Mortal sin: What is it, and what are its consequences?
In the Catholic tradition, mortal sin is contrasted with venial sin. It is the most serious sin. Mortal sin should be distinguished from the seven deadly sins, which list the different types of sins(vices) and can lead to either venial sins or a “grave violation of God’s law” and a fundamental turning away from Him.
The Catholic Church’s Definition of Mortal Sin
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church
“Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.” (no. 1857)
According to the French Bishops’ Conference
“A mortal sin is a disobedience to divine law by which one seriously fails in one’s duties toward God, toward one’s neighbor, and toward oneself. For a sin to be considered mortal, in addition to the gravity of the matter, there must be full knowledge of the facts and a genuine intention to commit it.”
What are mortal sins?
The gravity of the matter therefore concerns what is related to divine law.
Divine law is the law of love: a mortal sin is therefore a serious and deliberate violation of the virtue of charity.
But it is also a violation of one of the Ten Commandments thatGod gave to Moses:
- You shall have no other gods before me.
- You shall not make for yourself any idols.
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not commit murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet.
For an act to be a mortal sin, it must have been committed deliberately (of our own free will) and with the knowledge that it goes against God’s law. We then, with full knowledge of the facts, choose a goal other than God and cut ourselves off from Him.
How can we know if we have committed a mortal sin?
If, with full knowledge of the facts and deliberately, we have committed a serious offense, we may therefore be in a state of mortal sin. If our deep and voluntary intention was to act against God, against ourselves, or against our neighbor, our sin is serious.
We cut ourselves off from the very source of Love and Life.
But until the very end, we remain free—free to return to the Father, or not.
What should we do if we have committed a mortal sin?
God’s mercy is infinite and extends to all truly repentant hearts.
The French Bishops’ Conference states: “For this [mortal] sin to be forgiven, sacramental reconciliation is required, through which the baptized person is once again and fully admitted into the communion of the Church.”
When we realize we are in a state of mortal sin, we must go to confession (and receive the sacrament of reconciliation) with a priest. To receive God’s absolution, we must:
- sincerely acknowledge and regret our sin,
- make a firm resolution not to repeat the sin and to make amends—as far as possible—for that sin,
- accept the penance requested by the priest.
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