We have a "falling" human nature. We are drawn to what pleases us regardless of whether or not what we desire is morally good. My fallen human nature is a “magnet to sin”. To resist sin, to say “no” to temptation, is “supernatural” (i.e. above my nature). The analogy for the spiritual life is “walking on water."

Pride - is a craving for self-glorification, an inordinate desire for self-esteem. In relation to God, we were nothing until in His almighty love, He brought us into existence, and except for His sustaining hand, we would lapse into the nothingness from which we came. The problem is that we tend to forget who God is and who we are. We forget our contingency, our dependence on God.

The poet Milton has Satan sing, “Better to reign in Hell than to serve in heaven.” Satan tempted Adam and Eve by telling them: “You will become like God.” Aristotle called it one of the virtues; Christianity calls it the worst of all sins. Mohammed Ali, the former heavyweight champion of the world, was once asked by a stewardess to fasten his seatbelt. He told her: “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” To which she responded: “Superman don’t need no airplane either.”

Lust - an inordinate desire for sexual pleasure. There is a God-given desire for sexual pleasure which may be satisfied within the sacred covenant of marriage. However, this urge is so strong that it requires the constant help of divine grace to be kept under control. In order to master the sexual passion, it is necessary to control one’s thoughts. But there can be no control of the mind without constant discipline of the senses, especially the eyes.

Anger - Distinguish between just and unjust anger: Just anger is anger that God’s law is offended (i e an injustice is done, God’s law is broken.) Unjust anger is anger based on the fact that my will is contradicted. (I want what I want when I want it.)

Of just anger, St. Augustine writes, “Anger is given us by God so that what ought not be, will not be, and what ought to be will be.”

St. Augustine also writes,” Hope has two beautiful daughters: anger and courage. Anger at the way things are, courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.

What makes anger sinful is either the cause of the anger or its intensity or duration. St Paul writes Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.

Covetousness - also called avarice is a disorderly love of material possessions. We need material things in order to serve God in this world. But the world is so attractive and its pleasures so seductive, that our fallen human nature wants to acquire far beyond what we need.

Bumper Sticker: Whoever dies with the most toys wins. (The truth is that whoever dies with the most toys still dies.) A rich man was asked how much money he needed to be happy. His answer was: “Just a little more.”

Envy - sadness or discontent at the excellence, good fortune or success of another person. (Jealousy is sometimes defined as joy at the misfortune of another.)

Sloth - the desire for ease, even at the expense of failure to perform a duty. a repugnance to divine inspirations due to the labor and self-sacrifice needed to cooperate with actual grace. “Rust-out”

Gluttony - unreasonable desire for food or drink. “Pigging-out” being overly particular about what we eat. One student told me she only eats “Spaghetti C’s and Cocoa Puffs.” Mortification helps us to control this excess.