Course 2, Chapter 50: Obstacles to union with our Lord, the new Adam

1. What is it that prevents our union with the new Adam?

One only thing can prevent our union with the new Adam — sin.

2. What is sin and how many kinds are there?

Sin is a wilful disobedience to the law of God. Disobedience to our lawful superiors, when their command is just, is also a sin, for God wills that we obey them. There are two kinds of sin, original sin, in which we are born, and actual sin, which we commit ourselves.

3. How is actual sin divided?

Actual sin is divided into mortal and venial. Mortal sin is that which kills the soul, by depriving it of the grace of God.

4. Is mortal sin a great evil?

Mortal sin is the greatest of evils or rather the only evil, since it is a revolt against and a monstrous ingratitude towards God, and prevents us from attain ing our last end.

5. What ar« the consequences of mortal sin?

242 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

A. The consequences of mortal sin are: on earth, the loss of grace, loss of all past merits, and remorse; and in eternity the loss of heaven.

6. What are its punishments?

The punishments of mortal sin are, in this world, all the evils that desolate the earth; and in eternity, hell.

7. What is venial sin?

Venial sin is that which does not kill the soul, nor deserve hell. It is called Denial, that is, pardonable, because it is less unworthy of pardon than mortal sin.

8. What are the consequences of venial sin?

The consequences of venial sin are, that it weakens grace in us, saddens the Holy Ghost, deprives us of certain special aids, leads to mortal sin, brings down severe chastisements, as we see by the sacred writings.

9. WThat are capital sins?

Capital sins are those which give rise to many others. There are seven: pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth.

10. What are the remedies for these sins?

The principal remedies for the capital sins are: for pride, humility and prayer; for covetousness, almsgiving; for lust, confession and communion; for gluttony, mortification; for envy, disinterestedness; for anger, meditation on the passion of our Lord; for sloth, to think on the shortness of time.

11. Whence come all our sins?

All our sins come from our ungoverned passions. They are the tree, and sin is the fruit. There are three chief passions, love of honor, love of riches, and love of pleasures.

12. Is it necessary to combat our passions?

It is as necessary as it is to be saved. It is in the time of youth especially that we must make war against our passions.