Mortal and Venial Sin

"Are all sins equal?"

3 Scripture passages2 objections answered2 Church Father quotes

The Short Answer

Not all sins are equal. Mortal sin kills the life of grace in the soul; venial sin wounds it. Mortal sin requires grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent.

Quick Overview

Think of your soul's relationship with God like your physical health. Some sicknesses are minor—a cold or scratch (venial sin). Others are deadly—a heart attack or cancer (mortal sin). Both need attention, but one kills you; the other just weakens you.

Biblical Evidence

What the Scriptures say

1 John 5:16-17

"There is a sin unto death... There is a sin not unto death."

Why This Matters

John explicitly distinguishes between sins that lead to death and sins that do not—mortal and venial.

Matthew 5:19

"He that shall break one of these least commandments... shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven."

Why This Matters

Some commandments are 'least'—their violation is less serious. Not all sins carry equal weight.

John 19:11

"He that hath delivered me to thee, hath the greater sin."

Why This Matters

Jesus Himself says one person's sin is 'greater' than another's—sins have degrees.

What the Church Teaches

Official Catholic doctrine

Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart and turns us away from God. It requires grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent. Venial sin weakens charity but does not destroy it (CCC 1855-1861).

Common Objections

Questions answered

Early Church Fathers

What the first Christians believed

St. Augustine

c. 400 AD

"While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins. But do not despise these sins which we call light."

— Homilies on 1 John, 1:6

Origen

c. 250 AD

"There are some sins unto death and some not unto death... the former need public penance."

— Prayer, 28

Original Sin

Indulgences

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