THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS

Looking for Love

in the Wrong Places

Mother of Sorrows Church – Lent 2015

The Seven Deadly Sins,

also known as the capital vices

or cardinal sins, is a classification of

vices (a part of Christian ethics)

that has been used since early Christian

times to educate and instruct Christians

concerning fallen humanity's

tendency to sin.

In the currently recognized version,

the sins are usually given as

wrath, greed, sloth, pride,

lust, envy, and gluttony.

Each is a form of “Idolatry-of-Self” – or

narcissism.

Biblical Lists

Proverbs 6:16-19Among the verses traditionally associated with King

Solomon, it states that the Lord specifically regards

"six things the Lord hates, and seven that are an

abomination to Him", namely:

1.A proud look (haughty eyes)

2.A lying tongue

3.Hands that shed innocent blood

4.A heart that devises wicked plots

5.Feet that are swift to run to evil

6.A deceitful witness that utters lies

7.The one that sows discord among kindred

Biblical Lists

Galatians 5:19-21

“The works of the flesh are obvious:

immorality, impurity, licentiousness,

idolatry, sorcery, hatreds

rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury,

acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions,

occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies,

and the like.”

History

4th century monk Evagrius Ponticus listed eight evil thoughts in Greek:

Γαστριμαργία (gastrimargia) gluttony

Πορνεία (porneia) prostitution, fornication

Φιλαργυρία (philargyria) avarice

Ὑπερηφανία (hyperēphania) inordinate self-esteem

Λύπη (lypē) sadness envy, sadness at another's

good fortune

Ὀργή (orgē) wrath

Κενοδοξία (kenodoxia) boasting

Ἀκηδία (akēdia) acedia dejection

History

Acedia (sloth)

Gula (gluttony)

Fornicatio (fornication, lust)

Avaritia (avarice/greed)

Superbia (hubris, pride)

• Tristitia (sorrow/despair/despondecy)

Ira (wrath)

Vanagloria (vainglory)

John Cassian

The 1997 Catechism of the Catholic Church #1866 ff. lists the sins as:

"pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth/acedia“

Each of the seven deadly sins now also has an opposite

among corresponding seven holy virtues sometimes

also referred to as the contrary virtues:

Pride : Humility

Greed : Simplicity

Wrath : Contentment

Luxury : Peace

Gluttony : Moderation

Envy : Joy

Sloth : Strength/Courage

History

Pride

The term is derived from the Greek mythology of Narcissus.

Narcissus was a handsome Greek youth who rejected the desperate

advances of the nymph Echo. As punishment, he was doomed to fall in love

with his own reflection in a pool of water. Unable to consummate his love,

Narcissus pined away and changed into the flower that bears his name, the

narcissus.

Pride

Hubris

Egotism

Narcissism

The Sin of Pride

Superbia: “aiming at what is above”

vs. healthy self-respect and elation of one’s

achievements/good fortune

Genesis 11:1-9 – Tower of Babel – compare with

Acts 2:1-13

Matthew 23 Denunciation of (Pride of) the Scribes and

Pharisees

Luke 18:10-13 – Pharisee and Publican at prayer

Pope Gregory the Great – 4 species of proud persons

Pride

Personality Disorder/Dysfunction?

Superiority Complex

The behaviors of Pride

Pride

Questions for Reflection

What is the difference between healthy

self-esteem and the sin of pride?

When does competition “cross the line?”

How does humility differ from low self-esteem?

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS

Looking for Love

in the Wrong Places

Mother of Sorrows Church – Lent 2015