Venial Sins: What Are They, and How Can We Combat Them?

A sin is an offense against God—whether by deed, word, thought, or omission —a failure to love God or our neighbor, and as a result, it distances us from God. “Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us (no. 1850). But are all sins serious? In the Catholic faith, venial sins are distinguished from mortal sins. While every sin distances us from God, a venial sin does not separate us from His grace. Let’s explore what distinguishes a venial sin and the forms it can take in our lives.

Definition of a Venial Sin

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

“One commits venial sin when, in a less serious matter, he does not observe the standard prescribed by the moral law, or when he disobeys the moral law in a grave matter, but without full knowledge or without complete consent.” (No. 1862)

The French Bishops’ Conference states that:

“Not all sins are equally serious. There are thoughts, words, actions, and omissions that the conscience condemns. Tradition calls these ‘venial’ sins, which means ‘forgivable.’ An act of charity or sincere regret secures forgiveness for these sins. A venial sin is a failure to love God, which wounds charity but does not destroy it.”

Thus, while a venial sin is most often a less serious offense, from a moral standpoint, than a mortal sin (such as having uncharitable thoughts toward one’s neighbor, which is less serious than killing them), it is not defined solely by the gravity of the act. In fact, it is also the degree of awareness of the person committing it that distinguishes a mortal sin from a venial sin.

What are venial sins? Examples of venial sins

Venial sins that we may commit every day include, for example:

• eating more than one is hungry for out of gluttony,
• failing to complete a task that one is obligated to finish out of laziness,
• believing gossip,
• being negligent in prayer,
• failing to show concern for those in need,
• lacking patience in our family or professional relationships
• …

How can we fight sin in our daily lives?

We are all sinners, and we all face these failures to love. So it’s not a matter of letting ourselves be discouraged by the list of venial sins we may commit, butof embracing the spiritual struggle that calls us to grow stronger in the face of temptation.

1- Humbly accept our mistakes while showing mercy to others ourselves. Refusing to judge others (and therefore ourselves, since one cannot exist without the other) also allows us to take a more accurate view of ourselves and our own sins, avoiding both false guilt and denial.

“Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful. Judging Others. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:36–37)

2 - Prayer is surely the most effective way to combat our evil inclinations. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.” (James 1:5). Every day, as we recite the Lord’s Prayer, we can pour out our whole heart to Him with these words : “Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive those who have sinned against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

3 - In the face of sin, we can choose to cultivate the virtues that will help us lead a life more in harmony with Christ. In response to the seven deadly sins—which are the root of all others—there are seven virtues to develop. If we know we are more prone to anger or sloth, we should take care to cultivate the opposite virtue through small daily exercises.

4 - Participate in the sacraments of the Church that aid in sanctification: the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in particular…

Fight sin with Hozana!

Spiritual warfare is a reality that concerns every Christian.  Grow in virtue with this 30-day retreat to strengthen your faith.

Awaken your faith with this novena to Saint Anthony of Padua!

Because God’s mercy is far greater than sin, immerse yourself in the divine mercy that restores every sinner with this online novena.