The seven deadly sins - Pride In this post I will offer you the first of the seven deadly sins commented by Don Giuseppe Tomaselli, who decades ago wrote a very interesting book on the subject. Then we speak of pride trying to grasp its meaning in order to study the various aspects related to vice and from which perhaps the most devastating - in the opinion of some commentators - they come all the others. We read that in the work of Don Tomas :
"It is said pride inordinate desire to excel. It is a habit deeply rooted in us, which is causing a lot of sins.
God hates pride and punishes. The first sin of pride was committed by the Angels in Heaven, when they rebelled against God, led by Lucifer. The punishment was terrible, just because it was created hell and I rushed all the rebels to stay there forever. Another sin of pride did our first parents, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when they were tempted by the devil to eat the forbidden fruit and God - Why not eat this fruit? - Said the tempter. - We can not answered, because God has it banned! - If you eat, "continued the devil, you will become like God! - Adam and Eve and lent faith, motivated by a desire to become like the Creator, seized the fruit and ate it. The transgression was serious, not only for disobedience, but also for pride. God, very angry, took the supernatural gifts to the two sinners, already given free of charge, sentenced them to death and drove them from Eden.
The Redeemer.
God, just punishing the guilty, but does not fail to sympathize with the man utterly weak and gives him an effective remedy against pride. In fact, the second Person of the Holy Trinity, the Eternal Son of God, let the splendor of Heaven and take on human flesh. The purpose of the Incarnation is to reopen the Paradise men and give a wonderful example of humility, as opposed to the innate pride.
The earthly life of Jesus Christ was a continual struggle with sin of pride. Would he have been born in a royal palace and get hold of glory from men, and instead was born in a stable, lived in a shop by the carpenter and died naked on the cross between two thieves, as a criminal.
Teachings of Jesus
The Gospel is full of maxims and parables, which are targeted to bring down the pride and to teach humility. The apostles asked Jesus: Teacher, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? -
He took a child and had him stand among them and said, Who shall humble himself, making himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. -
And seeing that it tended to the superiority of the Apostles, said to them: The principles of this world lord it their subjects, for you it is not. Those of you who wants to be first must be last. -
Being a feast in Jesus and noting that brigade The guests have the top, he spoke in this way: When you're invited to dinner, not going to put you in the first place, as it may be that it was called a superior to you and then the boss will say: Dude, leave this place and sit down! - Then I will be ashamed at all the diners. But when you're invited to the table, sit in last place, that he who invited you had to say: Dude, come on! So I honor you with all the guests. As it stands who will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. -
pride as being a fever that exhausts and even why restlessness of the human heart, Jesus Christ is given as an example to all, saying: "Learn from me who am meek and humble of heart and ye shall find rest for your souls! -
fortunate those who live in accordance with these divine teachings!
The spirit of pride.
The self-esteem or high self-esteem that everyone feels, always head and must take care to avoid falling victim.
S. John Bosco himself confessed that he had heard in the soul from childhood a strong inclination to the spirit of pride. But he immediately set to work and succeeded victorious. Once could say so lepida: I had to propose to take to my neck my pride, put it under your feet and step on it. -
The spirit of pride leads him to be ambitious, arrogant, vain and makes rebel authority, so we will not stand to be subject to others, and when it is forced, internally there is fraud. We come now to the particular manifestations of pride.
thoughts.
The superb in his mind expands its merits and swells like a balloon. He thinks he's something so great and looks down, studying the means to excel more.
If the offense gets superb or a lack of respect, do not know how to achieve peace. Received much consideration in the wrong and understands the desire for vengeance. - I do this affront? ... Treat me this way, I have many merits? ... Ah! this is too much! - In the grip of these feelings, they lose peace of heart.
words.
The superb is not content to think highly of himself, but feels the need to express in words her feelings. We praise easily, showing the titles of honor, saying that they belong to a noble family, speaking with enthusiasm of their things and always putting forward your self. - I do so ... I at that time I behaved in this way ... I am always greeted ... I am very estimated ... I wear clothes to luxury ...
short s'incensa continuously and does not remember the proverb: He who sings, s'imbroda! -
Who has the sin of pride, not only reason to celebrate, it is also naturally led to despise the other.
Speaking of pride wont be mixed criticism and gossip and lie.
Those who attend such conversations, to approve the outside show, not to irritate the proud, but as soon as they away, begin to laugh at his shoulders, saying, What a superb person! . .. Oh, how silly! ... But what do you think you are? ... -
Thus is fulfilled the saying of Jesus: Who stands, will be humbled! -
The will appear.
The proud and eager to appear and does everything to appear in society something more than the others. If it is rich and spends large sums to have the most beautiful house of the other rich, buy jewels of great value and wearing costly apparel.
If it is not proud rich, big business while ago to appear before others, so only the daily expenses, it may borrow money and spend everything in fine clothes and perfumes.
The proud person and loves to be vain long before the mirror and studies the tanning hair and beautification of the face, smile and also studies the movements of the body to appear more attractive. Leaves the house, not so much to attend to chores, how to show off. Along the way he walks with affectation and seems to want to say to everyone: Look at me! ... Who is like me? ... Would you like to receive greetings and enjoy in her heart every little demonstration of esteem.
Poor proud, vain! ... But believe that everyone has to think of you? ... Everybody has their own aches and pulls on his way! ... It is therefore worthwhile to spend so much time and money to the desire to appear? ... What is useful to you? Vanity of vanities! ...
The works of superb.
Our works should be directed to the glory of God and the good of others, only then are meritorious for other life. But the superb does not mind that, in fact acting in opposition, the end of his work is the satisfaction of pride, the pursuit of respect and approval of others.
is good to recall here the scribes and Pharisees, proud men, who were retested by Jesus Christ. They were begging, praying for a long time, fasting, and were scrupulous in observing the law of Moses. However they were not acceptable to God, because their deeds were made to collect the praise of men. So Jesus said to his disciples: If your righteousness will be more abundant than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. -
The proud, when not seen, he abstains from doing charity or makes very little, and if you know to be noted, does plenty of charity as well, so can be told: Oh, how charitable and kind-hearted! -
What is said to charity, goes for everything else.
What reward can be expected from the haughty God in this life or another? No!
The spiritual pride.
E 'spiritual pride the good credit, rather than good and despise the other because the next sinner. This kind of pride, regret very much to God, who knows the misery of everyone and knows that without his help can not get anything right. The Lord
soles give these proud, leaving them to fend for themselves, allows little to fall in sins, and especially in the most shameful, so get to know their spiritual poverty.
must therefore guard against such a fatal flaw, and for this, the more humble you are, the greater the progress that is made in the way of perfection.
HUMILITY Humility is the virtue opposed to pride, is to estimate to what we are, that is a mixture of poverty, and in attributing to God the honor to know that in some we found. We should work hard to practice humility, if we really believe what we are. We
brief considerations on the human misery in order to entice more and more humility.
the human body.
How many are proud of your body! Some people should be proud of the beauty of the face, some for the color of hair, some for the freshness of complexion, who by the strength of the limbs, some for the voice, etc.. Yet, what is the human body, even the most beautiful? It 'a handful of mud.
Just a little 'fever to break down a strong physique, a pimple can disfigure the face more attractive in short, from every part of the human body smells disgusting, so it has to resort to the powders and perfumes.
immediately upon death, the body becomes cold and soon principle corpse rot. One is forced to close it in a box, seal tightly, and then relies on the ground. Woe to be close to the human body when the dissolution is advanced! The meat sticks to the pile of bones and serves food to the most hideous reptiles of the subsoil.
O men, or women, so proud of your body menate and so carefully put in appearance, think about what you will reduce the death sooner or later!
The goods of fortune.
What are the wealth and nobility of the house? They are simple vanity. What reward do you have, O man, if you are born of noble parents and have inherited the name, money, building and other properties? The credit for, at most, would be those who have struggled to get the goods. What is the difference between you and the last of the noble poor? Both are sons of Adam and subject both to a heap of misery. As you have not had to be born on rich, so the other does not guilt had to be born poor. So why despise the poor, ashamed to be near him and expect him to acts of humiliation? ...
Think of the fortune that we have today and tomorrow might not be there. An earthquake, flood, theft, failure ... disappear and the riches! How many remember the fallen noble history! It is therefore worth being proud of for the fortune? ...
The mental equipment.
Some have had by nature a prodigious memory, or a higher intelligence, they believe everything they see and feel and easily succeed in different branches of science. Others, while not extraordinary intelligence and memory, however, have a particular attitude to music, poetry, painting or other fine art.
They have the right of being proud? Not at all! The intellectual gifts are gifts of nature and can be lost or partially or completely. Just go to an asylum, to be convinced of this. How many talented professors, doctors cry, famous lawyers, etc. .... have lost the use of reason and are hospitalized between the idiots!
The spiritual .
addition to the memory and intelligence, we have the will, which is the nobler faculties of our soul. The will is done for the good and tends to it.
Many go in search of fake goods and passengers and neglects the real goods that are purchased with the exercise of Christian virtues.
There are souls of rich spiritual blessings, which multiply daily efforts and have already achieved a high degree of perfection. Can these being proud of their virtue? No! The soul can do good, because it is sustained by the grace of God, if this support is lacking, the will can not do anything. The human will is so weak now wants the good and the evil clings tomorrow, today and tomorrow loves to hate.
How can the virtuous being proud, thinking about the weakness of their will? Just think of the Prince of the Apostles, S. Peter, who said to Jesus Christ, I am ready to die with you! Do not give up! - The same night, however, denied him thrice.
many that previously were virtuous and the other model of Christian life, he turned away and became a scandal! Thus, it is always humble and distrustful of their own.
The parable of the talents.
one time we did not exist; so we were nothing. The Lord for His infinite goodness has created us, dotandoci of goods in soul and body. In doing so, has had a particular purpose. We listen to the parable of the talents, Jesus told him that for our instruction:
"A man, having to go away, he called his servants and gave them his goods. For one gave five talents, to another two and another one, to each according to his ability, and soon after he left.
he that had received five talents, went to traffic and made another five. Similarly, one who had received two. But the servant who had received one, went to dig the ground and hid his master's money.
After a long time the lord of those servants came and did the deal with them. And who became a forward who had received five talents, he gave another five, saying: Master, you gave me five talents: behold I have gained five more. - The master replied: Well you are, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a little, I will make thee the head a lot, enter the joy of your master! -
then came forward who had received two talents came and said, 'Sir, you gave me two talents: behold I have gained two more. The master said: Well you are, good and faithful servant, Since you were faithful in small matters, I will make thee the head of a lot; enter into the joy of your master. -
came forward after he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Sir, I know you're hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you have scattered, since I fear, I went to hide under the ground your talent. Here is what is yours! - The master replied: bad and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have scattered you, therefore, had to put my money to the banks and so I would have received back my money with the result. Therefore, it is taken away from him and the talent is given to those in ten; imperocché who hath shall be given and abound, not to him who hath shall be taken even that which he believes to have. And that is unprofitable servant cast into outer darkness: there shall be weeping at the gnashing of teeth. "
This parable teaches us that God gives to each of the goods, but who gives more and some less. To give a lot of wealth, another the pure need, who has a strong body and beautiful, who gives it a body weak and faulty intelligence to bestows a wide and deep, one mind to another mediocre or incompetent.
At the end of life when he has to appear before Christ the Judge, each must give an account the gifts received and more will be asked the person to whom more is given.
Thus, when we have special gifts, material or spiritual, rather than up with pride, think of being grateful to God and to correspond to divine his views.
To maintain humility, it is useful to consider the following comparison.
A rich man wants to change residence and provides to transport everything to your new home using a few donkeys.
The first donkey puts safe, with money and jewels, on the second place of paintings, works of art, on the third places the precious cloths, on the fourth intensili of little value, on the fifth finally lays the rags and other items of low use.
Suppose that these donkeys can talk and keep a conversation along the way:
- Stay away from me, says the first donkey to his companions, and I am the most noble, because I have so much wealth, I am ashamed to be next to you! - The other would answer, silly and proud! Are they the treasures that your ports? I am not master? He could not have put them on our backs? Moreover, newly arrived at the new home, everything will be removed and you'll be a poor ass like us! Think, then, that donkey, donkey'll be six! -
The lessons from this comparison! ... Should bear this in mind the proud!
Humility is truth, and as such, makes us recognize our misery, does not prevent us to recognize what is good in us, as long as everything relates to God
because there are d 'humility who agree to be rich or smart or good looking or rich spiritual gifts. But when it gets some praise for good quality, say in your heart: Not to me, O Lord, glory be to you but, the giver of all good! -
is so easy to steal but to God be the glory! This when you voluntarily we enjoy our beautiful qualities, almost like having the merit of our own.
The teaching of the Madonna.
Mary, chosen to become the Mother of the Son of God, humbled themselves before the Archangel Gabriel, who saluted "full of grace." How much humility in these words: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done unto me according to your word! "
God chose for the mother and she stated servant! Although humble, broke a hymn to the Virgin of love and gratitude to God by recognizing their dignity. When
S. Elizabeth said: Whence to me this honor, the mother of my Lord comes to me! - Replied: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior! Because he looked on the lowliness of his servant, from henceforth all generations will call me blessed! Imperocche did to me great things He who is mighty and whose name is Holy! -
Our Lady teaches us that humility can we recognize in us the gifts of God and rejoice in it, provided we give all glory to the Lord.
Humility before God
We must never trust in ourselves, as if we were anything before God, rightly esteemed. Here's the dish that suits us.
- Two men, says Jesus Christ, went to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus: Thank you, God, I'm not like other men, thieves, unjust, adulterers, and are not as this publican. I fast twice in Saturday, I give tithes of all that I have.
the publican standing at the bottom of the Temple, did not even dare raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner! -
I tell you, Jesus concludes, that this tax collector went home justified rather than the other, so that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. -
The parable is very eloquent. If we want God to forgive us our sins, sincerely humble ourselves before Him, acknowledging our misery.
If we were really good, look better, if that is the law of God, then we could not think highly of us? Even this is lawful. In fact, Jesus tells us: When you have done all that was commanded, say: We are unprofitable servants! We did what we had to do! -
Now, if the person who fulfills the commandments of God, well, useless servant has to say, what do you think of those who did, or is some sin? ... And who on earth who does not sin? ...
The afflictions.
The Lord will not let them miss the cross 'the bad guys do' to the good. At the beginning the need to suffer the punishment of sins, and by a booster on the right track, the latter is a source of merit for heaven.
The real humble when receiving a cross, is a disease, is a misfortune or adversity, not rebel against God, but all easily embraces, saying, Lord, I have sinned! ... On this cross, because of my sins! Have pity on me and give me the strength to suffer! - Who knows what treasures for Heaven gains, making the humble soul? ...
The superb contrast, if it is in pain, he gets angry and says: But what have I done to God, because I have to treat me this way? I did well in my life! - Poor superb, as is wrong before God! ...
Humility with others.
Humility with the others practice thinking good of all those who make mistakes and apologizing, not murmuring of the defects of others, rather patience and treating everyone with respect and courtesy, even the poor, the rude and ignorant, not using contemptuous words with employees and servants, not despising the company of those of low, finally, helping the needy.
doing so, we become friends of all and of course it is respected and praised with disinterest.
Humility themselves.
is practiced humility about themselves, not only by recognizing their misery, but also accept calmly the humiliation. An insult, a lack of respect, a substance not approved, a favor returned in bad ... are things that hurt the pride of man. Humility allows us to discover all this with Christian courage, thinking that for our sins, we deserve every humiliation.
Humility teaches us also to pray for those who have humiliated.
But how have the strength to practice humility in this way? Bearing in mind the example of Jesus Christ!
The humiliation we think of Jesus when he was insulted, reviled, spat and slapped by the perfidious Jews. If Jesus, the Son of God, innocent, endured so many and so serious humiliation, we Christians, as his followers, strive to imitate him as did the Saints, and so find rest for our souls. "
Taken from "The seven deadly sins" of Don Giuseppe Tomaselli