On Vice and Other Grave Sins

COMPENDIUM

Vice is a bad habit of the soul disposing us to flee what is good and to do what it evil, and it is brought about by the constant repetition of bad acts. The difference between a sin and a vice is that a sin is a passing act, while a vice is a bad habit which we have formed of falling into some kind of sin.

The vices which are called capital are seven in number:

1. Pride
2. Covetousness
3. Lust
4. Anger
5. Gluttony
6. Envy
7. Sloth

Capital vices are overcome by the practice of the contrary virtues. Thus, pride is overcome by humility; covetousness, by liberality; lust, by chastity; anger, by patience; gluttons, by abstinence; envy, by brotherly love; sloth, by diligence and fervor in the service of God.

These vices are called capital, because they are the origin and cause of many other vices and sins.

There are also six sins against the Holy Ghost:

1. Despair as to salvation.
2. Presumption that one may be saved without merits.
3. Resisting known truth.
4. Envy of the grace of others.
5. Obstinacy in sinning.
6. Final impenitence.

These sins are said to be specially against the Holy Ghost, because they are committed out of pure malignity, which is contrary to the goodness which is attributed to the Holy Ghost.

There are, further, four sins which are said to cry for vengeance to God:

1. Willful murder.
2. Sodomy.
3. Oppression of the poor.
4. Defrauding laborers of their wages.

These sins are said to cry for vengeance in the sight of God, because the Holy Ghost has said so, and because their iniquity is a serious and manifest thing, which provokes God to punish them with severe chastisements.

CATECHISM

959. What is a vice?

A vice is an evil disposition of the mind to shirk good and do evil, arising from the frequent repetition of evil acts.

960. What difference is there between a sin and a vice?

Between sin and vice there is this difference: that sin is a passing act, whereas vice is a bad habit, contracted by continually falling into some sin.

961. Which are the vices called capital?

The vices called capital are seven: Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Anger, Gluttony, Envy and Sloth.

962. How are the capital vices conquered?

The capital vices are conquered by the exercise of the opposite virtues: Thus, pride is conquered by humility; covetousness by liberality; lust by chastity; anger by patience; gluttony by abstinence; envy by brotherly love; sloth by diligence and fervor in the service of God.

963. Why are these vices called capital?

They are called capital because they are the head and fount of many other vices and sins (from Latin caput, i.e. "head").

964. How many are the sins against the Holy Ghost?

The sins against the Holy Ghost are six: 1. despairing of being saved; 2. presuming on being saved without merit; 3. opposing the known truth; 4. envying another's graces; 5. obstinately remaining in sin; 6. final impenitence.

965. Why are these sins specially said to be against the Holy Ghost?

These sins are specially said to be against the Holy Ghost, because they are committed through pure malice, which is contrary to goodness, the special attribute of the Holy Ghost.

966. Which are the sins that are said to cry to God for vengeance?

The sins that are said to cry to God for vengeance are these four: 1. willful murder; 2. the sin of sodomy; 3. oppression of the poor; 4. defrauding laborers of their wages.

967. Why are these sins said to cry to God for vengeance?

These sins are said to cry to God for vengeance, because the Holy Ghost says so, and because their iniquity is so great and so manifest that it provokes God to punish them with the severest chastisements.