Session 9: Sin & Forgiveness

This lesson focuses on Catholic teaching about sin and forgiveness. There are different ways to define

sin. Generally speaking, the Greek word “sin” means “to miss the mark.” When we sin, we hurt others

by refusing to follow God’s commandments.

Let’s look quickly at the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses.

Go to Exodus 20:2-17 and read it.

The first three commandments address how we are to act in relationship to God. The rest of the

10 Commandments address how we are to act in relation to others.

Types of Sin:

Venial Sin: These are types of personal sins, less serious than mortal sins,

but still they weaken our relationship with God, making us more susceptible to committing mortal sins.

Social Sin:This is more of a sin of indifference toward cultural structures that

undermine human dignity.

Mortal Sin: to turn totally and completely away from God. In this case, the Holy Spirit calls the person

to contrition (feel sorry). After committing a mortal sin, a person must seek the sacrament of

Reconciliation in order to reconcile his/her relationship with God. A person who is in a state of mortal

sin is not to receive Holy Communion until he/she celebrates the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Think About It:

Which of the Ten Commandments cause a person to turn completely away from God?

**According to The Catechism of the Catholic Church: For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be met. It has to involve grave matter, full

consent of the will, and sufficient knowledge of the sinful character of the sin

For more of an explanation of the types of sin, watch:

Think About It:

When is the Sacrament of Reconciliation offered at Our Lady of the Snow? (Sat. 4 p.m. in Large

Church or by appointment)

What did Jesus say about forgiveness of sins?

Read: The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Think About It: Who does the father in the story represent?

Do you think the older son was justified in being angry with his younger brother?

Activity:

OLS Virtual Classroom