Level 10 - The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Level 10 - The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Mr. Christopher J. Creed
Holy Rosary Catholic Church

Week Seven - Sin
I. Introduction:

- There are two classifications of sin - Mortal and Venial.

- You can think of venial sins as "small sins"; while mortal sins are "grave violation of God’s law"

- There are many different kinds of sin delineated by scriptures. They can be categorized by:

Do they involve an excess or defect of something?
Do they violate a commandment?
Do they offend God, oneself, or a neighbor?
Do they involve thought, speech, deed, or omission?

The root of all sin is the human heart - from the Doctrine of Original Sin, we know that the grace of original holiness, present ‘before the fall of Adam and Eve’ is no longer present. Therefore, it is no longer the natural tendency of the human heart to avoid sin; instead, we have a tendency towards it.

1. Mortal Sins

Mortal sins are sins that attack the vital principal within us – Charity. These sins necessitate a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished through the sacrament of reconciliation.
For a Sin to be "Mortal" three things must be present:

Grave matter – delineated by the 10 Commandments – "do not kill", "do not commit adultery", "do not steal", "do not lie", "do not defraud", "Honor your father and mother". Gravity is more or less great due to circumstance, i.e. murder is graver than theft.
Full Knowledge – You have to know you are committing a sin. (it also mandates that you know you are doing the act).
Complete Consent – You have to make a personal choice to do this.

What can alter the seriousness of a sin?

- Feigned Ignorance or Hardness of Heart (stubbornness) will increase the gravity of sin.

- Unintentional ignorance will diminish the gravity of sin

- Emotional stress will diminish the gravity of sin.

- External pressures will diminish the gravity of sin.

- Reciprocity and malice, a deliberate choice of evil, is the gravest of sins.

Mortal sins result in the loss of charity. It is a separation between you and God (the spirit of God is no longer present). If you were to not reconcile this with God, you would be excluded from Christ’s Kingdom and would go to Hell. However, the choice is God’s to make as to the act; we trust in His mercy.
Mortal Sins must be forgiven in a private (one on one) confession.

2 - Venial Sins

Venial sin weakens charity, it weakens our strengths and makes us prone to material things; it impedes the souls progress for virtues and morality.
It merits temporal punishment.
Continual venial sins allow us to be weakened and more prone to mortal sins.
Venial sins do not break the relationship, the covenant with God.

The proliferation of Sin

Sin creates a proclivity to sin. It is a circular trap that must be recognized, and we must try to avoid it.
The result/symptoms are a clouding of the conscience (think of this as excessive rationalizations), corruption of your judgement of good and evil, that type of reinforcement of the sins themselves.
Vices can be good examples of this. (ex. Gambling, drinking, smoking, lust, etc).
These are linked to the capital sins, sins which engender other sins - they are:
Pride, Avarice, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth. (remember the movie ‘Seven’).
Sins others commit that we are still responsible for.
- Interesting concept … but, we have a responsibility for the sins of others when we are cooperating with them in the following ways:
- Participating directly or indirectly with them (the getaway car driver)
- Ordering, advising, praising, or approving the actions
- Not disclosing or not hindering them when we know they will make a sin – there is a POSATIVE obligation to do so.
- Harboring or protecting evildoers.
- This is showing "social sins", which are created in social situations and institutions that are contrary to divine goodness.

What is, and what is not a sin?

The Catechism was created as a reference guide for bishops for detailed analysis of the Church’s teachings. Look up any questions you have there.

- The First Commandment: You will worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you adore.

Faith – this commandment has a faith aspect to it; you sin if you have voluntary doubt (NOT involunatry); or incredulity.

Hope – We must hope that God will give us what we need (like faith, but in the "hope sense) – sins against this aspect involve despair.

Charity – Faith in God’s love demands that we love… so, sins such as indifference, ingratitude, luke-warmness, acedia (spiritual sloth), or hatred of God fall into this category.

Superstitions and false gods (idolatry)

Irreligion (ex. Tempting God, Sacrilege, or degrading spiritual/holy things) and Atheism.

- The Second Commandment: God’s name is holy.

Promises to God are sacred
Blasphemy is a sin
Swearing "so help me God" is serious – defaming it is perjury

General disrespect of God.

- The Third Commandment: Remember the Sabbath

More than just go to church on Sunday
Day of rest from corporal work, day to reflect.

- The Fourth Commandment: Honor thy Father and Mother

God has vested authority in our parents
Marriage is designed around the two-fold purpose of love and child rearing.
Family life is key to Christian society

- The Fifth Commandment: Don’t kill (we will discuss this next time)

- The Sixth Commandment: Do not commit adultery (we will discuss this on Jan. 31^st).

- The Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal (we will discuss this Feb. 21^st).

- The Eight Commandment: Not to lie

Martyrdom is defined as proclaiming God’s word in defiance of threats.
Lying is defined as saying untruths with the intention of deceiving another who has a right to the truth.
This offense requires reparation (you have to "make it up")
Golden Rule comes from this commandment.

- The Ninth Commandment: Do not covet your neighbors things.

Three types: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life
One should be pure in heart.
Prayer is key in keeping this commandment… as is practice.

- The Tenth Commandment: Do not covet your neighbors things (cont.)… and where your treasure is, is where your heart is… So, if you treasure money – your heart is there too; if you treasure God, there is your heart.