Causes of These Sins

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McHugh–Callan, Moral Theology

John A. McHugh, O.P., and Charles J. Callan, O.P. — 1 passage

Vol. II, Pt. II, Q. II, Art. 1. The Virtue of Prud…, Causes of These Sins

n. 1670.

Causes of the Sins of Haste, Thoughtlessness, and Inconstancy

Causes of the Sins of Haste, Thoughtlessness, and Inconstancy.—(a) Every inordinate desire brings on these sins by diverting the mind from a good to an evil object. Experience shows that the avaricious, the ambitious, the angry, the jealous, etc., do not listen to reason, but act imprudently: “Where envying and contention is, there is inconstancy” (James, iii. 16).

(b) Desire of pleasure, especially of venereal pleasure, is most fatal to prudence by extinguishing the judgment of reason. The intellect is immaterial and is occupied with abstract truth, whereas sensual delights are immersed in the material and sensible. Hence, carnal sins are more injurious to prudence than spiritual sins. The sensual man not merely does not listen to reason, but he does not even hear it. Venus steals away the reason, said Aristotle, and this truth is well exemplified in King Solomon.