§ VII. On Sloth

I. Notion. Sloth is twofold, one universal, the other special. Sloth taken universally is sadness concerning a human spiritual good - i.e., concerning cultivating virtue or fulfilling precepts - insofar as it is laborious. Sloth accepted in this way is not a special sin, but is one and the same with the violation of the virtue or precept which flows from it. Sloth taken specially, or insofar as it is a capital vice, is sadness concerning a divine spiritual good pertaining to us, insofar as it is to be obtained through difficult acts. Under the name of divine good come grace, or divine friendship, beatitude, and the means of attaining them (St. Thomas, II-II, q. 35, a. 2; St. Alphonsus, V, 84).

II. Morality. Sloth, namely the capital vice, is a mortal sin, because it is repugnant to the charity of God, or involves contempt for divine friendship and beatitude (St. Thomas, II-II, q. 35, a. 3; St. Alphonsus, cited place). Nevertheless, on account of defect of full consent, it is often only venial.

III. The daughters of sloth are: 1. "malice, by which someone hates spiritual goods,... 2. faint-heartedness and despair of salvation,... 3. rancor, by which those who lead one to spiritual things are wearisome; 4. torpor, when good things are done without due fervor; 5. wandering of mind, by which someone wanders in the exercise of spiritual things" (St. Alphonsus, V, 84).

IV. Remedies of sloth. Weigh: 1. what Christ and His saints have done;¹ 2. vigorously undertake good works; 3. from time to time withdraw into spiritual retreat.

¹ Rom. 12:11.