Seven Deadly Sins only Catholic?

[javier_29]

Is this strictly a Catholic teaching?

Are they all considered mortal sins at the mere act (anger for example) or do they become mortal sins at some point?

Just looking for clarification.

In Christ
Javier

 

[LilyM]

It is strictly a Catholic teaching. I believe it may even have been one of the Popes who first wrote on the seven deadly sins. Like every sin, there’s a bit more to it than just doing action x.

For starters, there are always degrees of action. If you eat one more cookie than you strictly need to satisfy hunger and sustain life then it’s probably technically gluttony, but there’s a big difference between that and stuffing your face with cookies until you’re feeling sick.

Even apart from the action, there are other requirements for it to be mortal (ie put you in danger of going to hell). You have to know it’s a mortal sin, and fully consent to doing it. This means situations like addiction or habit make it a grey area.

 

[Della]

javier_29:

Is this strictly a Catholic teaching?

Are they all considered mortal sins at the mere act (anger for example) or do they become mortal sins at some point?

Just looking for clarification.

In Christ
Javier

A mortal sin is always a mortal or grave sin, but what you are really talking about is what Lily touched on–culpability. How culpable you are determines whether or not you are guilty of committing a mortal sin. And to be culpable you have to know it is a mortal sin, give the consent of your will to do it, and do it anyway.

 

[javier_29]

Even apart from the action, there are other requirements for it to be mortal (ie put you in danger of going to hell). You have to know it’s a mortal sin, and fully consent to doing it. This means situations like addiction or habit make it a grey area.

Using my previous example…When does Anger become grave, or is it always?

Maybe I’m just being scrupulous, but let’s say I get angry at somebody that just cut me off in traffic. Is that enough to constitute a mortal sin and prevent me from receiving the Eucharist??

In Christ
Javier

 

[LilyM]

javier_29:

Using my previous example…When does Anger become grave, or is it always?

Maybe I’m just being scrupulous, but let’s say I get angry at somebody that just cut me off in traffic. Is that enough to constitute a mortal sin and prevent me from receiving the Eucharist??

In Christ
Javier

Well just feeling anger is one thing - emotions aren’t always controllable, though saying a quick prayer often helps. I doubt it would be even approaching a mortal sin unless you acted on your anger, and in a fairly dramatic fashion as well (swearing at the other driver, getting out and hitting them etc).

Hard to judge in the abstract - the only thing to do is take it to confession and ask your priest.

 

[St.Eric]

the 7 deadly sins are not necessarily mortal. Rather, they usually are venial sins that, if continued to be engaged in, lead to mortal sin through the repeated wounding of the soul and the spirit’s weakened ability to resist temptation. They are analagous to small incisions on the body. They wound the flesh and make you bleed, if you get enough of them you may well bleed to death.

 

[Scott_Waddell]

javier_29:

Using my previous example…When does Anger become grave, or is it always?

Maybe I’m just being scrupulous, but let’s say I get angry at somebody that just cut me off in traffic. Is that enough to constitute a mortal sin and prevent me from receiving the Eucharist??

In Christ
Javier

Lily gave a good answer and here is the CCC quote that explains it [my bolding]:

**2302 ** By recalling the commandment, “You shall not kill,” our Lord asked for peace of heart and denounced murderous anger and hatred as immoral.

Anger is a desire for revenge. “To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit,” but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution “to correct vices and maintain justice.” If anger reaches the point of a deliberate desire to kill or seriously wound a neighbor, it is gravely against charity; it is a mortal sin. The Lord says, “Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.”

 

[jimmy]

javier_29:

Is this strictly a Catholic teaching?

Are they all considered mortal sins at the mere act (anger for example) or do they become mortal sins at some point?

Just looking for clarification.

In Christ
Javier

The Eastern Orthodox have the eight deadly thoughts(gluttony, lust, avarice, dejection, anger, despondency, vainglory, and pride) which is from the writings of Evagrius. St. Gregory the Great combined a couple of them(vainglory and pride) and he combined despondency and dejection as the same thing(sloth). He also added envy as the seventh. That is how we have them now.

These sins don’t change anything. They are always grave acts no matter what. If you know what you are doing and you still do them you are certainly committing a mortal sin. They aren’t automatically mortal sins though simply because they are called the seven deadly sins(or eight deadly thoughts according to eastern Christians). In order to sin you must participate in it with your will and your knowledge. You must know it is a sin and you must submit to it. The three qualities of a mortal sin are that it is a grave matter, you submit to it with your free will, and you know it is a grave matter.

 

[jimmy]

javier_29:

Using my previous example…When does Anger become grave, or is it always?

Maybe I’m just being scrupulous, but let’s say I get angry at somebody that just cut me off in traffic. Is that enough to constitute a mortal sin and prevent me from receiving the Eucharist??

In Christ
Javier

Anger is always a grave act. If it is just a reaction it may be somewhat of a gray area when it comes to sin, but it is still a grave act. You have the responsibility to try to curb your anger so that it is not just a reaction.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I asked my SD this once, when I still had one. At the time, I wasn’t sure I understood but FWIW I will try to repeat what he said.

Something like the seven deadly sins were not actually sins as they are not acts, but they are human tendencies toward sin.

Alan

 

[Mark_Robert]

That’s ridiculous. Anger is not always a mortal sin. It would constitute mortal sin if the intent of your anger was to visit serious harm upon another either physical, spiritual or psychological. Anger would also be serious sin if it entailed an obstinate refusal to forgive one’s enemies or a desire for revenge. Merely being angry for being cut-off in traffic would be a venial sin obviously. There ARE degrees of severity when it comes to anger. The same goes for envy. Envy can be venial but if it entails wanting to destroy someone else’s good name, fortune or wellbeing then it would be mortal. Calling everything a mortal sin is scrupulosity pure and simple.
The only deadly sin that does not admit degrees of severity is lust. Both the thought indulged in as well as any external act that gives rise to venereal (sexual) pleasure outside the context of committed maritial love (matrimony for Catholics) is always grave matter (mortal sin) objectively speaking. However, force of habit can play a part in lessening moral culpability because freedom of the will is called into question by the enslavement of acquired habit (masterbation for example).

 

[jimmy]

These sins are not necessarily mortal sins. The whole point of the list is that these sins lead to the death of the soul. The seven deadly(or eight deadly thoughts) are a simply list of the vices that cause the death of the soul. Whether it is venial or mortal, sin leads to the death of the soul.
Pride, you put your self in a position that you should not be. You have an incorrect view of your self. Consequently you think you deserve things you do not. You become jelous, envious and angry because you do not have what you want. You look at others and become angry. The consequence is death. The pride does not have to be a mortal sin for it to be a deadly sin.

 

[javier_29]

The pride does not have to be a mortal sin for it to be a deadly sin.

Thanks Jimmy…that turned on a lightbulb.

I was assuming that deadly = mortal…now I understand.

Thanks to all that responded

God Bless
Javier