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"commit a mortal sin (please define this)"

I think everyone can agree that is a good definition of a mortal sin. Since the authors of the Baltimore Catechism cite Ecclesiasticus (also know as the book of Sirach,) which not all Christians accept as Scriptural, it's good to reference mortal sin from another source in Scripture:

"If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal. (1 John 5: 16-17, RSV)

Here the Apostle John points out that there is sin which is mortal, and sin which is not, (what many of us refer to as venial.) Both are wrong and contrary to life in Christ, but there is definitely a more serious category.

I usually start by thinking of mortal sins as being sins which break the 10 Commandments. Worship of a false god, Adultery, Murder, theft, and bearing false witness.

I usually start by thinking of mortal sins as being sins which break the 10 Commandments. Worship of a false god, Adultery, Murder, theft, and bearing false witness.

I think you'd be hard pressed to think of any sin which can not be construed as violating a commandment. They are pretty all-encompassing.

The type of sin has to do with the seriousness of the evil introduced into the world. Bearing false witness to spare someone's feelings is venial. Bearing false witness to swindle money from people or to have someone punished by a court of law is much more serious.

Any sin is a failure to acheive perfection, but mortal sins are so serious that they amount to a rejection of God and His Will.