Venial sin
Encyclopedia
According to Roman Catholicism, a venial sin (meaning "forgivable" sin
) is a lesser sin that does not result in a complete separation from God
and eternal damnation
in Hell
. A venial sin involves a "partial loss of grace" from God.
As the above criteria are the three criteria for mortal sin
stated negatively, a sin which met none of these extenuating conditions would necessarily be considered mortal.
Each venial sin
that one commits adds to the penance
that one must do. Penance left undone during life converts to punishment in purgatory
. A venial sin can be left unconfessed
, though (so long as there is some purpose of amendment) it is helpful to confess, for one receives from the sacrament grace to help overcome it.
According to the Magisterium
, venial sins usually remain venial no matter how many one commits. They cannot "add up" to collectively constitute a mortal sin, but their accumulation does lead to mortal sin. There are cases where repeat offenses may become a grave matter. For instance, if one were to steal small amounts of property from a particular person, over time one would have stolen enough that it would become a serious theft from that person. Furthermore, the Magisterium
clearly expresses that deliberate and unrepented venial sin can lead to eternal loss.
In all this, one ought not to take venial sin lightly, especially when committed deliberately. No one without a special grace (according to the Magisterium
, given only to the Blessed Virgin Mary.)
can avoid even semi-deliberate venial sins entirely (according to the definition of Trent). But one must, even to avoid mortal sins, seek as far as possible to overcome venial sin. The Magisterium
teaches that although a number of venial sins do not themselves add up to a mortal sin, each venial sin weakens the will further, and the more willing one becomes in allowing such falls, the more one is inclined towards, and will inevitably fall into (if one continues along this path), mortal sin.
distinguishes among sins in various contexts.
In 1 John, the author distinguishes between two types of sin (1 John 5:16-17). According to a Roman Catholic commentary on the Bible, however, these verses do not refer precisely to venial and mortal sins. One class of sin leads to the loss of eternal life, but eternal life can be regained if a fellow Christian prays that the sinner be forgiven
. The other class of sin leads to eternal damnation, and the Christian is instructed to pray that a fellow Christian repent for such a sin while still alive. Since either class of sin puts one's eternal life in jeopardy, both would fall in the category of mortal sin.
The New Testament also mentions the unforgivable sin, blasphemy
against the Holy Spirit
.
The Lord
Himself clearly explains the inevitability of sin and the necessity, after baptism
, for penance, confession, and reconciliation
.
.
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
) is a lesser sin that does not result in a complete separation from God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and eternal damnation
Damnation
Damnation is the concept of everlasting divine punishment and/or disgrace, especially the punishment for sin as threatened by God . A damned being "in damnation" is said to be either in Hell, or living in a state wherein they are divorced from Heaven and/or in a state of disgrace from God's favor...
in Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
. A venial sin involves a "partial loss of grace" from God.
Definition
A venial sin meets at least one of the following criteria:- It does not concern a "grave matter",
- It is not committed with full knowledge, or
- It is not committed with both deliberate and complete consent.
As the above criteria are the three criteria for mortal sin
Mortal sin
Mortal sins are in the theology of some, but not all Christian denominations wrongful acts that condemn a person to Hell after death. These sins are considered "mortal" because they constitute a rupture in a person's link to God's saving grace: the person's soul becomes "dead", not merely weakened...
stated negatively, a sin which met none of these extenuating conditions would necessarily be considered mortal.
Each venial sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
that one commits adds to the penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
that one must do. Penance left undone during life converts to punishment in purgatory
Purgatory
Purgatory is the condition or process of purification or temporary punishment in which, it is believed, the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for Heaven...
. A venial sin can be left unconfessed
Confession
This article is for the religious practice of confessing one's sins.Confession is the acknowledgment of sin or wrongs...
, though (so long as there is some purpose of amendment) it is helpful to confess, for one receives from the sacrament grace to help overcome it.
According to the Magisterium
Magisterium
In the Catholic Church the Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church. This authority is understood to be embodied in the episcopacy, which is the aggregation of the current bishops of the Church in union with the Pope, led by the Bishop of Rome , who has authority over the bishops,...
, venial sins usually remain venial no matter how many one commits. They cannot "add up" to collectively constitute a mortal sin, but their accumulation does lead to mortal sin. There are cases where repeat offenses may become a grave matter. For instance, if one were to steal small amounts of property from a particular person, over time one would have stolen enough that it would become a serious theft from that person. Furthermore, the Magisterium
Magisterium
In the Catholic Church the Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church. This authority is understood to be embodied in the episcopacy, which is the aggregation of the current bishops of the Church in union with the Pope, led by the Bishop of Rome , who has authority over the bishops,...
clearly expresses that deliberate and unrepented venial sin can lead to eternal loss.
In all this, one ought not to take venial sin lightly, especially when committed deliberately. No one without a special grace (according to the Magisterium
Magisterium
In the Catholic Church the Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church. This authority is understood to be embodied in the episcopacy, which is the aggregation of the current bishops of the Church in union with the Pope, led by the Bishop of Rome , who has authority over the bishops,...
, given only to the Blessed Virgin Mary.)
can avoid even semi-deliberate venial sins entirely (according to the definition of Trent). But one must, even to avoid mortal sins, seek as far as possible to overcome venial sin. The Magisterium
Magisterium
In the Catholic Church the Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church. This authority is understood to be embodied in the episcopacy, which is the aggregation of the current bishops of the Church in union with the Pope, led by the Bishop of Rome , who has authority over the bishops,...
teaches that although a number of venial sins do not themselves add up to a mortal sin, each venial sin weakens the will further, and the more willing one becomes in allowing such falls, the more one is inclined towards, and will inevitably fall into (if one continues along this path), mortal sin.
In the Bible
The New TestamentNew Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
distinguishes among sins in various contexts.
In 1 John, the author distinguishes between two types of sin (1 John 5:16-17). According to a Roman Catholic commentary on the Bible, however, these verses do not refer precisely to venial and mortal sins. One class of sin leads to the loss of eternal life, but eternal life can be regained if a fellow Christian prays that the sinner be forgiven
Prayer for the dead
Wherever there is a belief in the continued existence of man's personality through and after death, religion naturally concerns itself with the relations between the living and the dead...
. The other class of sin leads to eternal damnation, and the Christian is instructed to pray that a fellow Christian repent for such a sin while still alive. Since either class of sin puts one's eternal life in jeopardy, both would fall in the category of mortal sin.
The New Testament also mentions the unforgivable sin, blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
against the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
.
The Lord
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Himself clearly explains the inevitability of sin and the necessity, after baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, for penance, confession, and reconciliation
Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)
In the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is the method by which individual men and women may be freed from sins committed after receiving the sacrament of Baptism...
.
In literature
"The Venial Sin is a short story by Honoré de BalzacHonoré de Balzac
Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright. His magnum opus was a sequence of short stories and novels collectively entitled La Comédie humaine, which presents a panorama of French life in the years after the 1815 fall of Napoleon....
.
External links
- Sin in Catholic Encyclopedia
- The Venial Sin by Honore de Balzac
- CIN - Mortal vs. Venial Sin in the Fathers, Father Mateo, 7/15/93