7 deadly sins

[billcu1]

When we confess things like sexually immorality this occurs first at the mental level. Now no one can sin without pride. This we all have and it’s one of the deadly or mortal I assume sins we have. Are these at a different level? I know I am going to begin confessing these all the time.

 

[Bookcat]

A note about the Seven Deadly Sins from a previous post of mine.

The Seven Deadly sins or perhaps better Capital sins – can yes involve grave matter for mortal sins. (and of course there are many things that are grave matter…not just seven…I note for some readers)

But that does not mean that they (or sins that fall in those categories) are necessarily grave matter. Many admit rather of parvity of matter (light matter).

And yes I am referring to the matter involved – not just to say a lack of full knowledge or deliberate consent for mortal sin --but to a light matter for venial sin.

The term “deadly” or “capital” --often confuses persons.

Such is simply not the case that deadly sins/capital sins = grave matter .

For example --the chief of them is Pride. Pride yes can be grave matter --like a person says I do not need God. But often in the life of say a Christian it is venial matter (sinning in pride in other ways…)

Anger can be grave matter – like for example (to give an extreme one to make the point) --when one is deliberately angry -seeking to say seriously harm someone.

But often it can be venial in life.

or take gluttony – individual acts of such by way of intemperance are often venial in nature.

Though for example one can have grave matter --for example getting drunk where one looses ones reason…etc.

So no it is not a simple: Deadly sins -Capital sins = grave matter.

They are called Capital cause they are the “head” capitus of many other sins that they engender…(and deadly cause yes the seven can be deadly…)

But the term used more so today is capital sins.

Catechism:

1866 Vices can be classified according to the virtues they oppose, or also be linked to the capital sins which Christian experience has distinguished, following St. John Cassian and St. Gregory the Great. They are called “capital” because they engender other sins, other vices. They are pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth or acedia.

scborromeo.org/ccc/ccc_toc.htm

1. What are vices?

1866-1867

Vices are the opposite of virtues. They are perverse habits which darken the conscience and incline one to evil. The vices can be linked to the seven, so-called, capital sins which are: pride, avarice, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth or acedia.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

Of course sins like fornication, lusting after some woman, adultery etc do not admit of parvity of matter.

 

[JRKH]

What Bookcat said…

To me, the best use of the “7 deadly sins” is as a method of “root cause analysis” for why I act in certain ways, why I repeatedly commit the same sin over and over and/or how seemingly different sins interrelate.
Such analysis allows me to see my flaws and weaknesses more clearly and can give me a better handle on how to attack these problems…what to pray for…things to change in my life etc.

So - my advice would be to confess your discrete sins as you normally would…and then perhaps ask your confessor for advice on overcoming the capital (deadly) sin that you suspect as being the “root cause” of the discrete sins.

Peace
James

 

[billcu1]

A note about the Seven Deadly Sins from a previous post of mine.

The Seven Deadly sins or perhaps better Capital sins – can yes involve grave matter for mortal sins. (and of course there are many things that are grave matter…not just seven…I note for some readers)

But that does not mean that they (or sins that fall in those categories) are necessarily grave matter. Many admit rather of parvity of matter (light matter).

And yes I am referring to the matter involved – not just to say a lack of full knowledge or deliberate consent for mortal sin --but to a light matter for venial sin.

The term “deadly” or “capital” --often confuses persons.

Such is simply not the case that deadly sins/capital sins = grave matter .

For example --the chief of them is Pride. Pride yes can be grave matter --like a person says I do not need God. But often in the life of say a Christian it is venial matter (sinning in pride in other ways…)

Anger can be grave matter – like for example (to give an extreme one to make the point) --when one is deliberately angry -seeking to say seriously harm someone.

But often it can be venial in life.

or take gluttony – individual acts of such by way of intemperance are often venial in nature.

Though for example one can have grave matter --for example getting drunk where one looses ones reason…etc.

So no it is not a simple: Deadly sins -Capital sins = grave matter.

They are called Capital cause they are the “head” capitus of many other sins that they engender…(and deadly cause yes the seven can be deadly…)

But the term used more so today is capital sins.

Catechism:

1866 Vices can be classified according to the virtues they oppose, or also be linked to the capital sins which Christian experience has distinguished, following St. John Cassian and St. Gregory the Great. They are called “capital” because they engender other sins, other vices. They are pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth or acedia.

scborromeo.org/ccc/ccc_toc.htm

1. What are vices?

1866-1867

Vices are the opposite of virtues. They are perverse habits which darken the conscience and incline one to evil. The vices can be linked to the seven, so-called, capital sins which are: pride, avarice, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth or acedia.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

Of course sins like fornication, lusting after some woman, adultery etc do not admit of parvity of matter.

So should one confess to simply to all venial and mortal sins one has that is based in the 7 deadly sins? I have anxiety and panic disorder and emotional problems. I believe they’re rooted in some sin.

 

[JRKH]

So should one confess to simply to all venial and mortal sins one has that is based in the 7 deadly sins? I have anxiety and panic disorder and emotional problems. I believe they’re rooted in some sin.

This is something best discussed with your confessor. It may be that you need some spiritual counseling to look into these issues.

Peace
James

 

[Bookcat]

So should one confess to simply to all venial and mortal sins one has that is based in the 7 deadly sins? I have anxiety and panic disorder and emotional problems. I believe they’re rooted in some sin.

We are only “obilged” to confess all mortal sins of what ever kind we have committed.

(mortal sin is when there is together: grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent)

Venial sins --while certainly it is good and recommended to confess from these --it is not an obligation.

Of course in confession of devotion --with only venial sins – one needs at least one sin to confess for which one is contrite etc…and it is good to have a few.

I would not focus overly yourself on the “seven capital sins”. And perhaps it would be good for you to have a regular confessor who knows you and who can assist you in particular in your confessions etc.