Fr. Mike Schmitz: Venial and Mortal Sin

(View segment from 0 to 5:00)
What did you learn about venial & mortal sin?

    Answers vary:

  • All wrongdoing is sin.
  • Mortal sin is deadly, and venial sin is still bad, but not deadly.
  • Venial sin wounds our relationship with God. Mortal sin destroys our relationship with God.

What are the 3 conditions of a sin in order for it to be mortal, to be a deadly sin?

  • 1. It has to be a serious matter to God.
  • 2. A person has to actually realize, when they committed the sin, that it was serious – it was grave matter.
  • 3. A person has to freely chose to commit the serious sin.

How is a bull in a bull fight similar to a person in a fight against venial sin and mortal sin?

  • The bull is wounded by smaller stabs that weaken it, and then it is easily killed.
  • Venial sins, when unrepented, are like small stabs to our soul that weaken us and make us more susceptible to mortal sin, which kills God’s life in our souls.

Did anyone catch the venial sin committed by a dad changing diapers in the previous video?

  • At the 15 second point, the dad said, “Oh my God,” which breaks the second commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”
  • When we speak God’s name carelessly, even accidentally, we fail to honor Him, and we weaken our relation with Him.
  • Any time that happens, you can repair the damage of that sin by a simple prayer like: “God, I love you. Have mercy on us.”