Very Quick Thread - on Penances

[CuriousMike]

I remember reading something here on CAF regarding penance, although I haven’t been able to find it with a search.

It went along the lines of traditional penances to help with growing in virtue. Here is the part I can remember:

Fasting: Chastity
Abstinence (from meats, maybe dairy too if thats your thing): (Unsure)
Almsgiving: (Maybe) Humility, Meekness?
??? (third point) : ???

Wondering if another CAF member can help me remember?

 

[PJM]

I remember reading something here on CAF regarding penance, although I haven’t been able to find it with a search.

It went along the lines of traditional penances to help with growing in virtue. Here is the part I can remember:

Fasting: Chastity
Abstinence (from meats, maybe dairy too if thats your thing): (Unsure)
Almsgiving: (Maybe) Humility, Meekness?
??? (third point) : ???

Wondering if another CAF member can help me remember?

“The Roman Catholic church recognized the seven capital virtues as opposites to the Seven Capital Sins or the Seven Deadly Sins. According to Dante’s The Divine Comedy the sins have an order of greatness, and the virtues a respective order of greatness as well. This order is shown below from the lowest to the highest.”

Sin Virtue
Lust (excessive sexual appetites) Chastity (purity)
Gluttony (over-indulgence) Temperance (self-restraint)
Greed (avarice) Charity (giving)
Sloth (laziness/idleness) Diligence (zeal/integrity/Labor)
Wrath (anger) Forgiveness (composure)
Envy (jealousy) Kindness (admiration)
Pride (vanity) Humility (humbleness)

 

[Genesis315]

Hmm, not sure of an easy list like that, but here I bet we could dig something up. For example, St. Thomas, quoting other Saints, says the following is the three ends of fasting (one of which is to help with chastity.)

An act is virtuous through being directed by reason to some virtuous [honestum] [Cf. 145, 1] good. Now this is consistent with fasting, because fasting is practiced for a threefold purpose. First, in order to bridle the lusts of the flesh, wherefore the Apostle says (2 Corinthians 6:5-6): “In fasting, in chastity,” since fasting is the guardian of chastity. For, according to Jerome [Contra Jov. ii.] “Venus is cold when Ceres and Bacchus are not there,” that is to say, lust is cooled by abstinence in meat and drink. Secondly, we have recourse to fasting in order that the mind may arise more freely to the contemplation of heavenly things: hence it is related (Daniel 10) of Daniel that he received a revelation from God after fasting for three weeks. Thirdly, in order to satisfy for sins: wherefore it is written (Joel 2:12): “Be converted to Me with all your heart, in fasting and in weeping and in mourning.” The same is declared by Augustine in a sermon (De orat. et Jejun. [Serm. lxxii (ccxxx, de Tempore)]): “Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, kindles the true light of chastity.”
newadvent.org/summa/3147.htm

 

[CuriousMike]

Thanks both of you for your answers. Pat’s list of seven deadly sins and seven capital virtues was a great start.

Genesis, I think you hit the nail on the head with your quote from St. Thomas. Pretty that quote, or an except of it showed up somewhere before and thats what I was recalling.
Thanks for posting

 

[Vico]

I remember reading something here on CAF regarding penance, although I haven’t been able to find it with a search.

It went along the lines of traditional penances to help with growing in virtue. Here is the part I can remember:

Fasting: Chastity
Abstinence (from meats, maybe dairy too if thats your thing): (Unsure)
Almsgiving: (Maybe) Humility, Meekness?
??? (third point) : ???

Wondering if another CAF member can help me remember?

Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting are the three pillars.

Matthew 6:1-18

Teaching About Almsgiving: Matthew 6:1-4
Teaching About Prayer: Matthew 6:5-15
Teaching About Fasting: Matthew 6:16-18