or “slight” sin. Venial sin constitutes an offense against God, but the gravity of this sin is insufficient to break our relationship with Him. Although such sins do not break our relationship with God, they still represent a failure to love, and an increase in venial sins makes more likely the possibility that we will commit a mortal sin.16 Sometimes persons dismiss venial sins, claiming that it does not really matter if one commits such small sins, as long as one stays away from serious sins. That