When is laziness a mortal sin?

[Blenderx]

When is laziness or sloth a mortal sin? Under what circumstances?

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

When is laziness or sloth a mortal sin? Under what circumstances?

I really do not know.
I know it is a quality when you are lazy to kill people, sell drugs, beat women, be a suicide-bomber and so on.

 

[FallenLeaf]

I would say when perhaps it means you are too lazy to go to Mass, or too lazy to say your devotions, or even too lazy to follow ones duties at work or in the home? Perhaps it’s what laziness leads to that is grave, if it is done with awareness and intent, rather than laziness itself?
FL x

 

[JRKH]

When is laziness or sloth a mortal sin? Under what circumstances?

A good Question.

Sloth - Spiritual Sloth really speaks to an ambivalence toward those things necessary to being a true disciple of Christ.
In Rev 3:16 it is written
“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth”
We must avoid “lukewarmness”, the attitude that we have “done enough” for Jesus says in Luke 17:10
“* So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.*”
Thus by our humble desire to give all our self to God - To Please God, we hope to hear Him say:
“…Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.” (Mt 25:21)

So - Spiritual Sloth is doing the minimum and then being presumptuous on God’s mercy and our salvation. It is assuming that we have done enough when in our hearts we know we can do more.

Some may see my definition as being harsh, and perhaps it is, but to me, if there is opportunity for spiritual growth and we do not take advantage of it because we think we don’t need it - that’s Sloth (and Pride)

Peace
James

 

[Mijoy2]

ASo - Spiritual Sloth is doing the minimum and then being presumptuous on God’s mercy and our salvation. It is assuming that we have done enough when in our hearts we know we can do more.

Some may see my definition as being harsh, and perhaps it is, but to me, if there is opportunity for spiritual growth and we do not take advantage of it because we think we don’t need it - that’s Sloth (and Pride)

Peace
James

I do not see your point as being “harsh” however it did bring up a more general question.

Particularily this quote:
“It is assuming that we have done enough when in our hearts we know we can do more.”

Isn’t this a general point that confronts us all? How do we know when we have “done enough” in any spiritual disapline? In other words, I could skip my lunch everyday and find a church that offers a noon time Mass and attend. I could pray a rosary everyday…i could pray 10 rosaries every day. I could give all my time every weekend at a soup kitchen somewhere and all money to charity.

We (Catholics and non_Catholic christians alike) condem “relativism”, but so few things in life are black and white. Virtually everything is a shade of grey.

i.e. I could be an adulterer who has fallen victim to a sudductive proposal from a beautiful woman, or I could cast my eyes in the direction of woman wearing a short skirt. Both, shades of grey, one almost ebony black the other almost ivory white. but both with a tad of the other.

 

[JRKH]

I do not see your point as being “harsh” however it did bring up a more general question.

Thank you for assuring me that I am not being harsh and for raising the general question. I hope I am up to giving a good answer.

Particularily this quote:
“It is assuming that we have done enough when in our hearts we know we can do more.”

Isn’t this a general point that confronts us all? How do we know when we have “done enough” in any spiritual discipline? In other words, I could skip my lunch everyday and find a church that offers a noon time Mass and attend. I could pray a rosary everyday…i could pray 10 rosaries every day. I could give all my time every weekend at a soup kitchen somewhere and all money to charity.

This is indeed a good question and one that we all confront.
First lets remember that all must stem from Love, not from frantic activity but from Lovingly living out our particular vocation as a child of God and disciple of Christ.
Knowing our vocation - whether single Christian, spouse and parent or religious - and the gifts we received from God and the commitments our vocation imposes serves as the parameters in which Love works.
For example - Yes you could skip lunch and go to noon mass. But would skipping lunch adversely effect your work in the afternoon? If so this is unloving to your employer to whom you have made a commitment. Better in this case to eat lunch and say a rosary or read a bible passage or…
Praying a rosary a day (or more) is also good if it does not interfere with other commitments like cooking, cleaning, getting to work, hugging your kids and the other things that a particular vocation might require of us.

It is important that any discipline we undertake is compatible to our station in life and our calling. To undertake an inappropriate discipline or to allow an appropriate discipline to get out of balance may indicate two possible dangers. “Pride” on the one hand(look at how I pray 10 rosaries a day - but you don’t have time to fix a decent dinner), or Despair on the other (I pray and pray and pray but I’ll never be worthy).

Does this make sense?

We (Catholics and non_Catholic Christians alike) condemn “relativism”, but so few things in life are black and white. Virtually everything is a shade of grey.

i.e. I could be an adulterer who has fallen victim to a seductive proposal from a beautiful woman, or I could cast my eyes in the direction of woman wearing a short skirt. Both, shades of grey, one almost ebony black the other almost ivory white. but both with a tad of the other.

Love is never “Black and White”. Love is always white for Love is of God and in fact is God for God is Love.
Learning to properly understand and apply God’s Love in our lives, from our thought processes to our actions is the real journey and it does not allow for “Sloth”. It is a lifelong undertaking, and as we progress we will see more and more how our entire life is a prayer, is a discipline that give Glory to God.

Peace
James