concupiscence??

[Paris_Blues]

I keep hearing and seeing the word concupiscence but don’t know exactly what it means. Through the context around it, I’m guessing it means something like when you’re in temptation that is going to cause you to sin, you try to not or something?

Can someone give me a better understanding please?

 

[Orionthehunter]

Paris Blues:

I keep hearing and seeing the word concupiscence but don’t know exactly what it means. Through the context around it, I’m guessing it means something like when you’re in temptation that is going to cause you to sin, you try to not or something?

Can someone give me a better understanding please?

Paris, you obviously discussed this in your last RCIA class didn’t you? We will be discussing this next week as this week we talked about the “Image of God” and next week will discuss “Creation and the Fall”.

This is a link that describes it but not in an easy reading but is deep. newadvent.org/cathen/04208a.htm

For me (correct me if I’m wrong friends), you first need to think about how God created mankind “very good.” As a component of this creation, we are made with many natural desires and these desires are good. For example, our sexuality is a good thing. Unfortunately, this good thing can be perverted (used by the devil) to effect an evil as in Lust.

 

[Paris_Blues]

Orionthehunter:

Paris, you obviously discussed this in your last RCIA class didn’t you? We will be discussing this next week as this week we talked about the “Image of God” and next week will discuss “Creation and the Fall”.

This is a link that describes it but not in an easy reading but is deep. newadvent.org/cathen/04208a.htm

For me (correct me if I’m wrong friends), you first need to think about how God created mankind “very good.” As a component of this creation, we are made with many natural desires and these desires are good. For example, our sexuality is a good thing. Unfortunately, this good thing can be perverted (used by the devil) to effect an evil as in Lust.

What?! How do you know if we did or not discuss this in RCIA!? Did I say what we discussed?

 

[Brendan]

concupiscence is a desire (appetite) of the will.

Concupiscence can be both positive and negative.

Positive concupiscence is when we desire things that are good for us, such as to be warm when we are cold, or for water when we are thirsty or rest when we are tired.

Negitive concupiscence is when we desire things that are NOT good for us, gluttonly, lust, laziness.

Concupiscence, like everything else, was created by God for our good. The Fall damaged our sense of what is good for us and what was ill, and thus concupisence was damaged as well.

 

[HappyCatholic01]

Paris, I am guessing Orion noticed your sig.

Also, he teaches RCIA IIRC, so no sweat

 

[Ignatius]

Paris Blues:

I keep hearing and seeing the word concupiscence but don’t know exactly what it means. Through the context around it, I’m guessing it means something like when you’re in temptation that is going to cause you to sin, you try to not or something?

Can someone give me a better understanding please?

Here is one definition.

Main Entry: con·cu·pis·cence
Pronunciation: kän-'kyü-p&-s&n(t)s, k&n-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin *concupiscentia, *from Latin *concupiscent-, concupiscens, *present participle of *concupiscere *to desire ardently, from *com- + cupere *to desire
: strong desire; especially : sexual desire

Hope this helps.

 

[Matt16_18]

Paris Blues:

I keep hearing and seeing the word concupiscence but don’t know exactly what it means. Through the context around it, I’m guessing it means something like when you’re in temptation that is going to cause you to sin, you try to not or something?

Concupiscence is our inclination to prefer that which is sinful to that which is holy. We have this defect because of the Fall. The impulse to sin is not a sin in itself, and when we resist the impulse to sin, we build up the virtues.**Catechism of the Catholic Church

2515** Etymologically, “concupiscence” can refer to any intense form of human desire. Christian theology has given it a particular meaning: the movement of the sensitive appetite contrary to the operation of the human reason. The apostle St. Paul identifies it with the rebellion of the “flesh” against the “spirit.” Concupiscence stems from the disobedience of the first sin. It unsettles man’s moral faculties and, without being in itself an offense, inclines man to commit sins.

1264 … certain temporal consequences of sin remain in the baptized, such as suffering, illness, death, and such frailties inherent in life as weaknesses of character, and so on, as well as an inclination to sin that Tradition calls concupiscence … since concupiscence “is left for us to wrestle with, it cannot harm those who do not consent but manfully resist it by the grace of Jesus Christ.” Indeed, "an athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules."Protestants often confuse concupiscence with sin. Some Protestants call concupiscence our “sin nature”, and they mistakenly believe that because we wrestle with our concupiscence that we have NOT been freed from the bondage of sin. This leads to the common Protestant error of believing that it is impossible for a Christian to avoid committing sin. When you combine that erroneous belief with the fact that most Protestants no longer make a distinction between mortal sin and sin that is not mortal, one can understand why so many Protestants desperately cling to the heresy of OSAS.

 

[Orionthehunter]

Paris Blues:

What?! How do you know if we did or not discuss this in RCIA!? Did I say what we discussed?

I just surmised that your class is one class ahead of ours as our RCIA team (three lay people, our religious ed director, and Pastor) met last night after our class to discuss next weeks class and Concupiscence comes up in our teaching on “Creation and the Fall”. Sorry my supposition startled you.

 

[Paris_Blues]

Ignatius:

Here is one definition.

Hope this helps.

Uh, yeah, it did! Thanks!

 

[Matt16_18]

** con·cu·pis·cence** strong desire; especially : sexual desire

Especially sexual desire? Paul taught that the ungodly craving to be rich is the form of concupiscence that is the root of all evil.There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.
1Tim 6:6-9The Protestant health and wealth gospel is from Satan!

 

[Prodigal_Son]

The Protestant health and wealth gospel is from Satan!

I’ve heard the term “Prosperity Gospel.” Absolutely, it is deceptive. Our reward is not earthly, but heavenly.

Slight quibble though: Most Protestants don’t believe in the Prosperity Gospel. It may be a lie from Satan, but most Christians – of all denominations – aren’t listening.

Oh, and concupisence? Read Romans 7. Especially “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”

 

[Matt16_18]

Prodigal_Son:

Most Protestants don’t believe in the Prosperity Gospel.

I thank God for that! But the prosperity “gospel” is a heresy that is growing like a kudzu vine among the Evangelicals.

Oh, and concupisence? Read Romans 7. Especially “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”

In these verses, Paul is talking about the futile struggle with concupiscence that all men are trapped in unless they find escape from the bondage of sin through the grace of God.

 

[puzzleannie]

Paris Blues:

I keep hearing and seeing the word concupiscence but don’t know exactly what it means. Through the context around it, I’m guessing it means something like when you’re in temptation that is going to cause you to sin, you try to not or something?

Can someone give me a better understanding please?

I actually got this wrong on my entrance exam to Catholic HS, so I remember it. It is a word that refers to the human propensity to give into the sensual appetites, or to choose the easy way or pleasurable way, even when it is wrong. It is a consequence of Original Sin, and you are right, a source of temptation. It is part of our human nature and cannot be overcome by willpower but only by humble submission to Jesus Christ. It is that impulse that makes us eat junk food, even when we know it is bad, or continually seek out relationships that lead to extramarital sex, even when we know from experience how damaging it is, or that makes us sleep in on Sunday instead of getting up for Mass.

 

[silverwings_88]

Concupiscence… sigh

I encountered that word a many times in the great Douay Rheims Bible. Only in that Bible will you encounter that word… give also solicitous, traffick, etc…

 

[Orionthehunter]

puzzleannie:

I actually got this wrong on my entrance exam to Catholic HS, so I remember it. It is a word that refers to the human propensity to give into the sensual appetites, or to choose the easy way or pleasurable way, even when it is wrong. It is a consequence of Original Sin, and you are right, a source of temptation. It is part of our human nature and cannot be overcome by willpower but only by humble submission to Jesus Christ. It is that impulse that makes us eat junk food, even when we know it is bad, or continually seek out relationships that lead to extramarital sex, even when we know from experience how damaging it is, or that makes us sleep in on Sunday instead of getting up for Mass.

Puzzle, I don’t think this is entirely correct. It includes our human propensity to pursue natural instincts. While usually discussed with regard to proper and improper sexual issues, it also includes our natural desire for friendships, health, etc. However when it is pursued devoid of our rational innate desire to do what it is good, it can lead to sinful behaviour.