| PRIDE is putting self in the place of God as the center and objective of
our life, or of some department thereof. It is the refusal to recognize
our status as creatures, dependent on God for our existence, and placed
by him in a specific relationship to the rest of his creation.
Irreverence. Deliberate neglect of the worship of God every Sunday in
his Church, or being content with a perfunctory participation in it.
Disregard of other Holy Days or of additional opportunities for giving
God honor. Failure to thank God or to express our gratitude adequately.
Disrespect for God or holy things by deliberately treating them, in
thought, word, or deed, in a profane, contemptuous or over-familiar
manner. Use of holy things for personal advantage, or the attempt to
bribe or placate God by religious practices or promises.
Sentimentality. Being satisfied with pious feelings and beautiful
ceremonies without striving to obey God's will.
Presumption. Dependence on self rather than on God, with the consequent
neglect of the means of grace -- sacraments and prayer. Dispensation
of ourselves from ordinary duties on the grounds that we are superior
persons. Satisfaction or complacency over our spiritual acheivements.
Refusal to avoid, when possible, immediate occasions of temptation.
Preference for our own ideas, customs, schemes, or techniques. Foolish
optimism.
Failure to recognize our job as a divine vocation, or to offer our work
to God. Unwillingness to surrender to and abide in Christ, to let him
act in and through us. Failure to offer to God regularly in intercession
the persons or causes that have, or should enlist our interest and support.
Distrust. Refusal to recognize God's wisdom, providence, and love. Worry,
anxiety, misgivings, scrupulosity, or perfectionism. Attempts to discern
or control the future by spiritualism, astrology, fortune-telling or the
like. Magic or superstition.
Over-sensitiveness. Expectation that others will dislike, reject, or
mistreat us; over-readiness so to interpret their attitude, or quickness
to take offense. Unfounded suspicions.
Timidity in accepting responsibility, or cowardice in facing difficulty
or suffering. Surrender to feelings of depression, gloom, pessimism,
discouragement, self-pity, or fear of death, instead of fighting to be
brave, cheerful, and hopeful.
Disobedience. Rejection of God's known will in favor of our own interests
or pleasures. Disobedience of the legitimate (and therefore divinely
ordained) laws, regulations, or authority of the Church, state, husband,
parents, teachers, etc.; or slow and reluctant obedience. Failure when
in authority to fulfil responsibilities or to consider the best interests
of those under us.
Refusal to learn God's nature or will as revealed in Scripture, expounded
in instructions or expert advice, or discernible through prayer, meditation,
or the reading of religious books. Absorption in our own affairs, leaving
little time, energy, or interest for the things of God.
Violation of confidence. Breaking of legitimate promises or contracts.
Irresponsibility. Treachery. Unnecessary disappointment of another,
or the causing of shame or anxiety to those who love us.
Impenitence. Refusal to search out and face up to our sins, or to confess
and admit them before God. Disregard of our sins or pretense that we
are better than we are. Self-justification or discounting our sins as
insignificant, natural, or inevitable. Self-righteous comparison of
ourselves with others.
Refusal to accept just punishment or to make due reparation when possible.
Deceit or lying to escape the consequences of our sins, or allowing
another to suffer the blame for our faults. Overcompensation or attempts
at self-reform or self-vengeance, to avoid surrender to God in humble
penitence.
Shame (hurt pride), sorrow for ourselves because our sins make us less
respectable than we like to think we are, or because we fear punishment
or injury to our reputation, rather than sorrow for what sin is in the
eyes of God. Refusal to admit we were in the wrong or to apologize.
Refusal to accept forgiveness from God or others. Doubt that God can
forgive our sins, or failure to use the means of getting assurance of
his forgiveness when we need it. Unwillingness to forgive ourselves.
Vanity. Crediting to ourselves rather than to God our talents, abilities,
insights, accomplishments, good works. Refusal to admit indebtedness to
others, or adequately to express gratitude for their help. Hypocrisy.
Pretense to virtues we do not possess. False humility. Harsh judgments
on others for faults we excuse in ourselves.
Boasting, exaggeration, drawing attention to ourselves by talking too
much, by claiming ability, by eccentric or ostentation behaviour.
Undue concern over, or expenditure of time, money, or energy on looks,
dress, surroundings, etc., in order to impress others; or deliberate
slovenliness for the same purpose. Seeking, desiring, or relishing
flattery or compliments.
Arrogance. Insisting that others conform to our wishes, recognize our
leadership, accept our own estimate of our worth. Being overbearing,
argumentative, opinionated, obstinate.
Snobbery. Pride over race, family, position, personality, education,
skill, achievements, or possesions.
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| ANGER is open rebellion against God or our fellow creatures. Its purpose
and desire is to eliminate any obstacle to our self-seeking, to retaliate
against any threat to our security, to avenge any insult or injury to
our person.
Resentment. Refusal to discern, accept, or fulfil God's vocation.
Dissatisfaction with the talents, abilities, or opportunities he has
given us. Unwillingness to face up to difficulties or sacrifices.
Unjustified rebellion or complaint at the circumstances of our lives.
Escape from reality or the attempt to force our will upon it.
Transference to God, to our parents, to society, or to other
individuals of the blame for our maladjustment; hatred of God, or
antisocial behaviour. Cynicism. Annoyance at the contrariness of
things; profanity or grumbling.
Pugnacity. Attack upon another in anger. Murder in deed or desire.
Combativeness or nursing of grudges. Injury to another by striking,
cursing, or insulting him; or by damaging his reputation or property.
Quarrelsomeness, bickering, contradiction, nagging, rudeness, or
snubbing.
Retaliation. Vengeance for wrongs real or imagined, or the plotting
thereof. Harsh or excessive punishment. Hostility, sullenness or
rash judgment. Refusal to forgive, or to offer or accept reconciliation.
Unwillingness to love, to do good to, or to pray for enemies. Boycotting
or ostracizing another for selfish reasons. Spoiling others' pleasure
by uncooperativeness or disdain, because we have not got our way, or
because we feel out of sorts or superior.
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| ENVY is dissatisfaction with our place in God's order of creation,
manifested in begrudging his gifts and vocation to others.
Jealousy. Offense at the talents, success or good fortune of others.
Selfish or unnecessary rivalry or competition. Pleasure at others'
difficulties or distress. Belittling others.
Malice. Ill-will, false accusations, slander, backbiting. Reading
false motives into others' behaviour. Initiation, collection, or
retailing of gossip. Arousing, fostering or organizing antagonism
against others. Unnecessary criticism, even when true. Deliberate
annoyance of others, teasing or bullying.
Contempt. Scorn of another's virtue, ability, shortcomings, or failings.
Prejudice against those we consider inferior, or who consider us
inferior, or who seem to threaten our security or position. Ridicule
of persons, institutions, or ideals.
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| COVETOUSNESS is the refusal to respect the integrity of other creatures,
expressed in the inordinate accumulation of material things; in the
use of other persons for our personal advantage; or in the quest for
status, power, or security at their expense.
Inordinate Ambition. Pursuit of status, power, influence, reputation,
or possessions at the expense of the moral law, of other obligations,
or of the rights of others. Ruthless or unfair competition. Putting
self or family first. Conformity to standards we recognize as wrong
or inadequate in order to get ahead. Intrigue or conspiracy for
self-advancement.
Domination. Seeking to use or possess others. Overprotection of children;
refusal to correct or punish lest we lose their affection; insistence
that they conform to our ideal for them contrary to their own vocation.
Imposing our will on others by force, guile, whining, or refusal to
cooperate. Over-readiness to advise or command; abuse of authority.
Patronizing, pauperizing, putting others under a debt of gratitude, or
considering ourselves ill-used when others' affection or compliance is
not for sale.
Respect of persons, favoritism, partiality, flattery, fawning, or
bribery to win support or affection. Refusal to uphold the truth to
fulfil duties, to perform good acts, or to defend those wrongfully
attacked, because we fear criticism or ridicule, or because we seek to
gain the favor or approval of others. Leading, tempting, or encouraging
another to sin.
Avarice. Inordinate pursuit of wealth or material things. Theft,
dishonesty, misrepresentation, or sharing in stolen goods. Cheating
in business, taxes, school, or games. Making worldly success the goal
of our life or the standard for judging others.
Prodigality. Waste of natural resources or personal possessions.
Extravagance or living beyond our income, to impress others or to
maintain status. Failure to pay debts. Gambling more than we can
afford to lose, or to win unearned profits. Unnecessary borrowing
or carelessness with others' money. Expenditure on self of what is
needed for the welfare of others.
Penuriousness. Undue protection of wealth or security. Selfish
insistence on vested interests or on claimed rights. Refusal to
support or help those who have a claim on us. Sponging on others.
Stinginess. Failure to give due proportion of our income to Church
and charity, or of our time and energy to good works. Failure to pay
pledges promised to the Church or charities, when able to do so.
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| SLOTH is the refusal to respond to our opportunities for growth, service,
or sacrifice.
Laziness. Indolence in performing spiritual, mental, or physical duties,
or neglect of family, business, or social obligations or courtesies.
Procrastination of disliked tasks. Busyness or triviality to avoid
more important commitments. Devotion of excessive time to rest,
recreation, amusement, television, light reading, or the like. Waste
of employer's time, or shoddy or inadequate work.
Indifference. Unconcern over injustice to others, especially that caused
by currently accepted social standards; or unmindfulness of the suffering
of the world. Failure to become adequately informed on both sides of
contemporary issues or on the Christian principles involved. Neglect
of duties to state or community. Failure to provide adequately for,
or to treat justly those in our employ.
Ignoring of needy, lonely, or unpopular persons in our own or the
parish family, or in the neighborhood; or unwillingness to minister to
them. Insufficent attention to the religious and other needs of our
family. Failure to fulfil our obligations of Christian missionary
witness, or to take a full and informed part in the effort to make the
Church's unity and holiness a manifest reality on earth.
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| From the Catechetical Instructions of Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem [386]
If there are any slaves of sin here present, they should at once prepare
themselves through faith for the rebirth into freedom that makes us God's
adopted children. They should lay aside the wretchedness of slavery to
sin, and put on the joyful slavery of the lord, so as to be counted worthy
to inherit the kingdom of heaven. By acknowledging your sins you strip
away your former self, seduced as it is by destructive desires, and put on
the new self, renewed in the likeness of its Creator. Through faith you
receive the pledge of the Holy Spirit, so that you may be welcomed into the
everlasting dwelling places. Draw near, to be marked with the supernatural
seal, so that you may be easily recognized by your master. Become a member
of Christ's holy and spiritual flock, so that one day you may be set apart
on his right hand, and so gain the life prepared as your inheritance.
Those whose sins still cling to them like a goatskin will stand on his left
hand because they did not approach Christ's fountain of rebirth to receive
God's grace. By rebirth I mean, not rebirth of the body, but the spiritual
rebirth of the soul. Our bodies are brought into being by parents who can
be seen, but our souls are reborn through faith: "the Spirit breathes where
he wills." At the end, if you are made worthy, you may hear the words:
"Well done, good and faithful servant," when, that is, you are found with
no stain of hypocrisy on your conscience.
If any here present are thinking of putting God's grace to the test, they
are deceiving themselves, and they do not understand the nature of things.
You are but human; there is one who searches out human thoughts and hearts.
You must keep your soul innocent and free from deceit.
The present is a time for the acknowledgment of sins. Acknowledge what you
have done, in word or deed, by night or day. Acknowledge your sins at a
time of God's favor, and on the day of salvation you will receive the
treasures of heaven.
Wash yourself clean, so that you may hold a richer store of grace. Sins
are forgiven equally for all, but communion in the Holy Spirit is given in
the measure of each one's faith. If you have done little work, you will
receive little; if you have achieved a great deal, great will be your
reward. The race you are running is for you own advantage; look after
your own interests.
If you have a grudge against anyone, forgive that person. You are drawing
near to receive forgiveness for your own sins; you must yourself forgive
those who have sinned against you.
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