
The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital sins, are a set of vices in Catholic theology that engender other sins. They are pride, avarice/greed, envy, wrath/anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth/acedia. These are considered to be grave sins, or mortal sins, as they are committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, a capital vice is one that is so desirable that a person commits many sins to achieve it, and these sins are all said to originate from that vice. While some sins are considered worse than others, all sins are an offense against God and a rejection of his perfect love and justice.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Number of capital sins | 7 |
Other names | Seven deadly sins |
Why they are called capital sins | They are the bases of other sins |
Latin root of the word "capital" | Caput, meaning "head" |
Other name for a capital sin | Vice |
Source of all sins | Yes |
St. Thomas Aquinas's preferred term | Vice |
Pride | An inordinate desire for one's own excellence |
Avarice | The inordinate love of having possessions or riches |
Lust | The inordinate desire for sexual pleasure |
Envy | Sadness on account of the goods possessed by another |
Gluttony | An inordinate desire for food and drink |
Anger | The inordinate desire for revenge |
Sloth | Sorrow in the face of spiritual good |
What You'll Learn
Pride: Excessive love of self or desire to be better than others
Pride is one of the seven deadly sins, or "capital sins", in the Catholic Church. It is considered the most serious of these sins, as it can lead to other vices. Pride is defined as an excessive love of self or a desire to be better or more important than others. This can manifest as a high opinion of oneself, one's importance, or one's achievements. While some philosophers view pride as a virtue, many religions, including Catholicism, consider it a grave sin.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church characterises the seven deadly sins as "capital" because they are the root of other sins. Pride, in particular, can lead to a person placing themselves above "the normal workings and demands of human living". This can result in a rejection of divine assistance and a reliance solely on one's power. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, pride can take on four forms:
- Attributing to oneself perfections that one does not possess.
- Possessing a perfection but attributing it to one's efforts rather than God's grace.
- Recognising that a perfection is from God but thinking one deserves it.
- Possessing a perfection and knowing it is from God but refusing to share it with others.
Pride can also be understood as a secondary emotion that arises from a sense of self and the ability to distinguish it from other emotions such as happiness and joy. It can be expressed through non-verbal cues such as a lifting of the chin, smiles, or arms on hips, and these expressions can convey a person's high social status.
Pride is often associated with positive behaviours and outcomes in areas where the individual takes pride. It can enhance creativity, productivity, and altruism. However, when it comes to relationships with God and others, pride can be destructive. It can lead to contention and a strained relationship with God. Recognising and addressing pride is crucial, as it can help individuals knock it back before it causes too much damage.
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Lust: Intense desire for sexual pleasure, money, power or fame
Lust is one of the seven capital sins in Catholic doctrine and is often understood as an excessive or disordered desire for sexual pleasure. It can also be associated with an unhealthy craving for money, power, or fame. So, is lust a mortal sin in the Catholic faith?
When considering any action as a mortal sin, the Catholic Church applies three conditions: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1857) In the case of lust, the grave matter in question would typically be sexual immorality, such as adultery or fornication.
For lust to be considered a mortal sin, the act must be committed with full knowledge and consent. This means that the individual understands the gravity of their actions and the potential consequences but chooses to act lustfully anyway. If a person is ignorant or unaware of the sinful nature of their actions, or if they are acting under coercion or extreme external pressure, their sin may be lessened or even absolved.
To overcome lust, Catholics are encouraged to practice self-control and chastity. This involves recognizing the inherent dignity of every person and respecting the sacredness of the marital bond. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, individuals can strengthen their self-discipline and resist temptations of the flesh. Confession, or the Sacrament of Reconciliation, is also an important means of seeking forgiveness and grace to overcome lustful desires.
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Gluttony: Overconsumption of food or drink
Gluttony is often understood as simply overeating, but it is more accurately defined as the overconsumption of food or drink, and it can also relate to an excessive attachment to food. This can manifest in various ways, such as an obsession with gourmet meals, an immoderate desire for delicacies, or excessive concern for the pleasure of eating. It can also relate to a disregard for the health consequences of overindulgence and a failure to practice moderation and self-control.
In a religious context, gluttony is considered a sin of excess. It is one of the seven capital sins in Catholic doctrine, and it is often associated with a lack of self-control and an imbalance in one's life. Gluttony is not merely about the quantity of food consumed but also the intent and mindset behind it. It can be a sin of commission, through eating too much, or a sin of omission, by failing to practice moderation and thus causing harm to one's health.
The Catholic Church teaches that gluttony can be a mortal sin if it meets certain conditions. For a sin to be mortal, it must be a grave matter, committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent. In the case of gluttony, this could mean knowingly and intentionally overindulging in food to the point of endangering one's health or well-being. If an individual is aware that their overconsumption is harmful and continues to engage in it without seeking moderation, it could be considered a mortal sin.
However, it is important to note that not all gluttony is mortal sin. The Church recognizes that there can be mitigating circumstances, such as cultural or social factors, emotional issues, or physical conditions that contribute to overconsumption. Gluttony can also be a venial sin, which is a lesser offense that arises from a less serious disruption of one's relationship with God. This could include occasional indulgences or a lack of moderation that does not rise to the level of a mortal sin.
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Greed: The desire for and love of possessions
Greed, or avarice, is one of the seven deadly sins, also known as capital sins, in the Catholic Church. These sins are referred to as "capital" because they are the source of other sins; they engender or give rise to other vices.
Greed is defined as the "desire for and love of possessions". A greedy person is preoccupied with having and accumulating more material wealth and possessions. They attach great value to wealth and possessions, making their accumulation a major goal in life, prioritising it over other people and everything else. Greed can manifest in different forms, such as being greedy with material things, time, or relationships. For instance, a person may only do what benefits them or collect people for status or personal advantage.
Greed is considered a sin because it is a failure in genuine love for God and neighbour. It is a perverse attachment to certain goods that causes a person to neglect their duties and to become hard-hearted and blind to the needs of those less fortunate. Greed can lead to a sense of self-sufficiency and independence from God.
To combat greed, the Catholic Church recommends several spiritual practices and meditations. These include being thankful in prayer each day for one's blessings, examining how well those blessings are used within one's means to help those in need, and remembering that all possessions will be left behind after death. Meditating on the teachings and examples in Sacred Scripture that warn against greed, such as the words of Jesus: "Avoid greed in all its forms" (Luke 12:15) and "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:24). Additionally, one can meditate on the example of Jesus' own life, who, as St. John Vianney taught, "was born in extreme poverty, deprived of all comforts, and chose a poor mother".
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "sin...is a failure in genuine love for God and neighbour caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods" (No. 1849). This attachment to worldly goods, as seen in greed, leads to a diminishment of love for God and others, which is at the heart of Christian faith and teaching.
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Sloth: Physical laziness and disinterest in spiritual matters
Sloth, or acedia, is one of the seven deadly sins in the Catholic Church, and is considered a capital sin because it is the basis of other sins. Sloth is defined as physical laziness and disinterest in spiritual matters, or neglecting spiritual growth.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes "acedia or spiritual sloth" as "the vice that desires ease, even at the expense of the will of God". It is a rejection of God's goodness and a refusal of the joy that comes from God. Sloth is understood to be a deliberate consent to the idea that human nature cannot cooperate with God's grace. It is also considered a sin of despair, where the sinner has lost hope in God and is not grateful.
The sin of sloth is not merely physical laziness, but a "sinful heart condition". It is a lack of motivation and enthusiasm, and can be caused by fear. Sloth is also associated with being so busy that one does not make time for what is truly important. This can manifest as being caught up in pointless, busy action.
To overcome sloth, one must focus on spiritual growth and pursuing God and goodness. This can be achieved through prayer, confession, and seeking spiritual guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
The capital sins, also referred to as the seven deadly sins, are pride, avarice/greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger/wrath, and sloth.
The capital sins are referred to as such not because they are necessarily worse than other sins but because they are the bases of other sins. They are considered the most dangerous because they engender other sins and vices.
Mortal sins are considered deadly and unforgivable, while venial sins are pardonable and much lighter than mortal sins.
The first Christian to write extensively about the deadly sins in Latin was Tertullian of Carthage, who died in 220. He was the first to enumerate the deadly sins as seven, a number that carries symbolic weight and has persisted to this day.
Pride is considered the most deadly sin because it is wholly self-centred, with the proud person caring about nothing and no one but themselves.