Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume I › Book I. On the General Principles of the Christian Life › Treatise II. On Motion in Order to the Final End, or on the Human Act, Considered according to Moral Being › Dissertation II. On Human Acts Considered according to Moral Being › Part II. On Morality in Particular › Section III. On the Evil Act, or on Sin › Chapter II. On Some Classes of Sins in Particular › Article IV. On Capital Sins

Section — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

§ III. On Lust

309.

I. Notion. Lust is the inordinate appetite for venereal things.

Lust

310.

II. Division. Lust is distinguished as consummated and non-consummated, according as the act of lust is completed or not completed; in other words, according as it carries with it extreme or non-extreme venereal commotion.

Lust

311.

III. Morality. Lust, both complete and incomplete, is a grave sin from its whole genus; nevertheless, if it is only indirectly voluntary, it admits smallness of matter. These points are more fully explained in the treatise on chastity.

Lust

312.

IV. The daughters of lust are eight, four on the part of the intellect and four on the part of the will, namely:

  1. Blindness of mind: when someone is so addicted to foulness that he does not think about heavenly things.

  2. Precipitation: by which someone, from the same cause, i.e., from affection toward pleasures, acts without counsel.

  3. Inconsideration: when he sins in the manner, inconsiderately doing things which are unbecoming to his state or person.

  4. Inconstancy: when someone, from the same affection for pleasures, soon falls away from pious resolutions.

  5. Self-love. For such a man, on account of pleasures, makes himself, not God, the end of his actions.

  6. Hatred of God. For the lascivious man is accustomed to abhor divine things, indeed God Himself, as the avenger of sins.

  7. Affection for the present age. For love of carnal pleasures so affects the soul that at times it would even be prepared to renounce eternal blessedness, if it were permitted always to enjoy present things.

  8. Horror of the future age: "when, immersed in pleasures, one inordinately fears death, and not wishing to think about it, strives to prolong life by illicit means, etc." (St. Alphonsus, V, 71).

LustInconstancy