Seven Deadly SinsSeven Deadly Sins

By C. WallaceBy C. Wallace

Seven Deadly SinsSeven Deadly Sins

Also known as the Also known as the capital vices capital vices or or cardinal sinscardinal sins

They were enumerated in their They were enumerated in their present form by Thomas Aquinas in present form by Thomas Aquinas in the 13the 13thth century. century.

They were first derived from the They were first derived from the eight evil thoughts as described by eight evil thoughts as described by Greek monastic theologian Evagrius Greek monastic theologian Evagrius of Pontus.of Pontus.

Eight Thoughts of EvilEight Thoughts of Evil

GluttonyGluttony FornicationFornication Love of MoneyLove of Money DiscontentDiscontent AngerAnger DespondencyDespondency VaingloryVainglory PridePride

From Eight to SevenFrom Eight to Seven

St. John Cassian in his “Conferences” St. John Cassian in his “Conferences” describes the eight principal vices as describes the eight principal vices as gluttony, fornication, avarice, anger, gluttony, fornication, avarice, anger, sadness, acedia (anxiety), vainglory, sadness, acedia (anxiety), vainglory, and pride.and pride.

It was not until the 6It was not until the 6thth century that century that St. Gregory the Great (then Pope St. Gregory the Great (then Pope Gregory I) described the seven sins Gregory I) described the seven sins in his in his Moralia in JobMoralia in Job..

Ranking of SinsRanking of Sins

St. Gregory the Great ranked the sins St. Gregory the Great ranked the sins in seriousness based on the degree in seriousness based on the degree from which they offended against love.from which they offended against love.

It was from least serious to most: It was from least serious to most: LustLust GluttonyGluttony Sadness (would later be replaced by Sadness (would later be replaced by

sloth)sloth) AvariceAvarice AngerAnger EnvyEnvy PridePride

The Seven Deadly Sins The Seven Deadly Sins (present day)(present day)

LustLust GluttonyGluttony GreedGreed SlothSloth WrathWrath EnvyEnvy Pride (the worst)Pride (the worst)

Each sinEach sin……

Is a particular way of failing to love Is a particular way of failing to love God with all one’s resources and to God with all one’s resources and to love fellows as much as self.love fellows as much as self.

In 1589, Peter Binsfeld paired each of In 1589, Peter Binsfeld paired each of the deadly sins with a demon who the deadly sins with a demon who tempted people by means of the tempted people by means of the associated sin.associated sin.

LustLust

Deals with fornicationDeals with fornication Unlawful sexual desireUnlawful sexual desire Desiring relations with someone Desiring relations with someone

outside of marriage.outside of marriage. Demon: AsmodeusDemon: Asmodeus

GluttonyGluttony

Wasting of food either through Wasting of food either through overindulgence in food, drink or overindulgence in food, drink or intoxicantsintoxicants

Misplaced desire for food for its Misplaced desire for food for its sensualitysensuality

Withholding food from the needyWithholding food from the needy Dante: Excessive love of pleasureDante: Excessive love of pleasure Demon: Beelzebub (lord of flies)Demon: Beelzebub (lord of flies)

GreedGreed

A desire to possess more than one A desire to possess more than one has need or use for (avarice)has need or use for (avarice)

Demon: MammonDemon: Mammon

SlothSloth

LazinessLaziness Idleness and wastefulness of time Idleness and wastefulness of time

allottedallotted It is condemned becauseIt is condemned because

Others have to work harderOthers have to work harder You are putting off what God wants you to You are putting off what God wants you to

do or not doing it at alldo or not doing it at all It is disadvantageous for oneself because It is disadvantageous for oneself because

useful work does not get doneuseful work does not get done It is like gluttony, a sin of wasteIt is like gluttony, a sin of waste Demon: BelphegorDemon: Belphegor

WrathWrath

Inappropriate (unrighteous) feelings Inappropriate (unrighteous) feelings of hatred, revenge or even denial, as of hatred, revenge or even denial, as well as punitive desires outside of well as punitive desires outside of justicejustice

Anger and hateAnger and hate Demon: SatanDemon: Satan

EnvyEnvy

JealousyJealousy Resentment of others for their Resentment of others for their

possessionspossessions Demon: LeviathanDemon: Leviathan

PridePride

Vanity, NarcissismVanity, Narcissism A desire to be important or attractive A desire to be important or attractive

to others or excessive love of selfto others or excessive love of self Demon: LuciferDemon: Lucifer The worst of the 7 sinsThe worst of the 7 sins

Opposite of the Sins: 7 Opposite of the Sins: 7 VirtuesVirtues

ChastityChastity ModerationModeration CharityCharity ZealZeal MeeknessMeekness GenerosityGenerosity HumilityHumility Source Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sinsSource Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins