CatholicTheology.info

Choose a topic from Part 2A:

• Man's Last End
• Human Acts
• The Passions
• Habits in General
• Virtues
• Vices and Sins
  • 71. Vice and Sin
  • 72. The Distinction of Sin
  • 73. The Standing of Sins Toward One Another
  • 74. The Subject of Sin
  • 75. The Cause of Sin
  • 76. Ignorance as a Cause of Sin
  • 77. The Sensitive Appetites as the Cause of Sin
  • 78. Malice as the Cause of Sin
  • 79. External Causes of Sin
  • 80. The Devil as the Cause of Sin
  • 81. Human Beings as the Cause of Sin
  • 82. The Essence of Original Sin
  • 83. The Subject of Original Sin
  • 84. One Sin as the Cause of Another
  • 85. The Effects of Sin
  • 86. The Stain of Sin
  • 87. The Debt of Punishment for Sin
  • 88. Venial and Mortal Sin
  • 89. Venial Sin
• Law
• Grace

78. Malice as the Cause of Sin

1. Malice is badly disposed reason. It is commonly calledbad will. A sin committed through malice or bad will is a kind ofcold-blooded sin. From the standpoint of the disposition of reasontowards sin, there are three types of sin: (a) sins of negligence;for example, sins that come from culpable ignorance; (b) sins ofpassion; (c) sins of malice.

2. There is malice in a sin committed through habit. For ahabit is not compelling; the victim of habit is free to reject itsinfluence. So long as a person knowingly allows a sinful habit tocontinue, and does not take effective measures to banish it, heshows malice or bad will.

3. Yet a man may sin, and sin with malice, without havingthe habit of such a sin.

4. Malice makes a sin more grievous than it would be if itwere committed under the stress of passion. For malice shows acoldly purposive will to sin, despite the clear judgment of reasonwhich is at the will's service. But passion surges hotly upon aperson and blurs the judgment that precedes the act of will.

"It is well to choose some one good devotion, and to stick to it, and never to abandon it."
St Philip Neri

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"God gives us some things, as the beginning of faith, even when we do not pray. Other things, such as perseverance, he has only provided for those who pray."
St Augustine

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"To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself. "
Thomas á Kempis

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