Venial sins: list and examples

Venial sins are the everyday sins: impatience, small lies, unkind words, gossip about little things, laziness in your duties. They're real sins, but they don't break your friendship with God the way mortal sin does (CCC 1855). Below is a list of common examples, what makes a sin venial, why it still matters, and how it's forgiven.

What is a venial sin?

The Catechism describes two ways a sin can be venial (CCC 1862):

• The matter is less serious. A sharp word, a white lie, a small theft.
• The matter is serious, but knowledge or consent was missing. You didn't fully know it was gravely wrong, or you didn't fully choose it. Here the act is grave, but your responsibility is lessened.

A mortal sin, by contrast, needs all three: grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate consent (CCC 1857). If any one is missing, the sin is venial. We set the two side by side in mortal vs venial sin.

Venial sins list: everyday examples

These are usually venial when the matter is small. Most of them can become serious if the harm grows large, so read them as typical cases rather than fixed rules.

Toward God

• Rushing through prayers, or skipping them out of laziness.
• Choosing to let your mind wander at Mass or in prayer. Distractions that simply come and go aren't sins; just turn back to God when you notice.
• Using God's name carelessly, out of habit rather than contempt.
• Arriving late to Mass through carelessness, or not paying attention once there.

Toward other people

• Impatience and irritability with your spouse, children or coworkers.
• Small lies: excuses, exaggerations, a fib to get out of something awkward.
• Gossip about minor matters, or a mocking comment behind someone's back.
• Holding a small grudge, or giving someone the cold shoulder.
• Rash judgment in little things, assuming the worst about someone's motives.
• Complaining and grumbling, at home or at work.
• Small acts of disobedience or disrespect toward parents (for children and teens).
• Taking something of little value, like office supplies for personal use.

In your own life

• Laziness with your work or chores.
• Overeating, or drinking a bit more than you should, short of drunkenness.
• Vanity: fishing for compliments, spending too long on how you look.
• Petty envy of someone's success, house or holiday.
• Wasting time you owed to your family or your duties, for example on your phone.

Some acts don't fit here even in small amounts. Deliberate sexual sins, for example, are grave matter in themselves, though full knowledge and consent still apply. See the list of mortal sins for those.

If venial sin is small, why does it matter?

Because small things add up. The Catechism says venial sin "weakens charity," shows a disordered attachment to created things, and slows your growth in virtue (CCC 1863). It also warns that deliberate venial sin left unrepented can, little by little, dispose you to mortal sin (CCC 1863). A habit of small lies makes a big one easier.

The same paragraph is full of hope, though. Venial sin doesn't break your covenant with God, and with his grace it is "humanly reparable" (CCC 1863). You don't need to panic over it. You just need to keep turning back.

And there's a gentler reason. Venial sins are often how we hurt the people closest to us: the tone of voice, the eye-roll, the promise we didn't keep. Working on them makes your home a kinder place.

How are venial sins forgiven?

There are more ways than many Catholics realize:

1. Sorrow from love of God. Contrition that comes from love forgives venial sins (CCC 1452). An honest "I'm sorry, Lord" at the end of the day is a real prayer.
2. The Eucharist. Receiving Communion strengthens charity, and that living charity "wipes away venial sins" (CCC 1394).
3. Charity and penance. The Catechism names fasting, prayer and almsgiving as the main forms of penance, and lists making peace with others, tears of repentance and works of charity among the ways sins are forgiven (CCC 1434).
4. Confession. It isn't strictly necessary for venial sins, but the Church strongly recommends it, because it helps form your conscience, fight bad tendencies and let Christ heal you (CCC 1458).

Do you have to confess venial sins?

No, you're only required to confess mortal sins. But confessing venial sins is a good habit, especially the ones that keep coming back. Naming them brings grace to the exact place you're struggling. We go further in do you have to confess venial sins.

You don't need to list every small fault. Pick the ones that matter most, the ones that hurt others or that you'd most like to be free of.

A simple habit for everyday sins

Take a few minutes each evening to look back at the day. Thank God for what was good, notice where you fell short, and tell him you're sorry. A daily examen like this keeps small sins from piling up unnoticed.

Then choose just one to work on, say impatience with your kids or the white lies at work. Ask God for help with it in the morning, check in with yourself at night, and bring it to Confession now and then. Small, steady progress is how holiness usually grows.