Sin

I.  Terms:

Malum – an evil (malum is the Latin word for "evil").  Malum corresponds to the term "material sin." In both cases, there is objective moral evil at issue, but not necessary subjective guilt. Think CCC #1735, where the presence of one of the things mentioned has nullified the agent’s culpability.

Culpa – an objective evil which is accompanied by subjective guilt (culpa means "fault" in Latin). Culpa corresponds to "formal sin" – a moral evil which was knowingly and willingly done.

Sin – (that is, "formal sin") an offense against God (know this definition).  Sin is, at base, a theological term.

Note: sin is not a mistake or an error – inasmuch as these words imply an absence of malice. Sin is always accompanied by a perverse human will. The perversity, however, can be very subtle. Think of Eve in the garden – her primary focus was on the fruit and the good she believed would come from eating. One might say she acted "from good motives," but she willingly disobeyed God which means she acted with a perverse will – that is, literally, a will “turned away” from [God].

Mortal sin – a grave sin that extinguishes the grace of Christ.  Mortal sin separates one from Christ and, unless repented, prevents one from entering heaven.

Venial sin – a sin which is of lesser gravity.  It does not extinguish the grace of Christ and those who die with unrepented venial sins, according to Catholic teaching, will go to heaven eventually (after the sin and all attachment to sin is purged – Catholic doctrine of Purgatory).

II.  Mortal and Venial Sin

For sin to be mortal, three things must be simultaneously present:

 

1.  Grave matter. The thing done must be gravely wrong. The gravity of the matter, however, is reckoned not according to the perceptions of the sinner but the teaching of Scripture and the Church (we will revisit this when we discuss the  Magisterium in a future class). 

 

2.  Full knowledge. The agent must know that the matter is gravely wrong. Some commentators use the expression "sufficient reflection" which indicates that the agent undertakes the action aware of the character of the deed and its gravity.

 

3.  Deliberate consent. The sin must be committed willingly.

The "simultaneously present" above is important – culpability for formal mortal sin is never a surprise or retroactive.

 

A venial sin is any sin in which one or more of the conditions for mortal sin are not present:

1.  The matter is not grave – for example, an act of impatience, a childhood fib, the theft of a small item (pack of gum), etc.

2.  The matter is grave but the agent is unaware of its gravity.

3)  The matter is grave and the agent knows it, but the deed is not done deliberately.  In the last case, think CCC  para 1735.