The Seven Deadly Sins

In your Catechism there is a question: What are the chief sources of sin? Who knows the answer? The chief sources of sin are seven. Pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth, and they are commonly called Capital Sins. There are a lot of big words in that answer and I have a slight suspicion that you do not know what they all mean. Maybe this parable will make it clear.

Two ships once went sailing across the sea of life. They were sailing around the world, seeking the golden gate of heaven. The name of the first ship was Badsoul. The admiral was Admiral Satan. Under him he had Helmsman Haughty, Gunner Graball, Lieutenant Lustful, Captain Crabby, Ensign Eatoomuch, Coxswain Greeneye, and Doctor Dodgeit. The ship sailed through life and all went well. They all had a wonderful time. But one day a storm drove them near the reef of damnation. The crew began to cry out to the admiral, "Turn on the searchlight; throw out the anchor; bring out the compass." But Admiral Satan only laughed very cruelly as the ship went over the reef of hell.

The name of the second ship was Goodsoul. The admiral was Admiral Christ. Under Him he had Helmsman Humble, Gunner Generous, Lieutenant Loving, Captain Cheerful, Ensign Eatenuff, Coxswain Kindword, and Doctor Doit. The ship sailed through life and a very happy crew was on it. They worked hard and kept everything shipshape. One day a storm drove them near the reef of damnation. The crew cried out to the admiral for help. "Lord save us, we perish." The admiral gave orders. "Turn on the searchlight, because faith is the searchlight of the soul. Let down the anchor because hope is the anchor of the soul. Bring forth the compass, because charity is the soul's compass." "And rising up He rebuked the wind and said to the sea: 'Peace, be still' and the wind ceased and there was made a great calm." They avoided the reef of damnation and sailed on till they came to the golden gate of heaven and there God was waiting for them.

See if you can recognize the crew of Satan's ship. Are they not the seven capital sins? Pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth? You cannot make an image of Christ out of those, can you?

See if you can, recognize the crew of the Goodsoul. Are they not just the opposite virtues to these seven? In sailing your ship through life you must choose either one crew or the other.  If you sail with the crew of Satan you will go over the reef of damnation. Only Christ and the crew of the Goodsoul, with their searchlight of faith, their anchor of hope, and their compass of charity, can help you. Your assignment for this week is to learn by heart the names of the seven capital sins: pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth.
- Heavenwords, Imprimatur 1941 -

                                            "A death has taken place for Redemption."

SOMETIMES artists use a novel way of signing their pictures. Instead of painting their names in the corner as is usually done, they make one of the figures in the picture look like themselves. One great artist was painting his masterpiece. He wanted this to be the greatest of all his works. It was called " The Descent from the Cross." It showed the dead body of Christ being taken down from the cross. The nails were being pulled out of Christ's hands and feet, just before His body was placed in the arms of His Mother. By way of signing the picture, the artist painted himself as one of the men who were taking Christ down. He painted himself as the man who was drawing the nails out of Christ's hands. "That is where I would most like to have been," he said.

That is one story. Here is another which teaches the same lesson in a different way. The crucifix in the parish church needed to be cleaned and repaired. In order that the work could be done well the statue of the body of Christ had to be taken off the cross. When the work was done it had to be put back on the cross, and the nails would have to be driven again through the hands and feet of the statue. One of the workmen was just ready to drive the nails when he stopped. "I just cannot bring myself to do it," he said.

We are fast approaching the time when the Church reminds us of the death and suffering of Christ. It is a time when we are each called upon to paint a picture of the Passion and death of Christ. This picture is to be our masterpiece. Instead of signing the picture, we are to paint ourselves into it. Where will you put yourself? Do you place yourself among those who by their sins crucify again to themselves the Son of God? Will you have to place yourself among those who stood beneath the cross shouting insults at the dying Christ? Would you paint yourself as one of the executioners who are driving the nails? Or as Judas who betrayed Him? By our sins we were all on Calvary and made Christ suffer. For our greed, His hands were nailed wide open. For our laziness, He bore the heavy cross. For our sins of the tongue He was parched with thirst.

During this week, then, everyone must make up his mind that when you paint your masterpiece of the Crucifixion, you will not stand among the sinners who hurt Him, but among those who tried to ease His pain. By your special penance this week, your special prayers and efforts, you may be able to place yourself among those who are drawing the nails out of Christ's hands and feet, instead of among those who are driving them in. Put
yourself into the picture.
- Heirs of the Kingdom, Imprimatur 1949 -