CRUSADERS FOR CHRIST
  • Blog
    • Staff only
  • About Us
  • Downloads
    • Catholic Homeschool - Study Guides
    • Handwriting
    • Student Planners
    • Coloring Pictures
    • St. Catherine's Academy Gazette
    • Printable Children's books
  • Catholic Reading
    • Books We Have Enjoyed
    • Saint of the Day
    • Just Stories
    • Chapter Books >
      • Jesus of Nazareth - The Story of His Life Simply Told
      • Little Therese
      • Lisbeth - The Story of a First Communion
    • Sermons for Children
    • This and That
    • The Blessed Mother for the Child in all of us!
  • For Moms
    • Popular Instructions on the Bringing Up of Children

moral briefs - chapter 6- sin

1/29/2017

0 Comments

 
If the Almighty had never imposed upon His creatures a Law, there would be no sin; we would be free to do as we please. But the presence of God's Law restrains our liberty, and it is by using, or rather abusing, our freedom, that we come to violate the Law. It is for this reason that Law is said to be opposed to Liberty. Liberty is a word of many meanings. Men swear by it and men juggle with it. It is the slogan in both camps of the world's warfare. It is in itself man's noblest inheritance, and yet there is no name under the sun in which more crimes are committed.

By liberty as opposed to God's law we do not understand the power to do evil as well as good. That liberty is the glory of man, but the exercise of it, in the alternative of evil, is damnable, and debases the creature in the same proportions as the free choice of good ennobles him. That liberty the law leaves untouched. We never lose it; or rather, we may lose it partially when under physical restraint, but totally, only when deprived of our senses. The law respects it. It respects it in the highest degree when in an individual it curtails or destroys it for the protection of society.

Liberty may also be the equal right to do good and evil. There are those who arrogate to themselves such liberty. No man ever possessed it, the law annihilated it forever. And although we have used the word in this sense, the fact is that no man has the right to do evil or ever will have, so long as God is God. These people talk much and loudly about freedom—the magic word!—assert with much pomp and verbosity the rights of man, proclaim his independence, and are given to much like inane vaunting and braggadocio.

We may be free in many things, but where God is concerned and He commands, we are free only to obey. His will is supreme, and when it is asserted, we purely and simply have no choice to do as we list. This privilege is called license, not liberty. We have certain rights as men, but we have duties, too, as creatures, and it ill-becomes us to prate about our rights, or the duties of others towards us, while we ignore the obligations we are under towards others and our first duty which is to God. Our boasted independence consists precisely in this: that we owe to Him not only the origin of our nature, but even the very breath we draw, and which preserves our being, for ''in Him we live, move and have our being."

The first prerogative of God towards us is authority or the right to command. Our first obligation as well as our highest honor as creatures is to obey. And until we understand this sort of liberty, we live in a world of enigmas and know not the first letter of the alphabet of creation. We are not free to sin. Liberty rightly understood, true liberty of the children of God, is the right of choice within the law, the right to embrace what is good and to avoid what is evil. This policy no man can take from us; and far from infringing upon this right, the law aids it to a fuller development. A person reading by candlelight would not complain that his vision was obscured if an arc light were substituted for the candle. A traveler who takes notice of the signposts along his way telling the direction and distance, and pointing out pitfalls and dangers, would not consider his rights contested or his liberty restricted by these things. And the law, as it becomes more clearly known to us, defines exactly the sphere of our action and shows plainly where dangers lurk and evil is to be apprehended. And we gladly avail ourselves of this information that enables us to walk straight and secure. The law becomes a godsend to our liberty, and obedience to it our salvation.

He who goes beyond the bounds of true moral liberty, breaks the law of God and sins. He thereby refuses to God the obedience which to Him is due. Disobedience involves contempt of authority and of him who commands. Sin is therefore an offense against God, and that offense is proportionate to the dignity of the person offended. The sinner, by his act of disobedience, not only sets at naught the will of his Maker, but by the same act, in a greater or lesser degree, turns away from his appointed destiny; and in this he is imitated by nothing else in creation. Every other created thing obeys. The heavens follow their designated course. Beasts and birds and fish are intent upon one thing, and that is to work out the divine plan. Man alone sows disorder and confusion therein. He shows irreverence
for God's presence and contempt for His friendship; ingratitude for His goodness and supreme indifference for the penalty that follows his sin as surely as the shadow follows its object. So that, taken all in all, such a creature might fitly be said to be one part criminal and two parts fool. Folly and sin are synonymous in Holy Writ. "The fool saith in his heart there is no God."

Sin is essentially an offense. But there is a difference of degree between a slight and an outrage. There are direct offenses against God, such as the refusal to believe in Him or unbelief; to hope in Him, or despair, etc. Indirect offenses attain Him through the neighbor or ourselves. All duties to neighbor or self are not equally imperious and to fail in them all is not equally evil. Then again, not all sins are committed through pure malice, that is, with complete knowledge and full consent. Ignorance and weakness are factors to be considered in our guilt, and detract from the malice of our sins. Hence two kinds of sin, mortal and venial.

These mark the extremes of offense. One severs all relation of friendship, the other chills the existing friendship. By one, we incur God's infinite hatred, by the other, His displeasure. The penalty for one is eternal; the other can be atoned for by suffering. It is not possible in all cases to tell exactly what is mortal and what venial in our offenses. There is a clean-cut distinction between the two, but the line of demarcation is not always discernible. There are, however, certain characteristics which enable us in the majority of cases to distinguish one from the other.

First, the matter must be grievous in fact or in intention; that is, there must be a serious breach of the law of God or the law of conscience. Then, we must know perfectly well what we are doing and give it our full consent. It must therefore be a grave offense in all the plenitude of its malice. Of course, to act without sufficient reason, with a well-founded doubt as to the malice of the act, would be to violate the law of conscience and would constitute a mortal sin. There is no mortal sin without the fulfillment of these conditions.

All other offenses are venial. We cannot, of course, read the soul of anybody. If, however, we suppose knowledge and consent, there are certain sins that are always mortal. Such are
blasphemy, luxury, heresy, etc. When these sins are deliberate, they are always mortal offenses. Others are usually mortal, such as a sin against justice. To steal is a sin against justice. It is frequently a mortal sin, but it may happen that the amount taken be slight, in which case the offense ceases to be mortal. Likewise, certain sins are usually venial, but in
certain circumstances a venial sin may take on such malice as to be constituted mortal. Our conscience, under God, is the best judge of our malevolence and consequently of our guilt.
Source: Moral Briefs by Rev. John H. Stapleton,  Imprimatur 1904

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Holy Mother Church  dedicates the month of June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
    Picture
    Student Planners
    Handwriting Books
    Coloring Books
                      COPYRIGHT
    The purpose of this website is to share the beautiful Catholic resources that God has so richly blessed us with.  All texts unless they are my own words have their sources quoted, and most of them are in the public domain. Any educational items that I have made for or with my children are NOT TO BE USED FOR PROFIT, but are meant to be used for personal use by individuals and families. You may link to our site if you so choose.

    A Saint for everyday and good reading at:

    Picture

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    October 2022
    July 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

    Categories

    All
    10th Day Of Christmas
    10th Sun After Pentecost
    10th Sunday After Pentecost
    11th Day Of Christmas
    11th Sunday After Pentecost
    12 Days Of Christmas
    12th Day Of Christmas
    12th Sun After Pentecost
    13th Sun After Pentecost
    14th Sun After Pentecost
    15th Sun After Pentecost
    16th Sun After Pentecost
    17th Sun After Pentecost
    18th Sun After Pentecost
    19th Sun After Pentecost
    1st Commandment
    1st Sun After Easter
    1st Sun After Epiphany
    1st Sun After Pentecost
    1st Sunday After Easter
    1st Sunday After Epiphany
    1st Sunday Of Advent
    2016-2017 School Planners
    20th Sun After Pentecost
    21st Sun After Pentecost
    22nd Sun After Pentecost
    23rd Sun After Pentecost
    24th Sunday After Pentecost
    2nd Day Of Christmas
    2nd Sun After Easter
    2nd Sun After Easter
    2nd Sun. After Pentecost
    2nd Sunday After Epiphany
    2nd Sunday Of Advent
    2nd Sunday Of Lent
    2nd Sun Of Advent
    3rd Day Of Christmas
    3rd Sun After Easter
    3rd Sun After Easter
    3rd Sun. After Epiphany
    3rd Sun After Pentecost
    3rd Sunday Of Advent
    3rd Sunday Of Lent
    3rd Sun Of Advent
    4th Day Of Christmas
    4th Sun After Easter
    4th Sun After Epiphany
    4th Sun After Pentecost
    4th Sunday After Pentecost
    4th Sunday Of Advent
    4th Sunday Of Lent
    5th Day Of Christmas
    5th Sun After Easter
    5th Sun After Pentecost
    5th Sunday After Epiphany
    5th Sunday After Pentecost
    6th Day Of Christmas
    6th Sunday After Epiphany
    7th Day Of Christmas
    7th Sunday After Pentecost
    8th Day Of Christmas
    8th Sunday After Pentecost
    9th Day Of Christmas
    A Candle Is Lighted
    Admonition
    Advent
    Advent Coloring Pictures
    Advent Time
    Advent To Christmas
    Agnes
    Alban's Day
    All Saints Day
    All Souls Day
    Ambrose
    Ascension Day
    Ascension Thursday
    Ash Wednesday
    Assumption
    Assumption Of The B.V.M.
    Bad Books
    Bellas-little-shoppe
    Be Strong
    Bishop-hay
    Blessed Richard Gywn
    Blessed-virgin-mary
    Book Giveaway5ede0bf3e3
    Bridget
    Bvm-coloring-book
    Calling Good Evil And Evil Good
    Candlemas
    Candlemas Ceremonies
    Can-you-explain-catholic-customs
    Cardinal Pie
    Catechism-in-examples
    Catechism In Rhyme
    Catherine Laboure
    Catherine Of Siena
    Catholic Calendar
    Catholic Ceremonies
    Catholic-ebooks
    Catholic-marriage
    Catholic-reading
    Catholics-ready-answer
    Catholics-ready-answer
    Catholic Traditions
    Certificates Of Completion
    Chapter One
    Chapter Two
    Charity
    Childrens-books-pdf
    Childrens-meditation
    Childrens-sermons
    Childrens Sermons6a865c90b1
    Childs-history-of-apostles
    Christian-in-the-world
    Christmas
    Christmas Book List
    Christmas-coloring-book
    Christmas-customs
    Christmas Day
    Christmas Eve
    Christmas-octave-prayers
    Christmastide
    Circumcision-of-our-lord
    Circumcision-of-our-lord
    Coloring Book
    Coloring Pictures
    Come The End
    Communion Of Saints
    Confiteor
    Cradle Hymn
    Creeds-and-deeds
    Crusaders-for-christ
    Damien Of Molokai
    Dangers Of The Day
    Daughters Of Charity
    Devotion-to-mary
    Dorothy
    Downloads
    Duties-of-a-christian-father
    Duties-of-the-christian-mother
    Dymphna
    Easter Sunday
    Ecclesiastical Year
    Ecclesiastical-year
    Elizabeth Of Hungary
    Ember Friday In Advent
    Ember Saturday In Advent
    Ember Wed. In Advent
    Epiphany
    Epiphany For Children
    Epiphany - House Blessing
    Epiphany The Twelth Night
    Evangelist
    Evils Of Worldliness
    Faith
    Faith Of Our Fathers
    False Christs
    False Prophets
    False Worship
    Family And Catholic Customs
    Fasting
    Father Lasance
    Father Muller
    Feast Of The Holy Family
    February 2016
    First Sunday Of Lent
    First Sun. Of Advent
    For Children
    Francis Xavier
    Genealogy Of St. Joachim And St. Anne
    Genevieve
    Gifts At Christmas
    Give-a-Way
    Glory Be
    God Of Mercy And Compassion
    God The Teacher Of Mankind
    Goffine's Devout Instruction
    Goffine's Devout Instruction
    Good Friday
    Guardian Angel
    Guardian Angels
    Guardian Angels
    Guarding The Eyes
    Hail Mary
    Handwriting Books
    Handwriting Practice
    Heaven
    Heaven Is The Prize
    Heresy
    Hilary - January 14th
    Holy Cross Day
    Holydays And History
    Holy Ghost Novena
    Holy Innocents
    Holy Mass
    Holy Name Of Jesus
    Holy Name Of Mary
    Holy Souls
    Holy Thursday
    Holy Week
    Homeschool
    Honor-thy-father-and-thy-mother
    How Catholics Lose The Faith
    How-to-be-a-saint
    Human Respect
    Human Respect
    Humility
    Immaculate Conception
    In A Little While
    Indifferentism
    Instruction On Advent
    Instruction On Penance
    Instruction On The Feast Of The Holy Rosary
    Issue 42
    Issue 47
    January 2017
    Jesus Christmas
    Jesus With Childen
    Joan Of Arc
    John
    John The Evangelist
    Last Judgment
    Lectures For Boys
    Lent
    Lenten Catechism
    Lenten Lapbook
    Lenten Printables
    Lenten Sermons
    Lent For Children
    Lent To Easter
    Liberal Catholics
    Lisbeth
    Litany Of The BVM
    Little Month Of Saint Joseph
    Little Stories Of Christ's Passion
    Luke
    Maidens For Mary
    March 2016
    Margaret Mary
    Marks Of The Church
    Martinmas
    Mass
    Mass Study Guide
    Matthew - Sept. 21st
    Maundy Thursday
    May 1st
    May - Dedicated To Our Blessed Mother
    Meditations For Lent
    Menu-planner
    Metropolitan-second-reader
    Misericordia-reader
    Modernism
    Mondays-with-father-muller
    Month-of-saint-joseph
    Moral-briefs
    Moral-briefs-chapter-1
    Moral-briefs-chapter-2
    Moral-briefs-chapter-3
    Morning Prayers
    Mother Of Sorrows
    Mothers Day 20132303cd0d22
    Motion-pictures
    My Catholic Faith
    My-catholic-faith-giveaway
    My-prayer-book
    Narcissus
    Nativity
    New Years
    New Years Day
    New Years Eve
    Nov Ninth72cdf219cc
    Nov. Tenth
    One And Only Saving Faith
    On Resignation To The Will Of God
    Our Lady Of Good Counsel
    Palm Sunday
    Parental Rights And Obligations
    Passion Of Christ
    Passion Sunday
    Patrick
    Penance
    Pentecost
    Pentecost Sunday
    Persecution Of The Church
    Plain Lessons In Christian Doctrine
    Poor Souls
    Pope St. Pius X
    Popular Instruction To Parents
    Practical Aids For Catholic Teachers
    Prayer
    Prayer Against Temptation
    Prayer For Lent
    Prayer For Perseverance
    Prayer To Obtain The Confidence Of One's Children
    Prayer To St. Joseph
    Precious Blood
    Presentation Of The Bvm
    Printable Books
    Prudence And Liberalism
    Purification
    Purity
    Quinquagesima Sunday
    Quote Of The Day
    Quote Of The Day
    Rearing Of Children
    Reason And Revelation
    Religious Intolerance
    Remember Me
    Remember-me
    Remember Tomorrow
    Rita Of Cascia
    Rogation Days
    Roman Missal
    Rosary
    Sacramentals
    Sacred Passion Of Jesus Christ
    Saint Catherine's Academy Gazette
    Saintly ABC's
    Saints
    Saints Of Christmastide
    Saint Stephen
    Saint Sylvester
    Saint Valentines Day
    Scandal
    School Planners
    Septuagesima Sunday
    Sermon Matter
    Sermon Matters
    Sermons For Chidren's Masses
    Seven Dolors Of The Bvm
    Sexagesima Sunday
    Short Catechism Of Church History
    Short Catechism Of Church History
    Short Instructions
    Short Sermons For Every Sun
    Shrove Tuesday
    Signs Of The Times
    Sins Against Faith
    Spiritual Communion
    Spiritual Communion
    Spiritual Works Of Mercy
    St. Anne's Day
    Stations Of The Cross Coloring Book
    St. Benedict's Day
    St Catherines Academy Gazette
    St. Catherine's Academy Gazette
    Stephen
    St. George
    St-hilary-of-poitiers
    St. John Evangelist
    St. John's Eve
    St. John The Baptist's Day
    St. Joseph
    St. Joseph For Children
    St Lucy
    St Lucy Giveaway
    St. Mary Magdalen
    St Nicholas
    St. Nicholas
    Story Of The Week
    Story Sermonettes
    St-paul-the-first-hermit
    St. Stephen
    St. Therese
    Student Planners
    Study Guide
    Sufferings And Death Of Jesus
    Sunday After Christmas
    Sunday Observance
    Sunday Within The Octave
    Survey
    Survey Doll Costume
    Sweet Name Of Jesus
    Talks To Boys And Girls
    Te Deum
    The Angelus
    The Beauty And Truth Of The Catholic Church
    The BeeHive
    The Childs Desire
    The Christian Father
    The Christian In The World
    The Christian Mother
    The Church Of The Saints
    The Communion Of Saints
    The Drops Of Precious Blood
    The Ecclesiastical Year
    The Friends Of Jesus
    The Good Shepherd
    The Greatest And First Commandment
    The Holy Innocents
    The Love Of God
    The New Year
    The Particular Judgment
    The Prodigal Son
    The Queen's Festivals
    The Sacred Heart
    The Santa Lie
    The Way To God
    The Wondrous Childhood
    This And That
    Thomas A' Becket
    Thomas Aquinas
    Tomorrows Far Away
    TOM'S CRUCIFIX
    To The Heart Of A Child
    Trinity Sunday
    True Christmas Spirit
    Truth
    Truth And Lies
    Tutorials
    Two Thousand Years Ago
    Valentine's Day
    Veronica Of Milan
    Vigil Of Epiphany
    Whitsunday
    Whom The Lord Loveth
    Whom To Believe
    William- Jan. 10th
    With The Church
    Work And Listen To God!
    Works Of Mercy
    You And Your Neighbor
    Your Cross
    Your Neighbor And You

    RSS Feed

© Crusaders for Christ 2012