CHAPTER SIXSin and Forgiveness

We Are Sinners

Capital sins

Moral vices that give rise to many other failures to love.

We Are Sinners

Sloth –laziness

Gluttony – immoderateconsumption

of food ordrink

Lust – craving for

sexual pleasure

Anger – desire

for revenge

Envy – sorrow overanother’s

good fortune

Greed – desire for

earthlygoods

Pride – excessivelyhigh opinion

of oneself

Seven Capital

Sins

The Reality of Sin

Sin is:

An offense against reason, truth, and right conscience

A failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods

An utterance, deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law

The Reality of SinThere is much evidence of the existence of sin in the world today.

Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins.

The Bible on SinOld Testament Images of Sin

hattah – missing the mark

pesha – rebellion

awon – guilt or iniquity

Consequences of sin:

alienates us from God

alienates us from ourselves

alienates us from others

The Bible on Sin

The New Testament on Sin, Jesus, and Forgiveness

New Testament descriptions of sin:

missing the mark

lawlessness

injustice

falsehood

darkness

The Bible on Sin

The New Testament on Sin, Jesus, and Forgiveness

The most profound explanation of sin as found in the New Testament is “a refusal to love, to accept God’s offer of friendship and grace in our Lord Jesus Christ”.

The Bible on Sin

Different Kinds of Sin

Original sin

All humans are born into the disharmonious

situation of our world to which we are all subject.

Different Kinds of SinOriginal Sin Versus Personal Sin

An inclination toward evil caused by original sin. “The rebellion of the ‘flesh’ against the

spirit” (CCC 2515).

concupiscence

Different Kinds of SinOriginal Sin Versus Personal Sin

mortal sin

venial sin

personal sin

A failure to love God above everything and our neighbors

as ourselves

Different Kinds of SinOriginal Sin Versus Personal Sin

mortal sinTotal rejection of

God and alienation from him

Three conditions must be present:

1. Grave matter

2. Full knowledge

3. Complete consent

Different Kinds of Sin

Reconciliation

A sacrament of healing, also known as Penance or

Confession, through which Christ extends his

forgiveness to sinners

Original Sin Versus Personal Sin

Different Kinds of SinOriginal Sin Versus Personal Sin

Venial sin

Personal sin that weakens but does not kill our

relationship with God.

Different Kinds of SinOriginal Sin Versus Personal Sin

violence

and injusticecaused by individual

sins

A cycle of sin

Social SinSocial Sin

Examples:

greed

selfish actions

pride and prejudice

envy

lust

avarice

Conversion and the Sacrament of Reconciliation

repentance contrition

Change of mind or

change of heart

Heartfelt sorrow and aversion for sins

committed along with the intention to sin no

more

Conversion and the Sacrament of Reconciliation

absolution

The statement by which a priest, speaking as the official minister of

Christ’s Church, declares forgiveness of sins to a repentant

sinner in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The formula of absolution reads: “I absolve you from your sins; in the

name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Elements of the SacramentFive Steps of the Sacrament of

Reconciliation:

1.Examine your conscience.

2.Have contrition for your sins.

3.Confess your sins.

4.Absolution.

5.Do the penance assigned.

VocabularyCapital sinsOriginal sinConcupiscencePersonal sinMortal sinVenial sinSocial sinReconciliationRepentanceContritionAbsolution