Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Part I, Chapter VI. Actual Sin

60. What is actual sin?
Actual sin is the sin which we ourselves commit, by any wilful thought, word, deed or omission contrary to the law of God.
61. How many kinds of actual sin are there?
There are two kinds of actual sin: mortal sin and venial sin.
62. When is a sin mortal?
A sin is mortal when the act is greviously wrong, and is committed with clear knowledge and full consent.
63. Why is mortal sin so called?
The word mortal means deadly, and a sin is called mortal, because it takes away the supernatural life of the soul, which is sanctifying grace.
64. What other evil effects has mortal sin?
Mortal sin takes away the friendship of God, the merit of good works already performed, and the right to heaven.
65. Where do they go who die in mortal sin?
They who die in mortal sin go to hell for all eternity.
66. When is a sin venial?
A sin is venial when the act is not greviously wrong, or is committed without clear knowledge or without full consent.
67. What are the effects of venial sin?
Venial sin makes us less fervent in the service of God, weakens our power to resist temptation, and renders us liable to punishment by God in this life or in purgatory, but it does not deprive the soul of sanctifying grace.
68. What are the capital or deadly sins?
The capital or deadly sins are: pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth.
69. Why are they called capital sins?
They are called capital sins, because they are the chief vices in which sin has its source.
70. How are people led to commit sin?
People are led to commit sin by the temptations of the devil, by their own evil passions, and by sinful occasions.
71. What is an occasion of sin?
By an occasion of sin is meant any person, place or thing, that entices us to sin.
72. How can we avoid committing sin?
We can avoid sin, by being on our guard against temptation, by practising self-denial and by praying earnestly for the grace of God (John xv, 5; Mark xiii, 33; viii, 34)).

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