What is the difference between a mortal sin and a venial sin?
A. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must exist at the same time. 1. It must be of a grave matter; 2. It must be committed with full knowledge that it is a mortal sin; 3. It must be committed with full consent. [Full consent means to do it “voluntarily.”] (C.C.C. # 1857) Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: ‘Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger.” (C.C.C. # 1858) “Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s laws. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart d
