- Chapter 6 and following considers each of the Chief Vices, their daughters, and concrete means for improvement. Listed as a reference
They are called “capital” because they engender other sins, other vices. They are pride, avarice [greed], envy, wrath, lust, gluttony and sloth” (CCC # 1866).
Contra to
Virtues are The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines virtue as “a habitual and firm disposition to do the good.” Traditionally, the seven Christian virtues, heavenly virtues (or The Seven Catholic Virtues) combine the four classical cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, and courage (or fortitude) with the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. These were adopted by the Church Fathers as the seven virtues.
All projects need direction, order and a plan. The project or goal is To Ascend Mount Caramel, Kingdom of Heaven. Fr. McElhone gives direction, order and a plan which is personalized. It teaches the reader to identify their own predominant fault.
Chesterton What’s Wrong with the World?
Narcissism contrary to self-reflection
Root, capital sin, counterfeit virtues. Closely resonant to the good. People need to be aware.
Socrates true good not the means.
Narcissism, obscenely obsessive with ourselves and no virtue.
- Example, Pride. It is a chief vice, common to many.
Pride makes the self the predominant master. The god for whom ordinary actions are performed. Pride is the source of wrong in many ordinary actions. The slight irreverence, the lack of meekness, the vainglory without number, the distracted self-centered prayer. Desire for praise by others. Pride is a complete or partial forgetfulness of God. It has false regard of the opinion of others. It is excessive self-love.
Different types of pride (Prudence and grace to know)
- Pride of authority or superiority. Overbearing attitude, willingness to win an argument at all costs, critical attitude.
- Pride of Timidity
Self-love manifested by shyness, backwardness, cowardice. Protects the self through hiding of weaknesses from fear of ridicule. It carries reserve to excess. Always need prudence and grace to discern.
- Pride of sensitivity self-love being wounded. The sensitive person is quickly hurt. The sensitive person is the cause to a great extent of his own unhappiness. Sometimes he gets malicious joy out of this sensitivity. He pulls down the morale of the house.
- Pride of Complacency or Vanity. Demands esteem of others. Craves the good opinion of others. Provides false motive of conduct. God not self should be the motive for conduct. God’s esteem not others is the true goal. Often, virtue is practices for the opinion of others and not God. There is a tendency to compare to others in a superior manner. Tendency to get involved with devotions that attract attention of others. Vanity can also involve physical aspects. One can study to get the praise of others. One may lie though not want to be called a liar. Open to ridicule, flattery, and deceit. Ends up losing the very thing sought, esteem of others. Pg 49+
Man sees the action, God sees the heart. Dispositions from the interior.
Virtuous does good and gets happiness from it.
Always better do good than the evil but not necessarily virtuous.
Vicious people exist, do evil, and get evil from it, and call vicious good.