B. About Venial Sin

19. As to venial sin one need not be in doubt, because there is no necessity for penitential confession about venial sin.

20. However a certain authority On Ecclesiastical Dogmas [Gennadius of Marseilles ch.53], and it is in the Master’s text in distinction 12 ch.6 n.2, seems to make mention of venial sin; for it says “Although someone is pricked in conscience by a sin, provided he does not have a will to sin in other respects and makes satisfaction with tears and prayers, he may approach securely; but I say this about him who is not weighed down by mortal sins.” Therefore, it seems that no one can approach securely unless he is without the will to sin venially, and has made satisfaction for past sins with tears and prayers.

21. I reply: the passage can be understood of mortal sin (not that mortal sin is present now or in the past without penance, but it has already been confessed), if he is pricked in conscience that he has not completely made satisfaction. And then what follows about mortal sin is intelligible: “who is not weighed down by mortal sins” supply “actual or past ones without subsequent penance.”