Lesson 11: Our Sins
1. Is original sin the only kind of sin?
No, there is another kind of sin, called actual sin.
Adam and Eve committed ORIGIINAL SIN. We did not commit it, but are born with it. The sin we committed is ACTUAL SIN.
2. What is actual sin?
Actual sin is any sin which we ourselves commit.
We are not born with actual sin. We commit it ourselves.
3. How many kinds of actual sin are there?
There are two kinds of actual sin: mortal sin and venial sin.
4. What are the three conditions for a mortal sin?
To make a sin mortal these three things are necessary:
-The thought, desire, word, action, or omission must be seriously wrong
-The sinner must have full knowledge that the action is seriously sinful.
-The sinner must fully consent to do it.
In brief, the conditions are: 1. Serious Matter 2. Full knowledge 3. Full consent of the will. (CCC, 1857)
5. What is an example of a mortal sin?
An example of mortal sin is missing Mass on Sunday without an excuse.
6. What are the effects of mortal sin?
a. Mortal sin deprives the soul of Sanctifying Grace (the life of Jesus in our souls) and the indwelling of the Holy Trinity.
Reflecting on a vision that she had of a soul in mortal sin, St Theresa of Avila stated: “No thicker darkness exists, and there is nothing dark and black which is not much less so than this.” She said that she is not surprised at the evils such a soul does, but at the evil it does not do.
Blessed Anne Maria Taigi once saw a woman, who was supposed to be one of the most beautiful woman in Europe. Even though the woman was physically beautiful, and was wearing perfumes; Blessed Anna Maria Taigi smelled such a horrible stench that she had to leave the room. The stench that only Blessed Anna smelled came from the wretched condition of this poor woman’s soul – she was in the state of mortal sin. God gave Blessed Anna this gift so she could pray for her.
b. Mortal sin caused the suffering and death of our Lord. “Those who plunge themselves into disorders and crimes crucify the Son of God anew in their hearts (for He is in them) and hold Him up to contempt.” (CCC, 598)
c. If unforgiven before death, mortal sin causes the loss of heaven and the eternal pains of hell. Hell is an unimaginably horrible place and it will last for all eternity. Those who are there hate God, themselves and others. They can never be happy.
It is related that St. Philip Neri received one day a visit from a man who was leading a sinful life. Filled with the most unfriendly feelings toward the Saint, this visitor began to heap insults upon him. His anger was great. Then St Philip asked the man to come over and “look at the fireplace.” The man looked, but instead of a fireplace, he saw a pit all on fire, in the bottom of which he recognized a place that was destined for him. Recognizing that this would be his place in hell if he did not repent, the man begged for forgiveness and made a good confession.
7. Can we be forgiven of a mortal sin?
Yes, we can be forgiven of a mortal sin, if we are truly sorry and try to not sin again. Jesus will forgive us in the Sacrament of Confession
8. Can we be forgiven of mortal sin even before going to Confession?
Yes, we can be forgiven of mortal sin even before going to Confession if we are sorry for our sins because of our love for God. This is called the Contrition of Love. WE are forgiven as long as we have the desire to go to Confession as soon as possible. In this case, one should still not receive Holy Communion before going to Confession.
If we are sorry for our mortal sins because of the fear of hell, that is enough to be forgiven in Confession, but not before going to Confession. This is called the Contrition of Fear.
VENIAL SIN
9. What is venial sin?
Venial sin is a lesser sin.
It does not deprive the soul of Sanctifying Grace. It however makes Our Lord sad, if it is done on purpose, and we are not sorry for it.
10. How can a sin be venial?
A sin is able to be venial in two ways:
First, when the evil done is not seriously wrong;
Second, when the evil done is seriously wrong, but the sinner sincerely believes it is only slightly wrong, or does not give full consent to it.
11. How does venial sin harm us?
Venial sin harms us in the following ways:
-By making us less fervent in the service of God;
-By weakening our power to resist mortal sin;
-And by making us deserving of God’s punishments in this life or in purgatory.
12. Does venial sin hurt Jesus?
Yes, venial sin when it is done on purpose, hurts Jesus.
Michael Magone
St. John Bosco lead Michael Magone from a sinful life to a holy life by showing him how to love and pray to Mary.
While in a train station St. John Bosco 9also called Don Bosco) met a boy named Michael Magone. HE was the leader of a gang of boys who didn’t go to school and were constantly getting into trouble. Don Bosco asked him if he would like to come and study at his school. Michael answered, “Father, I ‘m no good at school. I am always getting into fights. I make my mother suffer a great deal. She washes clothes and everything that she ears she spends on me. I don’t have a father and they kicked me out of school… I want to be good, but I am not able.”
Don Bosco thought, “he who really desires to be good will become good.”
Don Bosco brought him to his school. At the beginning he was fighting with everyone and used bad language. Don Bosco had him spend his time with good companions who gave him advice and corrected him. Don Bosco gently led him to make a good Confession and to receive his First Holy Communion. He told him to always wear the brown scapular and to say many little prays to the Blessed Virgin Mary. By the end of the year, he was the best student in the school.
He became ill and died a very holy death at the age of 17. Shortly before his death he told Don Bosco, “That which makes me most happy at my death is to know that I have received Holy Communion many times and that I have prayed very much to the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
