What is venial sin?
by 
Kathleen Hunn
ANSWERS: 5
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The expression is "venal sin" and venal sin is a minor sin or offense, or a slight fault.
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A venial sin is indeed a minor sin, but more importantly it is a sin that we cannot help committing. For example: "impure" thoughts. Or a less antiquated (and less controversial) example might be vengeful thoughts. Venial sins are an important part of the dynamic of redemption, because even if we manage to commit no mortal sin, we are still in need of Christ's intercession and sacrifice because of all the millions of venial sins we commit daily, as human beings. Passive aggression is a venial sin, as is gossip that causes the subject no major harm. Venial sins, unlike mortal sins, do not break our relationship with God, but they do hurt it. Therefore it is important to ask forgiveness for these sins, in addition to asking forgiveness for mortal sins, just as we would apologize for accidentally stepping on someone's foot.
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TheWormSAF -- where in the bible does it say that all sins are the same in God's eyes? Regardless of the answer to this, my question, your comment is irrelevant since this section is about Catholicism - or, more specifically, what's the Catholic definition of "venial sin." According to the Catholic version of Christianity, there are indeed degrees of sin, and "venial" is the name of one of these degrees. Whether or not you agree with the definition according to your own beliefs is for another section.
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Impure thoughts are not necessarily a venial sin. Only if we give in to them do they constitute sin; having them is natural and is only a temptation unless we give in and keep thinking about them. A sin is a conscious act. An imperfection is not. An imperfection is not an offense before God. A venial sin is although lesser than a mortal sin. A mortal sin cuts us off from God forever, but there are three conditions for a mortal sin. Look it up on google.
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it's a good thing
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