Which brings us to those sins for which we are directly responsible. We call all of these sins "actual sin," and they include every violation of the moral law, no matter how small. A little "white lie" may not seem very important, and the Church calls this type of sin a "venial sin," meaning one that is easily pardonable. But every venial sin that we commit wears us down, damages the life of God within us, and makes it easier for us to commit a mortal sin--the kind of sin that deprives our soul of grace. And mortal sins, left deliberately unconfessed, can deprive us of eternal life in Heaven.
That is why, in our battle against sin, it is not simply enough to avoid mortal sins. All actual sin, venial and mortal, finds its root in the seven deadly sins. When we give in to the seven deadly sins, even in the most minor way, we set ourselves upon a path that may end in mortal sin.
Virtue--the opposite of sin--is a habit, and that habit needs to start in the little things. By avoiding, say, "white lies" and gossip, we grow in grace, which helps us build up resistance to even greater temptations.
Lesson Sixth from the Confirmation Catechism has 9 questions. Note that the lesson begins with Question 51, continuing with the numbering from Lesson Fifth.
In the First Communion Catechism, the parallel lesson this week is Lesson Fifth. It includes 6 questions drawn from Lesson Sixth of the Confirmation Catechism.
Check out this week's lesson, and if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or ask them in the Catholicism Forum!
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