UNIT 4: CALLED TO HOLINESS ○ Sins of inaction, whether in thought, word, or

deed, e.g. omitting to care for someone, like

A. Following Christ as the Primordial and Essential a child or against an elderly. Such sins
Foundation of Christian Morality constitute sin against God and against our
neighbor.
1. Man as Disfigured by Sin
Vice Gravity of Sin: Mortal and Venial Sin
● A settled habit caused by sinful action which ● Not all sins are equal. Saint Thomas agrees with the
disposes to further sinful action. distinction of mortal and venial sin that the church still
● Vice happens in us when we follow the inclination of teaches today.
our animal nature against the order of our reason.
● We were created to be men and women following our ● Mortal Sins
reason because our reason is to be aligned with the ○ Those sins that turn us directly away from
reality that is created and sustained by God who is God.
truth, goodness, and love itself. ○ When we choose something serious with full
● We become enamored with vice and imprisoned to intent and freedom in place of God as our
vice when we commit sin routinely in one or two areas highest and best good.
of our life. These are the temptations we face. ○ Takes away the very principle of order
● Our temptations are all individualized according to our ○ Destroys/cuts off our relationship with God
carnal dispositions, e.g., others are more tempted to ○ Brings about the death of the soul
gluttony, others to the sins of the flesh. etc.
● Vice is the condition St. Paul is referring to when he Three Conditions for a Sin to be Mortal:
said. “I do not do the good that I want to do, but I do Grave matter:
the very evil that I hate. Romans 7:19 - As specified by the Ten Commandments, “Do not kill,
● The person stuck in a vice continues to sin and Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, do not bear
justifies that sin. But when you are living in grace, false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and
grace frees you to see your vice clearly and to see your mother” CCC 1858.
that it must go. Full knowledge:
● Routine sins develop vice within us. - It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of
the act, of its opposition to God’s law.
Definition of Sin Complete consent
● Inordinate action that discords with truth and - It implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a
goodness in its intention, object, and circumstances. choice, i.e., we freely and under no duress choose to
● Every sin for Saint Thomas is an inordinate act. do the evil.
● An act that is not properly ordered nor lined up
with the reality of truth and goodness in its ● Venial Sins
intention, object, and its circumstances. ○ One commits venial sin when:
● In general, sin is failure to live the Great ○ In a less serious matter, he does not observe
Commandment to love God, others, and self. the standard prescribed by the moral law.
● The Confiteor, which we pray at the beginning of the ○ He disobeys the moral law in a grave
Mass, offers us a good description of sin: matter but without full knowledge or
● “I confess to Almighty God and to you, my brothers without complete consent.
and sisters (a recognition that sin is not only an ○ We are not turned away from God when we
offense against God but it also wounds the Body of sin venially, but we are just slightly off in
Christ and our church community), that I have sinned some choice that doesn’t keep us away from
through my own fault (I take responsibility for the God but keeps us from going straightaway to
wrong I have done), in my thoughts and in my words, God.
in what I have done (sins of commission), and in what ○ E.g., for Saint Thomas, every lie that we
I have failed to do (sins of omission).” speak are at least venial sins, even if you lie
because you are afraid to tell the truth or
Distinctions in the ways that we Sin because you are afraid to hurt someone
● We can sin against God, our neighbor, and ourselves. else’s feelings. You may have a good
● Some sins are sins of thought, some sins are sins of intention there, but the activity of lying is
word, some are sins of deed. always wrong for Saint Thomas.
○ All sins should be avoided for it weakens
● Sins of Commission our relationship with God.
○ Sins of action, whether in thought, word, or ○ Ignoring venial sin is like ignoring a minor
deed. cancer that can become a serious one.
● Sins of Omission “Deliberate and unrepented venial sin
 disposes us little by little to commit mortal ● Reorientation of one’s life to Christ who is made the
sin” (CCC 1863) center and model of one’s life.
○ We know the truth of this statement as we
consider how a gradual neglect of a Christ Our Model (VS 20)
relationship can eventually lead to divorce. ● Jesus asks us to follow him and to imitate him along
the path of love, a love which gives itself completely
The Proliferation of Sin to the brethren out of love for God: "This is my
● Sin creates a proclivity to sin; it engenders vice by commandment, that you love one another as I have
repetition of the same acts. loved you" (Jn 15:12).
● The word "as" requires imitation of Jesus and of his
● Capital Sins love, of which the washing of feet is a sign. Jesus'
○ They are called “capital” because they way of acting and his words, his deeds and his
engender other sins, other vices. precepts constitute the moral rule of Christian life.
○ The list comes from the writings of St. John ● The word "as" also indicates the degree of Jesus'
Cassian and St. Gregory. love, and of the love with which his disciples are
○ The seven capital sins are pride, avarice called to love one another.
(greed), envy, wrath, sloth, lust, gluttony. ● After saying: "This is my commandment, that you love
one another as I have loved you" (Jn 15:12), Jesus
Sins that Cry to Heaven (CCC, 1867): continues with words which indicate the sacrificial gift
● The blood of Abel of his life on the Cross, as the witness to a love "to the
● The cry of the oppressed in Egypt end" (Jn 13:1): "Greater love has no man than this,
● The sin of the Sodomites that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Jn 15:13).
● The cry of the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan ● This is what Jesus asks of everyone who wishes to
● Injustice to the wage earner follow him: "If any man would come after me, let him
deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mt
Sin is a Personal Act (CCC, 1868) 16:24).
● We have a responsibility for the sins committed by
others when we cooperate in them: Call to Holiness
● By participating directly and voluntarily in them. ● By asking us to follow him, Jesus is inviting all of
● By ordering, advising, praising, or approving them. us to become saints, no less.
● By not disclosing or hindering them when we have an ● Holiness or Sanctity can be achieved by following
obligation to do so. Jesus faithfully in our daily life, in all its trials and
● By protecting evil doers. challenges “taking up our crosses daily”
● Holiness is loving God and loving our neighbor.
Structures of Sin (CCC, 1869)
● Sin gives rise to social situations and institutions that Conversion does not happen overnight:
are contrary to the divine goodness. ● It is a particular act
● Structures of sin are the expression and effect of ● A lifelong process
personal sins. ● A daily event
● They lead their victims to do evil in their turn.
● In an analogous sense, they constitute a social sin. The Holy Spirit and Grace
→ Forms of poverty ● Conversion is God’s gift .
- Poverty in spirit ○ It happens through help of the Holy Spirit.
- Poverty of the soul ○ However, God also needs our cooperation:
- Material poverty “God Who created us without us will not
save us without us” St. Augustine of Hippo

2. Conversion and Holiness Conversion and Prayer

Conversion ● For us to grow in grace, we need to pray always
● In the Synoptics, John the Baptist calls people to especially to the Holy Spirit.
conversion and repentance. ● We need to train ourselves to listen to his promptings
● Actual Greek word : Metanoia in our conscience and to obey his guidance in our life.
● Luke 5:32: Jesus proclaims: “I have come to call not ● In every moment of life let us say, Come, Holy Spirit!
the righteous but sinners.”

Metanoia
● Total change or turn of heart.
● Turning away from sin and turning towards God.
● An experience of being in love with God without
reservations.