- Feb 5, 2002
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I can imagine that in this day and age, society as a whole has become somewhat desensitized to sin. One only needs to look at the television programming that dominates the "prime time" slots to see that some behavior is readily acceptable. Showtime gives us the visual gem known as "Queer as Folk" which mainstreams homosexuality. Shows like Survivor and its ilk show us that selfish-ness is the norm and the ends quite often justify the means. Game shows like "Do You Want to Be a Millionaire?" continually coax us into a "somethings ARE for free" mentality. Not to mention the spin-off "Do You Want to Marry a Millionaire?" which totally mocked the sacrament of marriage. And I haven't even touched on the showing of gratuitous violence (just check your local news) or sexual depravity (Tempation Island).
With sin becoming so en vogue how can we expect society to understand right from wrong nowadays? On September 11th, 2001 the United States was outraged and shocked by the atrocities that occurred, and well they should have. Yet a far greater holocaust occurs daily in the abortion clinics and hardly a person makes a sound. So when I look at our society today, I can only notice that we are slowly losing our perception of what is right, just, and moral as opposed to what is wrong, unjust, and immoral.
Nevermind that we're just talking about mortal sins here.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 1863, it states:
It is my perception that people quite often nowadays ignore venial sins, simply because we either cannot recognize them anymore or we fail to recognize the inherent seriousness of any and all sin. I believe we are very good at rationalizing away the importance of these sins, though the Catholic Church is quite adamant in her warning to us that venial sin can and does open the door to mortal sin. Since venial sin appears to be the acceptable societal standard for today, since venial sin seems to be demanded of us by our peers, surely it isn't wrong... is it?
Oh you better believe it's still wrong. Morality is an absolute, the bar is not raised or lowered depending on society. In other words: The bar has been permanently fixed by God. It is something we are called, as Christians, to strive to obtain. And if we cannot obtain it, we are called to seek God's help in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ.
But do we do that? How many times do we as Catholics, partake of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (ie: Penance / Confession) and repeat the same venial sins time after time? If we continually commit these offenses, are we really taking steps to rectify these faults?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 1451, states:
Allow me to emphasize the last parts of that paragraph... "...detestation for the sin committed..." which means that that particular sin that we have just confessed should go on our "I should watch out for this particular sin and avoid performing it at all costs." and "...together with the resolution not to sin again." Isn't it the goal of the Christian to never need the Sacrament of Confession? Yes!
So why are we continually going to Confession and confessing the same sins over and over and over again?
The answer of course is because we're human, we have free-will and our nature is only a perversion of what God originally intended for us. However that does not mean that we should give ourselves over to this perversion and just accept it for what it is. That sort of despair is why the world is going to "hell in a handbasket" in the first place. Rather, we should recognize our faults and struggle to correct them at every available opportunity. We need to stop simply worrying about what may or may not constitute a mortal sin but worry about our daily habits which make those mortal sins even remotely possible.
C.S. Lewis put venial sins in perspective for me in his book entitled The Screwtape Letters. In Chapter 12, Screwtape (a senior demon) is talking to his nephew Wormwood (an "up and coming" demon) on how to steer his subject (an unsuspecting human) to hell...
So, do you plan on being the best darn poker player in Hell?
With sin becoming so en vogue how can we expect society to understand right from wrong nowadays? On September 11th, 2001 the United States was outraged and shocked by the atrocities that occurred, and well they should have. Yet a far greater holocaust occurs daily in the abortion clinics and hardly a person makes a sound. So when I look at our society today, I can only notice that we are slowly losing our perception of what is right, just, and moral as opposed to what is wrong, unjust, and immoral.
Nevermind that we're just talking about mortal sins here.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 1863, it states:
Venial sin weakens charity; it manifests a disordered affection for created goods; it impedes the soul's progress in the exercise of the virtues and the practice of the moral good; it merits temporal punishment. Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin.
It is my perception that people quite often nowadays ignore venial sins, simply because we either cannot recognize them anymore or we fail to recognize the inherent seriousness of any and all sin. I believe we are very good at rationalizing away the importance of these sins, though the Catholic Church is quite adamant in her warning to us that venial sin can and does open the door to mortal sin. Since venial sin appears to be the acceptable societal standard for today, since venial sin seems to be demanded of us by our peers, surely it isn't wrong... is it?
Oh you better believe it's still wrong. Morality is an absolute, the bar is not raised or lowered depending on society. In other words: The bar has been permanently fixed by God. It is something we are called, as Christians, to strive to obtain. And if we cannot obtain it, we are called to seek God's help in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ.
But do we do that? How many times do we as Catholics, partake of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (ie: Penance / Confession) and repeat the same venial sins time after time? If we continually commit these offenses, are we really taking steps to rectify these faults?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 1451, states:
Among the penitent's acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."
Allow me to emphasize the last parts of that paragraph... "...detestation for the sin committed..." which means that that particular sin that we have just confessed should go on our "I should watch out for this particular sin and avoid performing it at all costs." and "...together with the resolution not to sin again." Isn't it the goal of the Christian to never need the Sacrament of Confession? Yes!
So why are we continually going to Confession and confessing the same sins over and over and over again?
The answer of course is because we're human, we have free-will and our nature is only a perversion of what God originally intended for us. However that does not mean that we should give ourselves over to this perversion and just accept it for what it is. That sort of despair is why the world is going to "hell in a handbasket" in the first place. Rather, we should recognize our faults and struggle to correct them at every available opportunity. We need to stop simply worrying about what may or may not constitute a mortal sin but worry about our daily habits which make those mortal sins even remotely possible.
C.S. Lewis put venial sins in perspective for me in his book entitled The Screwtape Letters. In Chapter 12, Screwtape (a senior demon) is talking to his nephew Wormwood (an "up and coming" demon) on how to steer his subject (an unsuspecting human) to hell...
You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy [God]. It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.
So, do you plan on being the best darn poker player in Hell?