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Saint Augustine said, “A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession.” Further, “Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin.”

Think about the venial sins some of us would unconsciously commit everyday. Scolding our helpers at the slightest mistake. “Holy” gossiping. Probably, cheating to a certain extent. “Borrowing” supplies from the office. Thinking ill of others. Judging other people. And the most common is lying, including “white” lies. And many others.

When I was younger, I did not care about whether a sin is venial or mortal. And one of my favorite Filipino songs then is entitled “Sapagkat Ako Ay Tao Lamang” (translated: Because I Am Only Human). In fact, I believe this is the favorite song of most husbands who are unfaithful to their wives. This song tries to justify such unfaithfulness in one of its lines, “At kung ‘yan man ay kasalanan, sapagkat ako ay tao lamang. (If that is a sin, it’s because I am only human.) But isn’t it true that oftentimes we try to justify our sinful acts or thoughts? I remember then that my wife would give me a dagger look every time I sing this song. Well, that was 14 years ago. I would sometimes ponder on my past and I will proclaim again and again the infinite love and mercy of God! He not only forgave me but also blessed me financially with a job in Indonesia and most of all, He gave me the Genesis Catholic Community! And He even allowed me to serve Him through this community. Praise God!

Anyway, someone asked, “When is a sin venial and when is it mortal?” Sis. Ana Lee Masias came up with the following (excerpts lifted from the book Catechism of the Catholic Church; bold texts, underscores and certain italics added for emphasis):

1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”

1858 Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments.

1862 One commits venial sin when, in a less serious matter, he does not observe the standard prescribed by the moral law, or when he disobeys the moral law in a grave matter, but without full knowledge or without complete consent.

1863 However, venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With God's grace it is humanly reparable. "Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness." (John Paul II)
Well, a sin is a sin. Big things start with small things. Mortal sins start with venial sins. The choice is yours and mine. It’s difficult to be sinless but through the grace of God, everything is possible! And may we not justify our sinfulness by saying, “Sapagkat ako ay tao lamang.”

May the Lord Jesus, who is Himself sinless, lead us to live a holy life all the days of our lives. Amen.

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