On Sin

COMPENDIUM

There are two kinds of sins: original sin and actual sin.

Original sin is that with which all of us are born, and which we have incurred through the disobedience of our first parent, Adam. The losses we have incurred through the sin of Adam are: being deprived of grace; the loss of paradise; ignorance; inclination towards evil; death; and all other sorts of wretchedness. Original sin is blotted out by Holy Baptism.

In man who has reached the use of reason, actual sin is that which he commits by means of the use of his own will. There are two kinds of actual sin: mortal and venial. Mortal sin is a transgression of Divine Law, whereby we gravely fall short of our duties towards God, our neighbor, and ourselves. It is called mortal sin, because it kills the soul by making it lose sanctifying grace, which is the life of the soul, as the soul is the life of the body. The following are the injuries done to the soul by mortal sin:

1. It deprives the soul of the grace and friendship of God.
2. It makes the soul lose paradise.
3. It deprives the soul of the merits already acquired, and makes it incapable of gaining fresh ones.
4. It makes the soul the slave of the devil.
5. It makes the soul deserve hell, and also the chastisements of this life.

To constitute a mortal sin, there must be a grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate will to commit the sin.

Venial sin is a light transgression of Divine Law, whereby we fall short only to a slight extent in some duty towards God, our neighbor, or ourselves. It is called venial, because it is light in comparison with mortal sin, and does not make us lose divine grace, and God easily pardons it. Nevertheless, it would be a very great error not to take serious account of venial sin, because it always involved some offence against God and no small injury to the soul. Venial sin, indeed, brings upon us the following harm:

1. It weakens and makes charity grow cold in us.
2. It disposes us to commit mortal sin.
3. It makes us deserve great temporal punishments, both in this world and the next.

CATECHISM

945. How many kinds of sin are there?

There are two kinds of sins: original sin and actual sin.

946. What is original sin?

Original sin is that with which all of us are born, and which we have incurred through the disobedience of our first parent Adam.

947. What losses have we incurred through the sin of Adam?

The losses we have incurred through the sin of Adam are: being deprived of grace; the loss of paradise; ignorance; inclination towards evil; death; and all other sorts of wretchedness.

948. How is original sin blotted out?

Original sin is blotted out by Holy Baptism.

949. What is actual sin?

Actual sin is that which a man who has attained the use of reason commits by means of the use of his own will.

950. How many kinds of actual sin are there?

There are two kinds of actual sin: mortal and venial.

951. What is mortal sin?

Mortal sin is a transgression of Divine Law, whereby we gravely fall short of our duties towards God, our neighbor, and ourselves.

952. Why is this called mortal sin?

It is called mortal sin, because it kills the soul by making it lose sanctifying grace, which is the life of the soul, as the soul is the life of the body.

953. What injuries are done to the soul by mortal sin?

The following are the injuries done to the soul by mortal sin: 1. it deprives the soul of the grace and friendship of God; 2. it makes the soul lose paradise; 3. it deprives the soul of the merits already acquired, and makes it incapable of gaining fresh ones; 4. it makes the soul the slave of the devil; 5. it makes the soul deserve hell, and also the chastisements of this life.

954. What must be present to constitute a mortal sin?

To constitute a mortal sin, there must be a grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate will to commit the sin.

955. What is venial sin?

Venial sin is a light transgression of Divine Law, whereby we fall short only to a slight extent in some duty towards God, our neighbor, or ourselves.

956. Why is this called venial sin?

It is called venial, because it is light in comparison with mortal sin, and does not make us lose divine grace, and God easily pardons it.

957. Are we not, then, to take serious account of venial sin?

On the contrary, it would be a very great error not to take serious account of venial sin, because it always involved some offence against God and no small injury to the soul.

958. What injuries are done to the soul by venial sin?

The following are the injuries done to the soul by venial sin: 1. it weakens and makes charity grow cold in us; 2. it disposes us to commit mortal sin; 3. it makes us deserve great temporal punishments, both in this world and the next.