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| 64. What is actual sin? | Actual sin is any willful thought; desire; word; action; or omission forbidden by the law of God. |
| 65. How many kinds of actual sin are there? | There are two kinds of actual sin: mortal sin and venial sin. |
| 66. What is mortal sin? | Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of God. |
| 67. Why is this sin called mortal? | This sin is called mortal; or deadly; because it deprives the sinner of sanctifying grace; the supernatural life of the soul. |
| 68. Besides depriving the sinner of sanctifying grace; what else does mortal sin do to the soul? | Besides depriving the sinner of sanctifying grace; mortal sin makes the soul an enemy of God; takes away the merit of all its good actions; deprives it of the right to everlasting happiness in heaven; and makes it deserving of everlasting punishment in hell. |
| 69. What three things are necessary to make a sin mortal? | To make a sin mortal these three things are necessary: First; the thought; desire; word; action or omission must be seriously wrong or considered seriously wrong; Second; the sinner must be mindful of the serious wrong; Third; the sinner must fully consent to it. |
| 70. What is venial sin? | Venial sin is a less serious offense against the law of God; which does not deprive the soul of sanctifying grace; and which can be pardoned even without sacramental confession. |
| 71. How can a sin be venial? | A sin can be venial in two ways: First; when the evil done is not seriously wrong; Second; when the evil done is seriously wrong; but the sinner sincerely believes it is only slightly wrong; or does not give full consent to it. |
| 72. How does venial sin harm us? | Venial sin harms us by making us less fervent in the service of God; by weakening our power to resist mortal sin; and by making us deserving of God’s punishments in this life or in purgatory. |
| 73. How can we keep from committing sin? | We can keep from committing sin by praying and by receiving the sacraments; by remembering that God is always with us; by recalling that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit; by keeping occupied with work or play; by promptly resisting the sources of sin within us; by avoiding the near occasions of sin. |
| 74. What are the chief sources of actual sin? | The chief sources of actual sin are: pride; covetousness; lust; anger; gluttony; envy; and sloth; and these are commonly called capital sins. |
| 75. Why are these called capital sins? | They are called capital sins; not because they; in themselves are the greatest sins; but because they are the chief reasons why men commit sin. |
| 76. What are the near occasions of sin? | The near occasions of sin are all persons; places; or things that may easily lead us into sin. |
| 77. Did God abandon man after Adam fell into sin? | God did not abandon man after Adam fell into sin; but promised to send into the world a Savior to free man from his sins and to reopen to him the gates of heaven. |
