The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 247 – The Weight of Sin
Date: September 4, 2025
Readings: Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1854–1864

Main Theme:

Understanding the Gravity of Sin – Mortal vs. Venial Sin

Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the distinction between mortal and venial sin, focusing on the gravity of different types of sins, what constitutes a mortal sin, how culpability may be mitigated, and the critical role of God's mercy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gravity and Categories of Sin [03:31–04:15]

• Sins are not all the same in weight:
  • The Church teaches, based on Scripture and tradition, that sins must be "rightly evaluated according to their gravity."
  • Some Christians claim all sins are equally grave, but Catholic teaching proposes a clear distinction, referring to 1 John 5: "there are sins that lead to death, and there are sins that do not lead to death."
• Human experience corroborates this distinction:
  • In relationships, we innately sense that some betrayals (e.g., murder vs. theft, violence against a stranger vs. a parent) carry different weights and consequences.

2. Mortal Sin vs. Venial Sin: Theological Foundations [04:15–05:50]

• Mortal sin destroys charity (love) in the heart and "turns us away from God."
• Venial sin wounds but does not kill charity; it injures the relationship without severing it.
• Key quote:
  • "Mortal sin destroys love in the heart ... it takes us out of that right relationship with God. We're no longer in a state of grace." — Fr. Mike [04:55]
• Analogy:
  • Bullfighting metaphor: The "picador" inflicts wounds (venial sins, 'peccadilloes'), weakening the bull but not killing it. The "matador" delivers the killing blow (mortal sin).
  • Implication: Venial sins make it easier for mortal sin—the "killing blow"—to occur.

3. Seriousness of “Small” Sins [09:00–09:51]

• St. Augustine cautioned against dismissing light sins: "A number of light objects makes a great mass. A number of drops fill a river, a number of grains make a heap."
• Key quote:
  • "A bunch of venial sins ... can weigh us down to such a place where, yeah, mortal sin is the only—it’s the next clear step." — Fr. Mike [08:41]

4. Three Conditions for Mortal Sin [10:08–11:21]

• Citing CCC 1857, Fr. Mike reiterates the three requirements:
  • Grave matter
  • Full knowledge
  • Deliberate (full) consent
• Summary: "A big deal sin, and I knew it, and I freely chose it."
  • Grave matter is about the seriousness of the act.
  • Full knowledge means knowing it is serious.
  • Full consent means freely choosing it.

5. Factors Determining Gravity [11:21–14:25]

• The Church does not provide an exhaustive list of mortal sins because the context matters (e.g., who is wronged, relational context, the degree of harm).
• Example: “Don’t just say, ‘I hit someone.’ If you hit your mom, or if you hit her with a car four times, those are relevant details that affect the weight of the sin.” — Fr. Mike [12:03–12:44]
• Violations against God (such as Sabbath-breaking, blasphemy, or occult involvement) or human dignity (such as violence or sexual exploitation) are always grave.

6. Culpability & Mitigating Factors [14:25–16:06]

• Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart actually increase guilt, while unintentional ignorance or diminished freedom can reduce culpability.
• Key quote:
  • “Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish but rather increase the voluntary character of a sin ... that's really deadly.” — Fr. Mike [14:40]

7. Hope and Mercy: Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit Explained [18:40–20:17]

• The only unforgivable sin—blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—is refusing to accept God's mercy:
  • "The only sin that God can't forgive is the sin that we don't allow him to forgive ... Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is refusing to allow God to forgive us." — Fr. Mike [19:30]
• Key reassurance:
  • “God wants to forgive all of our sins ... even the ones that we're embarrassed by, even the ones that maybe we still like. But he's saying, ‘No, just let it go. Just give it to me.’” — Fr. Mike [20:00]
• He invites listeners back to confession and emphasizes the limitless mercy of God if we repent and turn to Him.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [04:55] "Mortal sin destroys love in the heart ... it takes us out of that right relationship with God." — Fr. Mike
• [06:28] "Venial sins don't destroy the life of God in our souls, but they wound us to the degree that it's far easier for the matador or the evil one to deliver that killing blow." — Fr. Mike
• [09:49] "A beach is made up of tiny, tiny grains of sand. A whole river is made up of drops of water ... a bunch of venial sins ... can weigh us down." — Fr. Mike
• [12:44] "Don't just say, 'Oh, Father, I hit someone.' ... There's a big difference between 'I hit my mom' and 'I hit my mom with a car,' ... these are relevant details because they affect the gravity of the sin." — Fr. Mike
• [14:40] "Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish but rather increase the voluntary character of a sin ... that's really deadly." — Fr. Mike
• [19:30] "The only sin that God can't forgive is the sin that we don't allow him to forgive ... Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is refusing to allow God to forgive us." — Fr. Mike
• [20:00] “God wants to forgive all of our sins ... but he only can do this if we allow him to do it.” — Fr. Mike

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:31 — Scriptural evidence for gravity of sins and human experience
• 04:55 — Distinction between mortal and venial sin
• 06:28 — Bullfighting metaphor: mortal vs. venial sin
• 09:00 — St. Augustine on “light” sins
• 10:08 — Three conditions for mortal sin
• 11:21 — Factors influencing the gravity of sin (examples given)
• 14:25 — Culpability: ignorance and hardness of heart
• 18:40 — On blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and the limits of God’s mercy

Conclusion & Invitations

• Fr. Mike's Closing Encouragement [20:17–end]:
  • God longs to forgive all our sins—they do not define us; His love does.
  • Practical call: "If it's been a long time, this is your sign ... seek out confession as soon as possible."
  • Prayers for listeners to trust God’s mercy and to take action if carrying the burden of mortal sin.

Tone:
Pastoral, direct, and compassionate—as always, Fr. Mike balances doctrinal clarity with relatable analogies and heartfelt motivation to trust in God’s mercy.