This is the second thread very recently about the seriousness of lust/sexual sins? Why can we not agree that these seven are ALL grave matter, and as such have the potential of being mortal sins? If you identify problems with any of these your soul is in peril.
Because the gravity of an actual sin (an act of sin as opposed to original sin or our vices and disposition to be attracted to sin), is not determined by whether or not our sin falls into the list of the 7 deadly sins. ALL sins fall into them. In fact, I find it highly more useful to examine my conscience by focusing on the 7 deadly sins and looking for ways I acted out of them than by going through the 10 commandments or those little “Did you do this?” In all honesty, if you go through the 7 deadly sins, you can see how some of the most innocent seeming acts were motivated by sin. No one would say look at what I did and say “Oh you sinned”, because those same actions may be motivated by virtue as well. As such, when I confess them, I confess that I expressed pride or gluttony or sloth in some particular way.
Unforunately those of us who actually are given these theological lists to memorize are very rarely given the tools to understand them, and thus we confuse the gravity of the sin with something we can find on a list. Perhaps its that we’ve been too heavily reliant on such lists rather than educating ourselves more deeply in understanding the nature of sin and that its simply not about “Here’s are the acts that are forbidden.”
Here’s the thing. To be in a state of mortal sin is to be in a state of pride. If a someone fornicates, engages in homosexual activities, contraceptives, misses Sunday Mass without a valid reason, rapes, murders, spits and tramples the Eucharist, etc and they do so fully acknowledging that their actions are gravely offensive and they do so deliberately, they do these actions out of pride. If they remain in that state of pride which prevents them from repenting, then they are in a constant state of refusing God’s mercy. This is considered the only one unforgiveable sin (blasphemy against the Holy Spirit) which is final unrepentence.
Unforunately though I would have to say that simply labeling pride as the gravest sin and saying “Look I’m totally accepting and loving of all these lesser sinners. Thank God I’m not prideful like you. I don’t look down on people.” is in effect prideful. We need to be patient with all and not get so focused on whose sin is worse than than another person’s sin. We simply need to acknowledge sin and repent of it and in love we need to encourage others to repent of their sins.
\