Glossary

Sin: Sin is any disobedience to God. It is necessarily a lack of love.

Mortal: The word mortal here means “death-dealing”. Saying that mortal sin gives death to the soul does not mean that a soul in the state of mortal sin is actually dead; our soul is immortal, so it cannot cease to live or exist. By this word, we understand that mortal sin deprives the soul of the state of grace and makes it incapable of performing meritorious works for Heaven, like a dead person who can no longer act on earth.

State of grace: Having no mortal sin in one’s soul. Living by the life of God; grace is the supernatural “life” of the soul.

Grave matter: Involving something very serious, an important point of the Law of God.

Light matter: A less important point of the Law of God.

With reflection: Knowing that what one is doing is very wrong.

With full consent of the will: Doing evil on purpose, though it is possible not to do it.

Age of reason: The age when one becomes capable of distinguishing between good and evil.

Sin of thought: A sin that takes place only in the mind without manifesting itself externally through actions – a thought of pride, jealousy, etc.

Sin of word: A sin that one commits by saying things which offend God and neighbor – lying, blasphemy, backbiting, etc.

Sin of deed: A sin that one commits by doing outwardly something which offends God and neighbor – injuring, killing, stealing, etc.

Sin of omission: A sin that one commits by not doing something which God commands – not loving one’s parents, not praying, not defending the rights of God, etc.