
The concept of sin and its consequences is a complex and multifaceted topic within Catholic theology, and the question of what constitutes a mortal sin that leads to damnation in Hell is a subject of much debate and contemplation. While the 7 deadly sins are well-known, the understanding and interpretation of these sins and their spiritual antidotes, the 7 virtues, are just as important. The idea of sin and its impact on salvation is a central tenet of Catholic belief, and understanding these sins and their consequences is crucial for adherents.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Mortal sins | Apostasy, adultery, anger, envy, hatred, blasphemy, cheating, fraud, heresy, murder, subornation, abortion, euthanasia, suicide, contraception, homosexuality, incest, masturbation, polygamy, porn, prostitution, rape, skipping Mass |
Deadly sins | Pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony, lust |
What You'll Learn
Apostasy
In the Catholic tradition, apostasy is considered a grave sin because it involves a willful rejection of God and a turning away from His grace. It is seen as a violation of the First Commandment, which instructs followers to "have no other gods before Me." Apostasy is often associated with blasphemy, which is also considered a mortal sin.
According to Catholic doctrine, committing a mortal sin severs one's relationship with God and can lead to eternal damnation if not repented. However, the Church also teaches that God's grace is always available for those who seek forgiveness and are truly sorry for their sins. As such, even those who have committed apostasy can be forgiven and reconciled with God through sincere repentance and confession.
It is important to note that the Catholic Church makes a distinction between personal apostasy and universal apostasy. Personal apostasy refers to an individual or group breaking away from the Church, while universal apostasy refers to the idea that the entire Church has been destroyed or has fallen into error. The Church teaches that while personal apostasy is possible, universal apostasy is impossible due to the promise of Christ that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church.
Additionally, the Catholic Church considers itself to be the true and unbroken continuation of the Church established by Jesus Christ, and thus rejects the idea of a "Great Apostasy" as proposed by some Protestant and Mormon denominations. The Church points to its long history, apostolic succession, and the ongoing presence of sacraments as evidence of its continuity and authenticity.
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Anger, Envy and Hatred
Envy is also considered a deadly sin in Catholic theology. It is defined as resentment or sadness at another's good fortune or excellence, accompanied by an insatiable desire to have it for oneself. Envy is considered more than simple jealousy as it involves the belief that another's excellence or blessings lessen one's own, which can lead to a desire to destroy another's good fortune. Envy is believed to be toxic to happiness and can manifest in two ways: material envy and spiritual envy. Material envy involves resentment towards others who possess more material goods, such as money, talent, or beauty. Spiritual envy, which is considered more evil, involves resentment towards the spiritual goodness of others or those who have progressed further in holiness.
Hatred is considered a sin in Catholicism when it takes the form of odium inimicitiae, or hostility, which involves a direct violation of the precept of charity. This type of hatred aims directly at the person, focusing on what is evil and unlovable in them, and desires that their life be filled with hardship. However, another form of hatred, odium abominationis, or loathing, is not considered sinful when it involves the reprobation of what is actually evil or contrary to the moral law.
Anger, envy, and hatred are considered sins in Catholicism, particularly when they lead to harmful actions or a desire to inflict harm on others. These emotions can disrupt one's relationship with God and, if not repented, may lead to damnation in Catholic belief.
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Blasphemy
There are three types of blasphemy: heretical, imprecatory, and contumelious. Heretical blasphemy involves making declarations against faith, such as "God is cruel and unjust". Imprecatory blasphemy cries a malediction upon the Supreme Being, such as saying "Away with God". Contumelious blasphemy is wholly made up of contempt of, or indignation towards, God. An example of this is the blasphemy of Julian the Apostate: "Thou hast conquered, O Galilaean".
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Cheating and Fraud
Fraud is defined as an act or course of deception practised to gain a wrong and unfair advantage. It is considered a sin because it goes against sincerity, straightforward conduct, and justice. In the context of contracts, fraud can make a contract null and void if one party is led into a mistake about what belongs to its substance. For example, if a dealer offers a piece of coloured glass as a valuable ruby and induces a customer to pay a large sum, the contract is invalid due to a lack of consent.
Cheating, in the context of adultery, is considered a sin because it violates chastity and is an injustice to the lawful spouse. Adultery is defined as carnal connection between a married person and someone unmarried, or between a married person and the spouse of another. It is differentiated from fornication, which does not suppose the marriage of either of the agents. Adultery is also differentiated from sodomy, which is considered a sin even between a lawful man and wife.
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Murder
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines murder as "grave matter", which is one of the three conditions that must be met for a sin to be considered mortal. The other two are "full knowledge" and "deliberate consent". Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, which include "do not kill". The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft.
The Catechism also points out that "one must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger". Additionally, the circumstances surrounding a murder are important. For example, the Catechism explains that "the gravity of a lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who lies, and the harm suffered by its victims".
In the Bible, one of the first stories is that of Cain killing Abel. Murder has been around since the beginning of time and remains one of the most shocking and awful actions within our world.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "the fifth commandment forbids direct and intentional killing as gravely sinful". However, it is important to note that there is a distinction between killing and murdering. Killing is permitted in certain cases, such as legitimate self-defense, protection of society, and capital punishment.
While murder is considered a mortal sin, it is important to recognize that repentance is always possible. As a mortal sin, murder "destroys in us the charity without which eternal beatitude is impossible. Unrepented, it brings eternal death". However, through sincere repentance and God's forgiveness, it is possible to restore one's relationship with God.
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Frequently asked questions
The 7 deadly sins are pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust.
Mortal sins are those that are so offensive to God that they constitute apostasy, effectively telling God, "I'm not following Jesus; I prefer something else." Venial sins are less severe, but still degrade our relationship with God, especially when committed repeatedly.
Mortal sins include apostasy, blasphemy, heresy, murder, abortion, suicide, and subornation, among others.
Catholics believe that God can and does forgive all sins. If you commit a mortal sin, you can repent and be forgiven. However, if you never repent and die with a mortal sin on your soul, you will be separated from God and sent to hell.