St. John tells us something about the difference between
those sins that can really take our souls down fast
and those that are of lesser degree.
“If anyone sees his brother committing what is
not a mortal sin, , he will ask, and God will
give him life for those whose sin is not mortal.
There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that
one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin,
but there is sin which is not mortal”.
---I John 5: 16-17
“Mortal sin is defined by St. Augustine (Contra
Faustum, XXII, xxvii) as "Dictum vel factum vel
concupitum contra legem æternam", i.e.
something said, done or desired contrary to the
eternal law, or a thought, word, or deed
contrary to the eternal law. This is a definition
of sin as it is a voluntary act. As it is a defect or
privation it may be defined as an aversion from
God, our true last end, by reason of the
preference given to some mutable good.”
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14004b.htm#III
Venial--Venial sin is essentially different from mortal sin. It does
not avert us from our true last end, it does not destroy
charity, the principle of union with God, nor deprive the soul
of sanctifying grace, and it is intrinsically reparable. It is
called venial precisely because, considered in its own proper
nature, it is pardonable; in itself meriting, not eternal, but
temporal punishment. . . . It is distinguished from mortal sin
on the part of the disorder. By mortal sin man is entirely
averted from God, his true last end, and, at least implicitly,
he places his last end in some created thing. By venial sin he
is not averted from God, neither does he place his last end in
creatures. He remains united with God by charity, but does
not tend towards Him as he ought.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14004b.htm#III
Sins of Appetite
 Lust
 Gluttony
 Avarice (Greed)
 Wrath
 Sloth
Sins of Fraud
 Envy
 Pride
“The inordinate craving for, or
indulgence of, the carnal
pleasure which is experienced
in the human organs of
generation.”
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09438a.htm
“(From Lat. gluttire, to swallow, to gulp down),
the excessive indulgence in food and drink. . . .
or, according to the apt rendering of Father Joseph
Rickably: too soon, too expensively, too much, too
eagerly, too daintily. Clearly one who uses food or
drink in such a way as to injure his health or impair the
mental equipment needed for the discharge of his
duties, is guilty of the sin of gluttony.”
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06590a.htm
“Avarice (from Latin avarus, "greedy";
"to crave") is the inordinate love for
riches. . .
It is more to be dreaded in that it often
cloaks itself as a virtue, or insinuates
itself under the pretext of making a
decent provision for the future.”
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02148b.htm
The desire of vengeance. . . in conformity with the
prescriptions of balanced reason, anger is not a sin. It is
rather a praiseworthy thing and justifiable with a
proper zeal. It
becomes sinful when it is
sought to wreak vengeance upon one who
has not deserved it, or to a greater extent than it has
been deserved, or in conflict with the dispositions
oflaw, or from an improper motive.”
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01489a.htm
In general it means disinclination to
labour or exertion. . . The idea of
right living inspires not joy but
disgust, because of its
laboriousness.”
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14057c.htm
Two forms:
 Sadness or displeasure at the success
of another because I think I deserve it
more.
 Joy or pleasure at the failure of
another because I think it proves my
superiority.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08326b.htm
This is the sin that most resembles Satan!
“Pride is the excessive love of one's own
excellence. . . . By it the creature refuses to stay
within his essential orbit; he turns his back upon
God, not through weakness or ignorance, but
solely because in his self-exaltation he is minded
not to submit. St. Gregory, considers it the
queen of all vices.”
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12405a.htm
Humility
Forgiveness
Generosity
Purity
Love
Diligence
Temperance
counteracts
counteracts
counteracts
counteracts
counteracts
counteracts
counteracts
Pride
Wrath
Avarice
Lust
Envy
Sloth
Gluttony