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The 7 Catholic Deadly Sins – History of the 7 Catholic Deadly Sins and How to Avoid Them
The Catholic Church teaches that committing a capital sin opens the door to other sins that can cause one to go against God’s divine laws as listed in the Ten Commandments.
Depending on the type of capital sin a member commits, an individual may break one or more of God’s laws.
The Catholic Church considers the seven deadly sins to be the most serious sins that members of the Church and humanity as a whole can commit against God.
Furthermore, the seven deadly sins are also called mortal sins because the Church believes that they lead to the death of the soul.
Catholicism teaches that those who die without confessing their mortal sins will be subjected to endless pain and torment in hell.
Through sacramental confession, members of the Catholic Church can show remorse for sins they have committed.
According to Catholic teachings, sacramental confession was established by Jesus Christ to show his love for humanity. As such, it is only through Christ that one can obtain salvation after committing a capital sin.
One of the primary duties of the Catholic Church is to teach its members the seven cardinal sins and how they can be avoided.
It is said that those who choose to commit one or more of the capital sins have deliberately turned away from God. As a result, they will not only turn away from God, but will also lose His favor and grace.
History of the 7 Catholic Deadly Sins
To better understand how the Catholic Church established the 7 deadly sins, it is important to review the history of the church and how the first sin was committed.
Being one of the oldest religious institutions in the world, the history of the Catholic Church can be traced back as far as 2,000 years ago, when it began in Judea.
However, Christianity and other religions teach that sin has been in the world since the moment Adam and Eve decided to disobey God. Commonly known as original sin, Catholicism teaches that this act of disobedience doomed humanity from the beginning.
According to Catholic beliefs, each of the cardinal sins can be directly related to Adam and Eve’s disobedience in one way or another.
It follows from this that sin has existed even before the first religion was founded. This also applies to the seven cardinal sins and the Catholic Church, since the sins were coined before the emergence of the early Roman Catholic Church.
Origins of the 7 deadly sins
The coinage and dissemination of the teachings of the seven deadly vices can be attributed to devout religious scholars such as Ponticus, St. Gregory the Great, and St. Thomas Aquinas.
However, other people such as the famous poet Geoffrey Chaucer also played a special role in promoting the teachings.
Ponticus
– The origins of the seven cardinal sins date back to the 4th century, when Ponticus, an early Christian monk, wrote a list of attributes that he considered unacceptable before God and the Christian religion.
– It is not clear how Ponticus arrived at each of the eight points he listed, but it is believed that he based his arguments on what the Bible says about certain human behaviors and how they come to be.
– Over time, Ponticus’ ideas spread throughout the monastery and other regions. The term mortal sin was first used in the 6th century, when Pope Gregory I rewrote the ideas Ponticus had previously propounded.
Saint Gregory the Great
– Saint Gregory the Great tried to explain the consequences that would befall those who committed the seven deadly vices.
– As the bishop of the time, Gregory I played a crucial role in helping the faithful of the early Roman Catholic Church understand the meaning of each cardinal sin.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
-Saint Thomas Aquinas reworked Ponticus’ list by removing and adding some of the elements that he considered appropriate for the Catholic Church.
– As Aquinas states in his book, The Summa Theologica, “The capital vices are those that give rise to others, especially by way of a final cause.”
Geoffrey Chaucer
– The teachings of the seven deadly vices gained popularity after Geoffrey Chaucer published the revised list in his book The Canterbury Tales during the 14th century.
Catholicism: Summary of the 7 deadly sins
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains the seven deadly sins based on the biblical teachings they oppose.
1. Pride
According to the teachings of Saint Thomas Aquinas on the seven deadly sins, all sins are a manifestation of pride.
Those who are proud have an excessive view and love for themselves. They tend to consider others as less important and attribute their achievements to their efforts and not to God.
Catholics have several Bible verses that show that God likes those who are excessively proud. Furthermore, the Church teaches that the only way to overcome pride is to be humble. One such teaching is found in the book of James 4:6-10.
2. Lust
Lust is a psychological phenomenon that leads an individual to have an excessive desire to possess or have something.
In explaining lust, Catholicism views it as the desire for sexual pleasures. As such, adherents are expected to treat members of the opposite sex with the utmost respect.
That being said, viewing other people as mere sexual objects can cause one to commit the sin of lust.
In the book of Matthew 5:28, the Bible states that “…. anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
This clearly shows how capital sins can give rise to other sins. In this case, adultery, which is a sin in itself, has arisen as a result of lust.
Catholics believe that chastity can overcome all forms of lust.
3. Greed
Greed, also known as avarice, is the uncontrolled desire to obtain material things.
Catholicism and other denominations of Christianity teach that greed can affect how one relates to God and the Church.
Those who are controlled by greed pay more attention to how they can obtain more wealth, which means they have no time to serve God or grow spiritually.
Catholicism teaches its members that the only way to avoid covetousness is to be content. Furthermore, the Bible encourages Christians to be content with what they have, as highlighted in the book of Hebrews 13:5.
4. Gluttony
Gluttony refers to the excessive consumption of food and alcohol. Catholics believe that excessive eating or drinking is a sin against God and the Church.
Furthermore, the church encourages its members to have good eating habits as this will help them avoid the sin of gluttony.
Catholics and other denominations use the book of Proverbs 23:19-21 to teach their followers that God is against gluttony of any kind. As such, Catholics are taught to practice temperance when handling alcoholic beverages and food.
5. Anger/rage
Anger can be defined as hostility towards other people. It can arise when someone hurts you or does something you don’t like.
The Catholic Church classifies anger as a cardinal sin because it can lead to other sins such as murder, theft, revenge, etc.
Furthermore, God commands members of the Church to refrain from anger, as it leads to evil (Psalm 37:8).
Through the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church encourages followers to be meek when faced with anger-provoking situations.
6. Envy
Envy is the inexplicable desire to have something that belongs to another person. It can be material possessions, skills, jobs, etc.
Catholics use biblical teachings such as that of Cain and Abel to explain how envy can lead to jealousy and murder. In this story, Cain killed his brother because he envied the sacrifices Abel offered to God.
One of the main teachings about envy used in Christianity is found in the book of Proverbs 14:30. The verse shows how God views those who are envious of other people.
Furthermore, the Bible teaches that Lucifer envied God’s creation, and that is why he was expelled from heaven.
Having love for others and being content are some of the effective ways through which Catholics overcome envy.
7. Laziness
Sloth or acedia can be termed as the inability to perform certain religious tasks due to laziness.
In the Catholic Church, it can be used to describe people who postpone prayer or who do not attend Mass without any valid reason.
Several books of the Bible show that God does not like it when people become lazy. These references are found in Proverbs 12:24, Colossians 3:23, and many more.
Final verdict
Catholicism teaches that the 7 deadly sins must be avoided by all means, as they separate members from the Church of God. In addition, the Catholic Church encourages its faithful to avoid situations that may lead them to incur in capital vices.
Furthermore, the seven deadly sins can give rise to other sins, and that is precisely why the Catholic Church teaches its members how to counteract each sin before it manifests itself in another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Catholic priests absolve capital sins?
Through the sacrament of penance, the Pope allows Catholic priests to remit mortal sins.
Is there an unforgivable sin in the Catholic Church?
Catholicism teaches that the only unforgivable sin is to die without confessing mortal sins.
Can priests forgive sins without contrition?
According to Catholic teachings, there is no absolution without contrition.
