "the death of the soul". The Catechism of the Catholic Church reaffirmed this definition and added a key nuance: original sin is called sin "only in an analogical sense: it is a sin 'contracted' and not 'committed'—a state and not an act".
The biblical text that the Magisterium has appealed to as evidence for this belief is Romans 5:12: "Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned."
Actual sin is further divided into sins of commission and omission. A sin of commission is a positive act contrary to some prohibitory precept, while a sin of omission is a failure to do what is commanded.
Actual sin is also divided into sins of ignorance, passion or infirmity, and malice; sins of thought, word, or deed; and mortal and venial sins.
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Frequently asked questions
A sin without consent is a sin committed without the full consent of the will. Sins committed without consent are called material sins.
An example of a sin without consent is eating meat on a day of abstinence without knowing it is a day of abstinence or without thinking of the prohibition.
Sins without consent are not formal or real sins unless the sinner repeats them with full knowledge and consent.