We desire the newest technology or trendiest brands to compete with others. Social media fuels the flashy materialism that promises happiness if we just have more. In our consumptive culture, it is easy to be drawn into this sin. AvariceĪvarice, or greed, is the inordinate love of possessions and riches. Though it is worth meditating on all these virtues, I hope to highlight a few for Catholic women today. The virtues fight against these seven deadly sins: Humility against pride, generosity against avarice, good-will against envy, meekness against wrath, chastity against lust, temperance against gluttony and diligence against sloth. Paul notes, however, where sin abounds, grace abounds more. They are pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth (1866). They are called “capital” because they engender other sins, other vices. Vices can be classified according to the virtues they oppose, or also be linked to the capital sins…. The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights this clash of virtue and vice: The best way is to focus on one vice and practice the opposing virtue, and to study the role models (aka, the saints!) who excelled in these virtues. So how can we transform vice to virtue this New Year? Incremental steps toward virtue and elimination of vices that tempt us is an attainable goal for the soul this year. Resolutions shouldn’t just be about bettering our bodies and minds, but must extend to our spiritual lives and growth in virtue.įurther studies show 80 percent of resolutions fail by February because they are too ambitious. But as Catholic women in a secular culture, we know resolutions are an important part of the road to sainthood. The evil one wants us to believe we do not need to change or get up when we fall.
Statistics show the most popular New Year’s Resolution, after eating healthier, exercising and saving money, was…to not make a resolution. I don’t particularly like making resolutions. I start getting a pit in my stomach because I need to decide on my New Year’s Resolution.