SINS
Preliminary Observations
1. What are the two great commandments?
The
first of the two great commandments is: "You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength."
(Deut 6:5). The second is like unto it: "You shall
love your neighbor as yourself." (Mk 12:31). Jesus said "The whole law and the
prophets depend on these two commandments". (Mt
22: 36-40). [2133*,
2083, 2196].
2. What is concupiscence?
Concupiscence
is the inclination to sin arising from inordinate appetites and desires within
us. [glossary,
1264, 1426, 2515].
3. What is grace?
Grace
is free and undeserved help that God gives us to overcome concupiscence and
respond to his call to become adopted children of God. [glossary,
1996].
Virtue and Sin
4. What is sin?
Sin
is an offense against God and right conscience.
[glossary, 1849, 1853-54].
5. What is mortal sin?
Mortal
sin involves grave matter which is committed with full knowledge and deliberate
consent. [1857].
6. What is conscience?
Conscience
is an interior voice which tells us the morality or sinfulness of concrete acts
which we perform. We are obliged to follow our conscience. [glossary, 1777-78].
7. What is a virtue?
A
virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do
good. [glossary,
1833*, 1804].
8. What is a vice?
A
vice is a habit acquired by repeated sin in violation of the moral code. [glossary,
1866].
Theological Virtues
9. What are the theological virtues?
The
theological virtues are gifts infused by God into the souls of the faithful to
make them capable of acting as his children, and of meriting eternal life. These three virtues are Faith, Hope and
Charity or Love. [glossary,
1840*-41*, 1812-13].
10. What is the theological virtue of faith?
By
faith we believe in God, all that he has revealed, and all that the Church
proposes for our belief. [1842*, 143,
1814-16].
11. What is the theological virtue of hope?
By hope we desire and expect from God both eternal life, and the grace we need to attain it. [glossary, 1843*,
1817-21].
12. What is the theological virtue of charity?
By
charity we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as
ourselves for the love of God. The
practice of all the virtues is animated and inspired by charity.
Cardinal Virtues
13. What are the cardinal virtues?
The
cardinal virtues are four pivotal human virtues (from the Latin cardo
"pivot") which are stable dispositions of the intellect and the will
that govern our acts, order our passions, and guide our conduct in accordance
with reason and faith. These virtues
are: prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. [glossary, 1834*,
1805].
14. What is the cardinal virtue of prudence?
Prudence
disposes a person to discern the good and choose the correct means to accomplish
it. It provides the immediate guidance
for the judgment of conscience. [glossary, 1835*, 1806].
15. What is the cardinal virtue of justice?
Justice
consists in the constant and firm will to give God and neighbor their due. [1836*, 1807].
16. What is the cardinal virtue of fortitude?
Fortitude
ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in doing good. Fortitude is also one of the seven gifts of
the Holy Spirit. [glossary,
1837*, 1808].
17. What is the cardinal virtue of temperance?
Temperance
moderates the attraction of pleasure, and provides balance in the use of
created goods. It ensures the mastery of
the will over instinct, and keeps natural desires within proper limits. [glossary, 1838*,
1809].
Capital Sins
18. What is a capital sin?
A
capital sin is one which engenders other sins.
[glossary, 1866].
19. What are the seven capital sins?
The seven capital sins are: pride, avarice, envy, anger, gluttony, lust
and sloth. [1866].
20. What is pride?
Pride
is undue self-esteem or self-love, which seeks attention and honor, and sets
oneself in competition with God. [glossary, 1866].
21. What is avarice?
Avarice
or covetousness is a disordered inclination or desire for pleasure or
possessions. Covetousness is forbidden by the ninth and tenth
commandments. [glossary,
2514, 2534].
22. What is envy?
Envy
is resentment or sadness at another's good fortune, and the desire to have it
for oneself. Envy is forbidden by the tenth commandment. [glossary,
2553*-54*, 2538-40].
23. What is anger?
Anger
is an emotion which is not wrong in itself, but which becomes sinful against
the fifth commandment when not controlled by reason. It can
harden into resentment and hate. [1765, 2262].
24. What is gluttony?
Gluttony
is overindulgence in food or drink.
[1866].
25. What is lust?
Lust
is the disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. [2351].
26. What is sloth?
Sloth,
laziness or acedia is a blameworthy lack of physical
or spiritual effort. [2094,
2733].
Gifts and Fruits of the Holy
Spirit
27. What are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The
seven gifts are permanent dispositions which make us predisposed to follow the
promptings of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel (right
judgment), piety (reverence), fortitude (courage) and fear of the Lord (wonder
and awe). They are named differently by
different sources. (Isa 11:1-3). [1845*,
1830-31].
28. What are the twelve fruits of the Holy
Spirit?.
The
twelve fruits are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the
"first fruits" of eternal glory: charity (love), joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, goodness,
modesty, and chastity.
Works of Mercy
29. What are works of mercy?
Works
of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbors in
their bodily and spiritual needs. [glossary, 2447].
30. What are the spiritual works of mercy?
The
spiritual works of mercy include instructing, advising, consoling, comforting,
forgiving, and bearing wrongs patiently. [glossary,
2447].
31. What are the corporal works of mercy?
The
corporal works of mercy include feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless,
clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the
dead. [2447].
Beatitudes
32. What are the Beatitudes?
Beatitudes
are teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount on the meaning and way to
true happiness. They shed light on actions and attitudes characteristic of the
Christian life. The eight beatitudes give blessings for: the poor in spirit,
those who mourn, the meek, those who crave justice,
the merciful, the pure of heart, the peace makers, and the persecuted. They are listed in the Appendix. (Mt
5:3-10). [glossary,
1716-17].