AnExaminationofRootSinbasedontheSevenDeadlySins
Anagram:PLACES-G(thesevendeadlysins):
Pride,Lust,Anger,Covetousness,Envy,Sloth,Gluttony
Pride(STII-IIq162)
Prideisthemotherofallsin
DoIrefuseorresistadmittingmyweaknesses?
DoIdwellonthefailingsofothers?
DoIjudge/condemnothers,inmythoughtsorwords?
DoIrankmyselfbetterthanothersordemandcertaintreatmentbecauseofmy“status”?
DoIharbourhatredforanother?
DoIrefusetolearnfromothersorrejecttheiropinions,especiallywhentheydisagreewithme?
AmIstubborn?
DoIRefusedtoadmitIamwrongortoacceptthatanotherpersonhasabetteridea?
AmIarrogant?
DoIholdothersincontempt?
DoIassumeIamrightandothersarewrongwithoutensuringIactuallyunderstandthemortheirideas?
Vanity(STII-IIq132)
Vanityisexcessiveconcernaboutwhatothersthinkofme–notjustwhattheythinkofmyappearance.
AmIoverlyconcernedaboutwhatothersthinkofme?HaveIallowedthistoinfluencemyactions?
DoIlieorexaggeratetomakemyselflookgood?
HaveIwastedunduetimeandmoneyonclothesandappearance?
AmIdiscontentwithmylowlyposition,orhaveIresentedtherolethatChristasksofme?
DoIexperiencefrequentanxietyregardinghowIamperceived?DoIallowthistoinfluencemyactions?
AmyIcowardlyinwhenconfrontedwithdoingorsayingsomethingthatshouldbesaidordonebecauseof
myconcernfortheperceptionofothers?
DoIclingtomyownperceptionofmyselfinsteadofallowingotherstohelpmeunderstandhowIreallyam?
Lust(STII-IIq.153;CCC2351)
Lustisdisordereddesireforsexualpleasure,isolatedfromitsprocreativeandunitivepurpose(CCC2351).
CustodyoftheEyes:“Whoeverlooksatawomanwithlustforherhasalreadycommittedadulterywithherinhis
heart”(Mt5:28)
DoIviewothersasmeresexualobjectsratherthanaspersonstobelovedandhonored?
DoIdepersonalizeothersandexpresslackofconcernfortheirslaverywithinpornographytoenablemyown
pleasure?
Pornography:Oninternet?orTV?
ImpureThoughts:
DoIentertainimpurethoughts?
ImpureActs:
Alone,orwithanother?
Anger/Wrath(STII-IIq158)
Angerisunduedesireforvengeance
-undueincauseorinamount.
DoIharbourresentment,grudges,andhatredinmythoughts?
DoInurtureimaginaryangryconversations?
AmIslowtoforgive?
DoIlosemytemper?
DoIeasilygetfrustratedwithpeople?
Dopeopleeasilygetonmynerves?
Impatience:
HowdoIcarrymycross?
AmIimpatientorfrustratedwithpeople,family,events,sufferings,sicknesses?
Covetousness/Avarice(STII-IIq118)
Avariceistheexcessiveloveofpossessingthings
AmIoverlyconcernedaboutmyowncomfortandwell-being?
AmIresentfulofmylackofmoneyorresources?
AmIgenerousingiving?DoIgivewithacheerfulheart?
DoIcheat,steal,fudge,orfailtopaymybillsontime?
DoIusepeopleformyownendsandadvantage?
DoIwastemoney?
Envy/Jealousy(STII-IIq36)
Envy–issadnessatthehappinessofanother
DoIenvyorexperiencejealousyregardingtheabilities,talents,ideas,good-looks,intelligence,clothes,
possessions,money,friends,family,ofothers?
AmIsaddenedorfrustratedatthesuccessofothers?
Gossip:
DoIjudgeothersinmythoughts?
DoIdamagethereputationofothersbymywords,attitude,orlooks?
DoIrepeataccusationsthatmightnotbetrue?DoIexaggerate?
DoIfailtodefendthereputationofothers?
DoIfailtokeepsecrets?
DoIdespiseothersofdifferentrace,classorculture?
Lies:DoIlieorexaggerate?
Sloth/Apathy(STII-IIq35)
Laziness,especiallyinthethingsofGod.Slothisa sorrowinthefaceofspiritualgood-itmakesyou
lethargicandwanttodonothing.
DoIseekGodaboveallelse,orhaveIputotherprioritiesaheadofhim?(e.g.friendships,ambition,comfort
andease)
DoIgetsocaughtupinthethingsofthisworldthatI’veforgottenGod?
DoIrisklosingmyfaith/pietybybadcompany,badreading,cowardice,orpride?
DoItrustGod,especiallyintimesofdifficulty?
DoIattendedMasseachandeverySunday?
DoIneglectedtosaymydailyprayers?
DoIentertaindistractionsinprayer,orfailtogiveGoddueconcentrationinprayerorintheMass?(Note:Not
givingGodtheefforthedeservesinprayerisasin,butitisnotthesamethingasinvoluntaryweaknessinmentaldistractions.)
DoImakeaprayerfulpreparationbeforeMassandagoodthanksgivingafterMass?
DoIreceiveHolyCommunionwhileinastateofserioussin?
DoIneglecttoseekConfessionbeforeHolyCommunion?
DoItaketheLord’snameinvainoruseotherfoullanguage?
MyNeighbour:
AmIlazyandslowtohelpothers?
DoIonlyserveotherswhenitisconvenient,pleasurable,orwhenIamforcedtodoso?
HaveIbeenattentivetotheneedsofmyneighbour,theneedsofmyfamily?
Ismyconversationfocussedonmyownpleasure,oronothers?
Ismyhumourinsensitivetoothers?
MyFamily:
DoIfocusmoreonmyselfthanontheneedsofothers?
DoIspendtimewithmyfamily?DoImanifestmycareandconcernforthem?AmIforgivingandtolerantof
them?DoIscandalizethembyabadorlazyexample?
PunctualityandDiscipline:
DoIwasteotherpeople’stimebybeinglate?
DoIsinagainstGodandthecongregationbybeinglateforMass?
DoIneglecttogotosleepontimeandallowmycuriosity,gamingorotherentertainmenttodeterminemy
schedule?
DoImakegooduseofmytimeinservicetoothers,ordoIwastetimeneedlessly?E.g.TVorinternet?
DoIfailtoplangooduseofrelaxationandrecreation,knowingthatIneedtorestwellonordertoprayand
serveothers?
Gluttony(STII-IIq148)
Gluttonyistheinordinatedesireforfood.
AmIoverweight?
DoIeatmorethanIneed?
Tohowseriousanextent?
DoIspendexcessivemoneyonfood?
DoIdrinkalcoholexcessively?
DoIdriveafterdrinking?
DoIeatgreedilyandwithlittleconsiderationforthoseattablewithme?
DoIfailtogivemoneytohelpthehungry?
DoIfailtoregularlypracticefastingandself-denial,especiallyonFridays?
DoIabstainfrommeatonFridays?
DoIregularlyfastanhourbeforereceivingHolyCommunionatMass?