A Thesis on Morality

[thesmellypocket 1859]

Having recognised a formal need for a precise word on what is moral and immoral, what is sin, and other such questions, I have undertaken this work in a no doubt fallible but sincere attempt to define our answer to the moral questions of all ages. For sin may be divided into two kinds: sin in substance, and sin in spirit. 

 

-Father Humbert, O.S.J.

 

Sin In Substance

 

Remember, brothers and sisters, that even the Exalted Horen fell short of God and sinned. (Godwinites, 4) To sin is to transgress against God, who owns the earth, and the fullness thereof. We owe God our all, and therefore to transgress against Him constitutes a grave error. The Church, in her holy wisdom, has transcribed those commandments of God that are fixed and permanent. Therefore, we may say a Sin in Substance is that which deliberately transgresses those moral laws set down by God, either in the Holy Scriptures, or through his Church. These Substantial Sins should provoke the offender to instant Confession and Penance. If you have transgressed these laws, go to Confession immediately, for you risk the danger of the Void if dirtied by them at the hour of death. No man, however, is beyond repentance, for His mercy endureth forever. (Silence, 9.) These sins include:

 

-Sexual Immorality, that is: fornication (sex outside of marriage), adultery, a man spilling his own seed, sodomy, and the interbreeding of different species, which, by definition, is sinful, for it is by its nature fornication, for no marriage is valid unless they are of the same race. (Catechism 4.4) We are encouraged to take after the example of Horen, who took no concubines, but was faithful to his wife to the last. (Horen, 2.)

 

-Murder and Unlawful Violence: Krug was marked out as wicked by the murder of his brother, which was done in treacherous fashion. (Scattering, 7.) Murder is explicitly condemned as a sin. (Horen, 14.) This does not cover the battlefield: it is lawful for men to kill men in arms, but to kill the innocent or defenceless, or to kill for any other reason than protection of others or the maintenance of lawful authority, is a grave and disordered action, and, for a soldier or guard, is a transgression against the soldier’s code of Saint Edmond. (Code of Chivalry)

 

-Theft: theft is an extension of covetousness, which is condemned explicitly in the Scrolls. (Charity, 4.) We are called not to envy the possessions of others, and this would include theft, for theft is envy put into action.

 

-False Witness: Krug’s servants are called wicked for their deceit (Scattering, 4.) This is not the only example in the Scrolls where God himself condemns deceit. Since false witness is the essence of deceit, God condemns lies with the full force of His law. To defraud a man of his wage is considered one of the gravest sins, for it is both theft and false witness.

 

-Apostasy: A man who deserts the Faith and revokes his baptismal vows is condemned by the full authority of the Church, for it is a violation of mankind’s solemn covenant with God. (Catechism, 4.6)

 

-Incest: Further to sexual immorality, any sexual relations between kin must be immoral, for there can be no valid marriage between kin. (Catechism, 4.4) I am afraid, brothers, that I have been unable to find a specific definition of incest, but four degrees of Consanguinity, is, I believe, the typical definition.

 

Sin In Spirit

 

God and His Church have, over centuries, recognised certain virtues and vices in Man that separate us from God. The display of these vices and neglect of these virtues, whilst not constituting a Sin of Substance, for they do not transgress God’s word by the letter, still constitute a sin in their specific cases. Spiritual Sins are sins against conscience, which God has given unto us, and should still be Confessed, although they do not put the soul in imminent mortal danger. Seven Virtues have been recognised by the Church over time, and their seven opposites: the Seven Deadly Sins.

 

-Castitas, or Chastity, is contrasted with Luxuria, Lust. The Church and Pontiffs have given the Imprimatur to works enshrining Chastity, including a prayer to Saint Catherine for Chastity. (See A Book of Prayers to Saints.) A Spiritual Sin against Chastity might include immodest dress, sexually provocative behavior, and unchaste touching. 

 

-Temperantia, Temperance, is opposed to Glux, Gluttony. This is the virtue of self-control and moderation. Fasting was done by the Prophets (Owyn, 8), and Temperance is a Canticle of the Scrolls. We can see here a perfect example of Spiritual Sin. Although stuffing yourself with cakes may not constitute a sin by the letter of the Scroll or Catechism, in Spirit it would be a transgression against virtue, and therefore a sin against God. Therefore, Brothers and Sisters, fast, pray, and do not grow fat, nor succumb to the sin of drunkenness or drug-taking.

 

-Caritas, Charity, is opposed to Avaritia, Avarice. Our Holy Father, Saint Jude, whose writings were inspired and protected by God, wrote and preached most this virtue in a very touching way. (Thesis on Charity, see also Love.) Deus Caritas Est. God is Charity. God, who is the most merciful and the most just, calls on us to reflect that same mercy in our lives. Therefore, a man is called to love the Lord His God with all his heart and mind, and love his neighbour with equal fervour, acting with kindness and supporting others. To show greed, and to pursue wealth at the expense of others, as your ultimate end, and to put wealth before the love of God or men, is certainly a sin. Therefore, uncharitable acts, words and deeds are Spiritual Sins, whilst the love of God and men is considered the greatest virtue by Our Holy Father.

 

-Industria, Diligence, is opposed to Acedia, Sloth. Diligence is persistence: persistent work, but also persistent prayer. Diligence is also a Canticle of the Scrolls, and is recognised by the Church as an important virtue. Slacking in one’s work or duty would be considered a Spiritual Sin.

 

-Patentia, Patience, is opposed by Ira, Wrath. Patience is not simply a matter of good timing. The virtue might better be translated as Tolerance. Our Holy Father accepted beatings readily in the street (Final Thesis, Preface), and suffered all manner of evils for his Faith. To be enraged, and to be taken by our passion, is a sin, for it is an abridgement of the rational mind. Act you, then, according not to wrath, but to the Law, and lean not on your own understanding, but on every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.

 

-Humanitas, Kindness, is contrasted with Invidia, Envy. This proceeds from Charity, and a sin against it is to speak, act, or think unkindly of another. Since much of this is explored in Charity, I will carry on.

 

-Humilitas, Humility, is the opposite of Superbia, Pride. Pride is often the greatest evil and is responsible for all other sins, whilst Humility is often the virtue that lends itself to Charity, Chastity and the others. For in Pride shall a man be wrapped up in wrothful quarrels, or the wife not speak well of her husband, but in Humility did the Saints serve. Saint Catherine, although a Princess, served at the feet of beggars, whilst Iblees, a base and evil being, in pride, thought himself wiser than God. Therefore, any prideful thought, action or word must be confessed as a Spiritual Sin.

 

Conclusion

 

Brothers and Sisters, remember not merely to confess the grave and substantial sins. Think also on those words, deeds and thoughts that do debase a man to a beast: think that any unkind or wrongly judgemental thought or act must be confessed. I am often confronted by the absurdity that people have not confessed in years have nothing to confess. Well, perhaps you have no Substantial Sins. But the man who eats too many pies and drinks too many pints, the wife who snaps at and nags her husband, and the man who lusts after women but does not fornicate with them must all come to the Confessional, for they must be made pure in the sight of God. 

 

People complain that I say the same thing in my homilies, again and again. Well, if I always say them it is because they are always true! Above all, remember that in each and every man and woman you meet, there is a potential Saint. For God, in His mercy, has made the forgiveness readily available, and so for our transgressions we can go to Confession, and, by making it a regular practice, come one step closer to our heavenly home. 

 

May the blessing of Almighty God rain down upon you, and remain with you, forever and ever. Bye, and God love you!

 

-Father Humbert, O.S.J.

[Lukariatias 524]

Cassian, in a great bout of curiosity, carefully studies and puts to memory the words written by the good Father. “For law, perhaps. Laws to preserve the dignity of my compatriots.”