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Objection 1: It would seem that venial sin can be taken away without
mortal sin. For, on Jn. 8:7: "He that is without sin among
you, let him first cast a stone at her," a gloss says that "all
those men were in a state of mortal sin: for venial offenses were
forgiven them through the legal ceremonies." Therefore venial sin can
be taken away without mortal sin.
Objection 2: Further, no infusion of grace is required for the
remission of venial sin. but it is required for the forgiveness of
mortal sin. Therefore venial sin can be taken away without mortal
sin.
Objection 3: Further, a venial sin differs from a mortal sin more
than from another venial sin. But one venial sin can be pardoned
without another, as stated above (Article 3, ad 2; Question
87, Article 3). Therefore a venial sin can be taken away without
a mortal sin.
On the contrary, It is written (Mt. 5:26): "Amen I say to
thee, thou shalt not go out from thence," viz., from the prison,
into which a man is cast for mortal sin, "till thou repay the last
farthing," by which venial sin is denoted. Therefore a venial sin is
not forgiven without mortal sin.
I answer that, As stated above (Question 87, Article 3),
there is no remission of any sin whatever except by the power of grace,
because, as the Apostle declares (Rm. 4:8), it is owing to
God's grace that He does not impute sin to a man, which a gloss on
that passage expounds as referring to venial sin. Now he that is in a
state of mortal sin is without the grace of God. Therefore no venial
sin is forgiven him.
Reply to Objection 1: Venial offenses, in the passage quoted,
denote the irregularities or uncleannesses which men contracted in
accordance with the Law.
Reply to Objection 2: Although no new infusion of habitual grace is
requisite for the remission of venial sin, yet it is necessary to
exercise some act of grace, which cannot be in one who is a subject of
mortal sin.
Reply to Objection 3: Venial sin does not preclude every act of
grace whereby all venial sins can be removed; whereas mortal sin
excludes altogether the habit of grace, without which no sin, either
mortal or venial, is remitted. Hence the comparison fails.
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