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 › § VII. On Sloth

Section — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Scholion. On Imperfections

331.

I. Notion. Imperfection is sometimes taken for a wholly involuntary transgression of a precept, such as involuntary distractions during prayer, involuntary excesses in indignation, jesting, laughter, etc. Now although these things do not contain sin, nor can all of them be avoided, nevertheless let us strive to lessen them.

Imperfection by force of the word is the absence of some perfection. It is distinguished as negative and positive. Negative imperfection is the mere absence of perfection; positive imperfection, which is also called privation, is the absence or lack of a perfection which it is fitting should be present in someone, and it is had when someone deliberately chooses the less perfect, according to what was said in n. 213.

Imperfections

332.

II. Morality. 1. Negative imperfection - for instance, lack of the holiness of the Blessed Virgin Mary - as is clear, is not sin.

  1. In what respect positive imperfection is sin we explained in n. 213.

Imperfections