What is mortal sin?

• A. A minor offense against God that harms your relationship
• B. A grave offense against God that separates us from grace and leads to eternal death
• C. A mistake forgiven by attending Mass
• D. A habit that is easy to break

Answer: (B)

Mortal sin is a serious turning away from God that breaks our relationship with Him. It is a grave offense that takes away grace from the soul and, if not healed, can lead to eternal separation from God. In Catholic teaching, for a sin to be mortal, three things must be true: the act is a grave matter, you know it’s wrong, and you freely choose to do it anyway. Because of its gravity, forgiveness requires true repentance and reconciliation with God, not just going to Mass. Attending Mass helps us grow in grace, but it doesn’t by itself erase a mortal sin. The other descriptions describe lesser offenses or habits, which don’t carry the same weight and impact on our relationship with God.