Definitions
a lack of goodness and a lack of love in word, omission, thought, action or desire which damages (or ruptures) our relationship with God, ourselves and others
sin
Choosing to act in a way that is unloving and not good. (This includes stealing, cheating).
Action
Mortal sin does this to our relationship with God.
Breaks, or kills, our relationship with God. It turns us completely away from God.
Give an example or phrase which explains what "false freedom" means.
Having no restraints,
following your feelings,
doing whatever you want to do
What does WOTAD stand for?
5 ways in which one can sin
Word, omission, thought, action, desire
Less serious sin that hurts our friendship with God. It turns us partially away from God. Venial sin is less serious, but still, one should avoid venial sins.
Venial Sin
A lack of goodness or love in speech (including lying, gossiping, saying bad words)
Word
Give an example of an action or omission which would be considered "grave matter" (could be a mortal sin).
Stealing something very expensive
Murder
Give an example of a phrase which explains what true freedom is.
I can make choices that are good for me and others.
I can think before I act.
I can choose to love and not be selfish.
I can direct my actions to God.
If someone were driving a car in bad weather and accidentally hit another car, so that the person in the other car was very badly injured (or even died), would it be a mortal sin? Which of the three conditions is missing?
There is no full consent - it was an accident.
Hurting someone badly = grave matter
Knowing that hurting someone badly is bad = full knowledge
a sin which happens when we DO something wrong. (For example: by word, thought, action)
Sin of Commission
Choosing to think or dwell on a bad or unloving thought. (This does not include temptations, which just last a moment)
Thought
The three conditions necessary for a sin to be a mortal sin.
1. Grave Matter
2. Full Knowledge
3. Full Consent
How can one know how to figure out if an action leads to true freedom or false freedom?
Ask yourself, "Does this lead me to be more free or less free in the end? Does this lead me closer to God, goodness, and love (true freedom) or further away from God and goodness (false freedom)?"
What is the phrase to describe someone who does repeated good actions, one becomes free to do the good, and do it WELL, with little effort, and with joy?
Freedom for excellence
a sin which happens when we do not do something which we ought to have done. (For example: Not cleaning one’s room when Mom asks.)
Sin of Omission
Choosing not to show love or goodness when one should. (This includes failing to do one’s responsibilities as a son or daughter, brother or sister, or a student)
Omission
What does it mean for a person to have "full knowledge" in a mortal sin? Give an example of a person having "full knowledge" in a sin.
One has to have full knowledge that it is very wrong.
One knowing that robbing the bank/stealing from an old lady is very wrong.
True freedom or False freedom? Why?
Your parents ask you to help clean the house to get ready for your grandparents to come over. You don't feel like cleaning, and you really feel like playing with your neighbor instead. You say to yourself, "If my parents really cared about me, they would let me follow my feelings, instead of forcing me to do something I don't want to do. I'm going to my neighbor's."
FALSE freedom - the person is really trapped and ruled by his or her feelings and isn't able to freely make the right choice. Choosing love and goodness for his or her parents or grandparents never came into the choice.
Give an example of a saint who lived "Freedom for Excellence" or "freedom from constraints."
Saint being free from sin, bad habits due to lots of prayer and practice.
Saint being holy and doing incredibly beautiful, amazing things out of love for God (like serving lepers, casting out demons, doing little things with great love, etc.).
The sacrament which turns us back towards God. When we sin, we need to receive this sacrament.
Confession (or Reconciliation, Penance)
Choosing to wish one could do something unloving or not good. (This does not include temptations, which just last a moment.) Sin of desire means one chooses to keep wishing for something which is wrong or forbidden. This can lead the person to eventually act on the desire.
Desire
What does it mean for a person to have "full consent" in a mortal sin? Give an example of a person having "full consent" in a sin.
One freely chooses to commit the sin anyways. For example: No one is forcing the person against his or her will. The person chooses.
True or False Freedom?
A student forgets to study for a test. He wants to cheat, and thinks to himself, "I would make my parents so proud of me if I got a good grade." Then he thinks of how disappointed his teacher and parents would be if he got caught cheating. Plus, God always knows, even if no one else knew. The student decides not to cheat in the end, because of his love & care for God, himself, his parents and his teacher.
True freedom!
Although he is tempted, temptation is not a sin. The student allows love for God, self, and others to triumph over his desire to cheat. He will be more free in the end to make good, difficult choices in the end.
Describe the difference between a thought (or desire) which is a sin and a temptation.
A sinful thought or desire pops into the mind or heart, but the person chooses to keep it going (thinking for longer about the sin, wishing one could do the sin).
A temptation is when the sinful thought or desire pops into the mind or heart, but the person chooses to flee from the idea or quickly think of something else, say a prayer, get up and start moving, etc. NOT A SIN - actually it is a virtuous act!