Roman Catholicism:Sin

Synopsis

Roman Catholic Doctrine distinguishes between personal sin and original sin. Personal sins are either mortal or venial. Mortal sins are those of grave matter and if left un-reconciled result in eternal punishment in hell. Venial sins are sins which are not of a grave matter, or if they are, the individual does not realize this. The act of committing a venial sin does not cut off the sinner from God’s grace, as the sinner has not rejected God. However, venial sins do injure the relationship between the sinner and God which needs to be restored by penance, indulgences or time in purgatory. Other denominations reject any notion of different magnitudes of sin and thus the existance of venial sins or purgatory.

Related topics

• Original Sin
• Purgatory | Indulgences | Penance | Confession
• Reformation

Comments, Personal Articles, Studies and Sermons

Roman Catholicism:Sin (discussion) (For short comments and opinions)

• Mortal and venial sin: Question and Answer (justforcatholics.org)

For related quotations see Roman Catholicism:Sin (quotes)

Main article

Roman Catholic doctrine distinguishes between personal sin and original sin. Personal sins are either mortal or venial. It should be noted that other Christian denominations do not believe with these Roman Catholic doctrines of sin, and reject the existance of different classes of sin and the notion of penance and purgatory.

Mortal sins

Mortal sins are sins of grave (serious) matter, where the sinner is aware that the act (or omission) is both a sin and a grave matter, and performs the act (or omission) with deliberate consent. The act of committing a mortal sin cuts off the sinner from God’s grace; it is in itself a rejection of God. If left un-reconciled, mortal sins result in eternal punishment in Hell.

Venial sins

Venial sins are sins which do not meet the conditions for mortal sins. The sin may be one that is not a grave matter, or if a grave matter, the individual does not realize that the act is a sin or grave matter, or does not deliberately consent to the sin. The act of committing a venial sin does not cut off the sinner from God’s grace, as the sinner has not rejected God. However, venial sins do injure the relationship between the sinner and God, and as such, must be reconciled to God, either through the sacrament of reconciliation or receiving the Eucharist. According to Catholic doctrine however the sin is still punished with the person required to perform penance or endure time in purgatory after death.

The sinlessness of Mary

According to Roman Catholicism, in addition to Jesus, Mary, his mother, also lived her entire life without sin. It is believed that Jesus assumed her directly into heaven after the end of her life on Earth.

External links

• New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia - Sin
  • I. Nature of sin
  • II. Division
  • III. Mortal Sin
  • IV. Venial Sin
  • V. Permission and Remedies
  • VI. The Sense of Sin

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