09/01/2026
THE 7 DEADLY SINS
AND HOW THE CHURCH TEACHES US TO AVOID THEM
Have you ever wondered why the Church speaks about seven “deadly sins”?
The name can sound frightening, but the Church is not teaching that every time someone falls into one of these sins, they have automatically committed a mortal sin.
The traditional term is capital sins because these vices can give rise to other sins. They are deep-rooted attitudes that can gradually pull our hearts away from God and from the love of others.
The good news is that the Christian response is not simply, “Stop doing bad things.”
The Church also teaches us to cultivate the virtues that overcome these vices.
1. PRIDE → HUMILITY
Pride places the self above others and can even make us act as though we do not need God.
Scripture warns:
“Pride goes before destruction.” - Proverbs 16:18
The remedy is humility: recognising that everything good we have ultimately comes from God and being willing to receive correction, serve others and give God the glory.
2. GREED → GENEROSITY
Greed is an excessive attachment to wealth, possessions or material gain.
Jesus warns:
“Take care to guard against all greed.” - Luke 12:15
The remedy is generosity: learning to see our possessions not merely as things to accumulate, but as gifts that can be used to serve God and others.
3. LUST → CHASTITY
Lust reduces another person to an object of sexual desire rather than recognising their God-given dignity.
Jesus teaches:
“Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” - Matthew 5:28
The remedy is chastity: learning to love others with purity, self-control and respect for the dignity of the human person.
4. ENVY → CHARITY & GRATITUDE
Envy becomes painful when another person’s success, beauty, possessions or blessings make us unhappy because we want what they have.
Scripture warns that where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder. - James 3:16
The remedy is charity and gratitude: rejoicing in another person’s good and learning to thank God for the blessings already present in our own lives.
5. GLUTTONY → TEMPERANCE
Gluttony is an excessive or disordered desire for food and drink.
The problem is not eating or enjoying food. The problem is allowing appetite to become excessive and disordered.
Saint Paul reminds us that some people have made their appetite their “god.” - Philippians 3:19
The remedy is temperance: learning to enjoy God’s gifts without allowing them to control us.
6. WRATH → PATIENCE & FORGIVENESS
Anger itself is not always sinful. There can be righteous anger against genuine injustice.
But wrath becomes sinful when anger becomes disordered and leads us toward hatred, revenge or the desire to harm another person.
Saint James says:
“Human anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” - James 1:20
The remedy is patience, meekness and forgiveness: learning to control anger and respond to wrong with justice guided by charity.
7. SLOTH → ZEAL
Sloth is more than simply being physically lazy.
It can involve spiritual and moral indifference, a reluctance to pursue the good, grow in holiness or respond generously to God’s call.
Saint Paul tells Christians:
“Do not grow slack in zeal.” - Romans 12:11
The remedy is zeal and diligence: actively seeking God, fulfilling our responsibilities and refusing to become spiritually indifferent.
THE SIMPLEST WAY TO REMEMBER THEM
PRIDE → HUMILITY
GREED → GENEROSITY
LUST → CHASTITY
ENVY → CHARITY & GRATITUDE
GLUTTONY → TEMPERANCE
WRATH → PATIENCE & FORGIVENESS
SLOTH → ZEAL
The Church does not teach us about these seven vices simply to make us afraid of sin.
She teaches us to recognise what can damage our relationship with God and then grow in the virtues that lead us toward holiness.
Because the Christian life is not merely about asking:
“What must I stop doing?”
It is also about asking:
“What kind of person is Christ calling me to become?”
The goal is not simply to defeat the seven deadly sins.
The goal is to become holy.
SOURCES
*Sacred Scripture: Proverbs 16:18; Luke 12:15; Matthew 5:28; James 3:16; Philippians 3:19; James 1:20; Romans 12:11.
*Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1866: the seven capital sins.
*Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1803–1845: the virtues and Christian moral life.
Be Prayerful. Be Inspired.
©Catholic Dailies
