“Mortal Sin” would not or could not take the time to nuance what they said to people in their flock. The During a season wherein we focus ourselves fact is we cannot know if someone has more intently on repentance and atonement for committed a mortal or “deadly” sin, (i.e. sins, it seemed to me a good time to offer a turned away from God in some definitive reflection on the above phrase. Undoubtedly way): only God can make such a judgment. you have heard of the catechetical distinction The proper terminology to be applied to a sin between two forms of sin, “venial sin” and which appear to be serious in nature is to say “mortal sin.” that it is a“grave matter.” For a sin to be mortal or deadly, three conditions must be Mortal sin is the violation of God’s law,” by met: it is a sin “whose object is grave matter, which a person “turns away from God,” and which is also committed with full hence it is “deadly” in that it severs our knowledge and deliberate consent,” (CCC relationship with our “ultimate end and [our] 1857). The bar is pretty high for committing beatitude.” Venial sin does not constitute mortal sin; but such is not to say that it is such a deadly turn away from God, but it is an impossible to commit one. The point is that “offense” and a “wound” to that relationship. people are complicated, and it is practically Mortal sin requires a “new initiative of God’s impossible to make a determination: we mercy and conversion of heart which is simply do not have access to all of the factors normally accomplished within the setting of necessary to do so. The best we can say the Sacrament of Reconciliation,” (CCC about the worst of human acts is that “the 1856). This is so because, by such sin, we matter is grave.” deny ourselves of the grace of God necessary for salvation. “Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness,” (CCC 1863). Still, Venial sins impede our progress in the exercise of virtues and can lead to Mortal Sin: Hence, even for these sins, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is recommended. With these definitions in place, there remains The reason I submit this reflection is, not only one major problem among both priests and to reiterate the traditional teaching, but to laity in speaking of this issue, and it is that suggest that great care needs to be taken with they often use imprecise language when respect to the language we use in this regard: speaking of such matters. People of an older we can do great damage to people and convey generation are accustomed to “tagging” a distorted image of God if we are not. In my certain sins as “mortal;” such as missing Mass, estimation, just because there has been a or eating meat on Fridays during Lent. No general loss of the “sense of sin” in our culture doubt, this habit comes from many Catholic should not be seen as reason to return to the school experiences and from pastors who oversimplifications of the past.