Pride

[Mom_of_one]

Could someone explain pride to me as a deadly/capital sin, not as in having pride in what you do. I think I may be struggling with pride, but I am not sure. And, as a follow up question, does everyone deal with at least a leaning towards a deadly sin?

 

[Mysty101]

Momofone:

Could someone explain pride to me as a deadly/capital sin, not as in having pride in what you do. I think I may be struggling with pride, but I am not sure. And, as a follow up question, does everyone deal with at least a leaning towards a deadly sin?

Hi M,

There is a good reason for pride to be listed first, and considered the most deadly of the capital sins…because it is http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon3.gif

Pride is often the cause of many other sins—either the attitude that no one (even someone in lawful authority) is going to tell you what to do, or “I’m not going to let him/her get away with…(whatever was done)” Look at the feuds, they considered an insult grounds for murder.

We must be very careful that good pride does not allow us to cross the line into bad pride. Perhaps thinking the object of our pride can do no wrong, or tearing down something else, in order to try to make our beloved appear better. Or even disliking aomeone because they have something which appears better than something of ours (sometimes even a person) How many parents speak against another child to make their child appear better?

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

Momophone,

Pride is “the” original sin, so to speak, as it was the sin that caused the fall of the angels at the Archangel Lucifer’s acclamation, “I will not serve! I will be like unto the Most High!” His was a battle cry for pride.

St. Michael the Archangel’s response was a battlecry for humility, the virtue which drives out pride, “Who is like unto the Most High?!”

When we consider how insignificant we are compared to how great and awesome the Almight Is, it is humbling. But often, we justify and excuse much bad behavior simply because it is “me” (all-important me!) who is doing it! So, pride actually is like a doorway to many, many more sins.

I think yes, we all, by our fallen nature, have an inclination to one or more of the seven deadly sins. We may not have such a strong inclination to commit them in a spiritually mortal manner, but those seven deadlies are the “roots” of all the venial sins.

Think of the seven deadly sins as weeds. When we commit a “little” venial sin, we permit a weed to begin to grow. If we do not weed that out by frequent confession, that weed will continue to grow and grow, and its roots become stronger and deeper and more difficult to get rid of!

So whenever we realize that we have committed some offense, we should try to exercise the virtue that counters it, hard as that may be, and we should confess as well. Frequently examine your conscience. You may be truly trying to do all the “right” things while others may misjudge your motives. Don’t worry so much about what others may think (truly a form of pride!) but about what our All-Seeing, All-Knowing God sees in you.

There is an excellent little book produced by Tan Publishers on this subject. I hope it’s ok to provide a link. marianland.com/tan_new_2000_017.html

 

[Tantum_ergo]

At the risk of being “Mary Bennett”, there is a tendency to confuse “pride” and “vanity”.

Pride is how we think of ourselves.
Vanity is how we want others to think of us.

 

[Mom_of_one]

Panis Angelicas:

Momophone,

Pride is “the” original sin, so to speak, as it was the sin that caused the fall of the angels at the Archangel Lucifer’s acclamation, “I will not serve! I will be like unto the Most High!” His was a battle cry for pride.

St. Michael the Archangel’s response was a battlecry for humility, the virtue which drives out pride, “Who is like unto the Most High?!”

When we consider how insignificant we are compared to how great and awesome the Almight Is, it is humbling. But often, we justify and excuse much bad behavior simply because it is “me” (all-important me!) who is doing it! So, pride actually is like a doorway to many, many more sins.

I think yes, we all, by our fallen nature, have an inclination to one or more of the seven deadly sins. We may not have such a strong inclination to commit them in a spiritually mortal manner, but those seven deadlies are the “roots” of all the venial sins.

Think of the seven deadly sins as weeds. When we commit a “little” venial sin, we permit a weed to begin to grow. If we do not weed that out by frequent confession, that weed will continue to grow and grow, and its roots become stronger and deeper and more difficult to get rid of!

So whenever we realize that we have committed some offense, we should try to exercise the virtue that counters it, hard as that may be, and we should confess as well. Frequently examine your conscience. You may be truly trying to do all the “right” things while others may misjudge your motives. Don’t worry so much about what others may think (truly a form of pride!) but about what our All-Seeing, All-Knowing God sees in you.

There is an excellent little book produced by Tan Publishers on this subject. I hope it’s ok to provide a link. marianland.com/tan_new_2000_017.html

Thanks. This helps alot! And, it’s fine with me to provide a link. I will certainly use it.

 

[Maranatha]

Momofone:

Could someone explain pride to me as a deadly/capital sin, not as in having pride in what you do. I think I may be struggling with pride, but I am not sure. And, as a follow up question, does everyone deal with at least a leaning towards a deadly sin?

I not sure what “good” pride is? Once you realize that when you “have pride in what you do” (emphasis mine) is putting yourself as the creator of what you can do, then you realize that eveythng that you do has been enabeled by God. There is nothing that you acomplish that is not a result of He has enabeled.

 

[Genesis315]

Maranatha:

I not sure what “good” pride is? Once you realize that when you “have pride in what you do” (emphasis mine) is putting yourself as the creator of what you can do, then you realize that eveythng that you do has been enabeled by God. There is nothing that you acomplish that is not a result of He has enabeled.

I think the phrase means you want to do a good job and not just throw some slop together. Having pride in what you do means caring that you do a good job, that’s all.

 

[Mt19_26]

What is it when you make a comment to someone and they take it as making them feel “small” (not the intention) and as a result they lash out in anger? Is that pride?

 

[Maranatha]

Genesis315:

I think the phrase means you want to do a good job and not just throw some slop together. Having pride in what you do means caring that you do a good job, that’s all.

I’m not sure wanting to do a good job is Pride. Do you want to do a good job to prove what you can do or do you want to to a good job with the gifts God has given you for the gloy of God?

 

[Fitz]

Mt19:26:

What is it when you make a comment to someone and they take it as making them feel “small” (not the intention) and as a result they lash out in anger? Is that pride?

I call in PMS or just plain revenge! How about misdirected anger? Passive agressiveness, or no- active agressiveness! Agression!

 

[GloriaPatri4]

Pride is also a big sin of mine I battle it everyday.

from My Catholic Faith

What IS PRIDE?

Pride is an inordinate love of one’s own excellence, an excessive self-esteem.

Our Lord is the best example of meekness and patience. Did He use His almighty power to punish those who did Him evil? For hours He hung meekly on the cross, until He died. Every day God is patient with sinners, giving them time to change their ways. God, the Supreme One, is not proud.

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1. The proud man overestimates himself and ***believes ***himself the source of his own excellence. The virtue of humility, which disposes us to acknowledge our limitations, is opposed to pride.

1. Pride may be called the mother of all vices, for most sins can be traced to it. From pride arise ambition, vanity, presumption, disobedience, hypocrisy, obstinacy in sin.