It was Pope St. Gregory the Great (590-604), together with John Cassian or Cassianus, who established the seven deadly sins, which were later named by the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
They come from concupiscence, which is the inclination of human nature towards sin stemming from original sin.
The term "capital" is used to designate them because these sins give rise to many others. Generating other sins and other vices.
God gives us all the graces and more than we need to overcome temptation.
The deadly sins are listed by St. Thomas (I-II:84:4) as seven:
It consists of an undue self-esteem, or self-love, that seeks attention and honor and puts oneself in antagonism to God. Catechism Catholic Church 1866
Inordinate inclination or desire for pleasures or possessions. This cardinal sin is forbidden by the ninth and tenth commandments. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2514, 2534)
Disordered desire for sexual pleasure. Sin against the Sixth Commandment. It is an offense against the virtue of chastity.
It is an explosion of self-love. We feel hurt, marginalized, powerless, and we resort to violence to defend our supposed rights. A feeling of anger aroused by a real or apparent harm.
Vice with which we are more indulgent. Although we are more aware than ever of the havoc that excesses, both in food and alcoholic beverages, wreak on our organism.
Resentment or sadness for someone's good fortune, along with the inordinate desire to possess it. It is one of the seven deadly sins. It is opposed to the tenth commandment. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2539)
Guilty lack of physical or spiritual effort; acedia, idleness. It is one of the deadly sins. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1866, 2094, 2733)
Keep in mind the deadly sins and contrary virtues
The seven contrary virtues listed in the catechism are elements to know how to face the temptation of committing one of the seven deadly sins.
In addition to these virtues, which are contrary to the capital sins. Every Christian also has three theological virtues such as Faith, Hope and Charity. Along with these, we can also mention prudence, fortitude, justice and temperance; habits that dispose the understanding and the will to act according to the judgment of reason enlightened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Everything we have is a gift from God. The humble man does not aspire to the personal greatness that the world admires because he has discovered that being a child of God is a far superior value. He goes after other treasures. He sees himself and his neighbor before God. He is thus free to esteem and to devote himself to love and service.
Give gladly of one's own to the poor and those in need. St. Paul calls it idolatry and declares that the greedy will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Covetousness makes us hard on the poor, indifferent to the goods of heaven, and even incites us at times to take possession of the goods of others.
In the past, the church used to call it titheToday we simply call it generosity. When we learn to share what we have with others, even when we do it with people we do not know and will never know, we feel closer to God and to ourselves. Because helping those in need can give you back much more than you give.
It is the virtue that governs and moderates the desire for sexual pleasure according to the principles of faith and reason.
Through chastity the person acquires mastery of his or her sexuality and is able to integrate it into a healthy personality, in which the love of God reigns over all.
"If you look for an example of patience you will find the best of them in the cross. Two things are what give us the measure of patience: to suffer great evils patiently, or to suffer, without shunning them, evils that could be avoided. Now Christ on the cross suffered great evils and bore them patiently, for in his passion "he uttered no threatening; like a lamb led to the slaughter, he was silent and opened not his mouth." (Acts 8:32). St. Thomas Aquinas. Exposition on the Creed.
Moderation in eating and drinking. It is one of the contrary virtues that overcomes the capital sin of gluttony.
It leads to avoid all kinds of excess, abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco and medicines.
The third and principal of the Theological Virtues. Charity is the love of God dwelling in the heart.
One way to act with charity is to keep in mind the works of mercy, which are charitable actions through which we help our neighbor in his corporal and spiritual needs.
Prontitude of mind to do good. It helps us against the excessive taste for rest, which neglects our duties. It helps us to impose ourselves with effort.
In the Bible the capital sins do not appear as such. But there are a variety of references about them.
Sin separates us from God and prevents His purposes from being fulfilled in us. We all have struggles. Whether it is one of the seven deadly sins or any other, it causes us to battle against our sinful nature. But God has given us the tools to overcome it. We can approach God in prayer, with an attitude of humility and repentance. We must make a good examination of conscience and approach God to receive the sacraments. God never rejects a heart that recognizes that it has failed. Attending mass and meet Him again.
Because when we humbly place ourselves before God, he receives us, forgives us and restores us. He fills us with His Holy Spirit and helps us to live in holiness by showing His love.
With the collaboration of:
Opurdei.org
Catholicism of the Catholic Church
Bible.net
