QUOTATION: Contrition at Death

Just souls surprised by death, for example, during sleep, or at a moment when they do not have sufficient control of reason, were not able at the last moment to make an act of contrition, a meritorious act which would have obtained the remission of venial sins. Such sins are remitted to them by the act of charity and contrition which they make immediately after death, at the moment of the particular judgment. This act indeed is no longer meritorious. But it is an act of charity and contrition which suffices to remit venial sins, though the soul must still endure the suffering due to these faults. Such is the teaching of St. Thomas, admitted also by Suarez, and by the generality of theologians.

This doctrine is very probable. Nothing prevents the separated soul from making at once an act of repentance. It is no longer hindered by the passions. General contrition would suffice for the remission of these sins. But, under the light of the particular judgment, the soul sees all its sins singly and consequently repents of each singly. This is a wonderful complement of the act of contrition made on earth, although that complement is not meritorious. Certainly it is better to make this act of contrition before death. To sacrifice life in union with the Masses celebrated at the moment of death would have been meritorious. But, while it is not now meritorious, it obtains the remission of venial sins. Such a soul is a saint, because all its venial sins are at once remitted, and it can no longer sin. This is truly a beautiful doctrine.

--Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, Life Everlasting

QUOTATION: Sin

The conclusion of all this is that you be ready to die rather than commit a mortal sin, and ready to die, also, rather than commit a venial sin with deliberation. Rather endure all things, rather death itself than offend God! It would be better to let the whole world go to ruin rather than try to save it by the smallest venial sin.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Venial Sin

Live, then, in this disposition of enduring everything, of allowing yourself to be despoiled of everything, to be ready to beg your bread barefoot, rather than consent to a venial sin.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Venial Sins

If we have never sinned mortally, God's mercy in pardoning us our venial sins is not less. It is always the fruit of Jesus' blood. And then we renew them so often that God has to exercise it incessantly, while the occasions of mortal sin are rarer. Besides, when we sin venially, we are in His friendship, and we afflict His Heart and His love in the tenderest point.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Erasing Venial Sins

It is not necessary to confess every time you have committed a venial sin. He has placed in your hands the sacramentals, the Confiteor, the Pater, and above all holy water. Any one of these with an act of regret, purifies you.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: The Confession of Venial Sins

You should know distinctly that the accusation of venial sins is not like that of mortal sins. Mortal sins ought to be declared in confession with number, kind, and the circumstances that change their species or notably aggravate them. With venial sins, It is not so. A pious soul who will in good faith declare only three or four, but with regret that implicitly extends to all the others, and with a firm purpose of amendment, will receive the remission of all, although she has accused herself of only some. This means that mortal, sins are pardoned only individually, consequently they have to be declared formally, but venial sins collectively with general and implicit contrition. It is like a bundle of weeds, of which we see only those on the surface, and which we throw into the fire to be burned altogether, those we do not see, as well as those we do see.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Confessing Venial Sins

It is, however, as says the Council of Trent, a laudable and salutary custom to confess all the venial sins that we remember. But what I wish is that you do not go too much into detail, be not too punctilious in your accusations. God does not exact so rigorous an examen. It is that rigor which exposes you to the loss of liberty and peace of mind, of sweet and gentle piety of heart.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Venial Sin

Live, then, in this disposition of enduring everything, of allowing yourself to be despoiled of everything, to be ready to beg your bread barefoot, rather than consent to a venial sin.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: A Refined Soul

As the soul increases in piety, she becomes more refined, for refinement flourishes, expands very naturally on love. A refined soul comes to shun venial sins with as much solicitude as others use in fleeing mortal offences. A certain sin may be only venial by nature, but it is mortal for her heart.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard

QUOTATION: Venial Sin

Considered, besides, in its effects on us, how sad is venial sin! See what it did in the Apostles. For three years they had lived with Our Lord, seeing Him, listening to Him, rejoicing in His miracles and in His particular and private explanations. Did they profit by them? Not at all. They did not even go so far as to correct themselves of their defects. Their ambition, their jealousy, their self-love still domineered them. What, then, was the obstacle? Venial sin, for the Gospel records their faults, and they were but venial faults, only venial faults. But see, whither they conducted. Behold them fleeing from the Garden of Olives, and Peter denying his Master. Judas, also, had lived with Our Lord, and his infidelity began with only small faults of cupidity.

--St. Peter Julian Eymard