Humility Liberality Abstinence Chastity Diligence Kindness Patience
Wrath Envy Sloth Lust Gluttony Greed Pride
Inferno Inferno is the first part to Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, The Divine Comedy. Inferno tells the story of Dante’s passage through the nine circles of Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil. The Divine Comedy represents the journey of the soul towards God, with the Inferno describing the recognition and rejection of sin. The poem begins on the night before Good Friday in the year 1300. Dante find himself alone in a dark wood, chased by three beasts he can not evade; a
lion, a leopard, a she-wolf. The Inferno shows the soul seeing sin for what it really is and the three beasts represent three types of sin: the self-indulgent, the violent, and the malicious. The three types of sin are what separates Hell. The first five Circles) for the self-indulgent sins; Circles six and seven for the violent sins; and Circles eight and nine for the malicious sins. Dante passes through the gate of Hell, which bears an inscription. The final line of the inscription
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Purgatorio been “Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate” which translates as “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here” Dante and his guide travel through the Nine Circles and find Lucifer at the Centre. They climb down his fur, pass through the centre of the Earth and emerge in Purgatory just before dawn on Easter Sunday.
Purgatorio is the second part to Dante’s Divine Comedy. Purgatorio tells the story of Dante’s climb up the Mount of Purgatory. The mountain is made up of a bottom section called Ante-Pugatory, Seven levels of torture and spiritual growth and then Earthly Paradise at the top. Having survived the depths of Hell Dante and Virgil ascend out of the undergloom and up to the Mountain of Purgatory on the far side of the world. The Mountain is an island, the only land
in the Southern Hemisphere. Dante describes Hell as existing underneath Jerusalem, created by the impact of Satan’s fall from Heaven. Mount Purgatory, on exactly the opposite side of the world, was created by a displacement of rock, caused by the same event. Upon their arrival on the shores of Purgatory, Dante and Virgil are reprimanded by Cato, a pagan who is repsonsible for guarding the mountain. Dante starts the ascent of Mount Purgatory at sunrise. The gate of Purgatory
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is guarded by an angel who uses the point of his sword to draw the letter P seven times on Dante’s Forehead. The angel at the gate then warns Dante not to look back, lest he should find himself outside the gate again, symbolizing Dante having to overcome and rise above the hell that he has just left and thus leaving his sinning ways behind him. Virgil guides the pilgrim Dante through the seven terraces of Purgatory. These correspond to the seven deadly sins, each terrace purging a particular sin.
Seven Deadly Sins Sin is a term used to describe an act that violates moral rule. It is a term mainly used in a religious context in which the moral code of conduct is decreed by a divine entity. In some religions a sin refers to the actions, thoughts and feelings that are considered wrong and thus prohibited. It is believed that God will punish those that commit sin in this life or the next. The first recorded use of the term sin is in the early Ninth Century and derives from the Old English synn.
In Biblical Hebrew the generic word for sin is het. It means to miss the mark. The CatholicChurch separated sin into two classifications: Venial Sins, which could be easily forgiven through Sacrements of the Church; the second classification is Mortal Sin and are much more severe. The modern concept of the Seven Deadly Sins (Pride, Greed, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth, Envy and Wrath) derives from the list of Eight Evils produce in the 4th century by Evagrius Ponticus, The Eight
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Mountain of Purgatorio were translated into Latin and revised by Pope Gregory in 590AD to form the Seven Deadly Sins known today. Each of the seven deadly sins now also has an opposite among corresponding seven contrary virtues In parallel order to the sins they oppose, the seven contrary virtues are humility, charity, kindness, patience, chastity, temperance, and diligence.
The Earthly Paradise
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Pride is considered to be the sin from which all other sins arise. In some cultures, it is considered a virtue but is associated with excessive belief in ones own abilities. Thomas Aquinas said of Pride “inordinate self-love is the cause of every sin ... the root of pride is found to consist in man not being, in some way, subject to God and His rule.” Dante’s definition was “love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one’s neighbor.” In Dante’s Puragtorio
the Prideful are made to carry giant blocks across their backs and unable to stand up straight.
Pride
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Greed is the sin associated with the desire for material gain. Originally, Greed was originally known as Avarice. Avarice was a blanket term and covered all different types of Greed - disloyalty, betrayal and treason for material gain. Thomas Aquinas said of Greed: “it is a sin directly against one’s
neighbor, since one man cannot overabound in external riches, without another man lacking them.” Mammon is a term, derived from the Christian Bible, used to describe material wealth or greed. It also the name given to the False God of Greed. In Dante’s Purgatorio the penitent were bound and laid face down on the
Greed
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ground for having concentrated too much on earthly thoughts.
Gluttony is the sin linked with an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires. The word Gluttony derives from the Latin word gluttire meaning to swallow. Gluttony is not universally considered a sin; depending on the culture, it can be a sign of status. Thomas Aquinas said of Gluttony:
“Gluttony denotes, not any desire of eating and drinking, but an inordinate desire leaving the order of reason, wherein the good of moral virtue consists.� He also listed six ways to commit gluttony: Praepropere (eating too soon), Laute (eating too expensively), Nimis (eating too much), Ardenter (eating
too eagerly), Studiose (eating too daintily) and Forente (eating wildly). In Dante’s Purgatorio the Gluttonous are purged from eating and drinking for their sins.
Gluttony
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Lust is a term to describe the inordinate desire for the pleasure of the body. Thomas Aquinas said of Lust: ...wherever there occurs a special kind of deformity whereby the venereal act is rendered unbecoming, there is a determinate species of lust. This may occur in two ways: First, through being contrary to right reason, and this is common to all lustful vices; secondly, because, in addition, it is contrary to the natural order of the venereal act as
becoming to the human race: and this is called “the unnatural vice.” This may happen in several ways. First, by procuring pollution, without any copulation, for the sake of venereal pleasure: this pertains to the sin of “uncleanness” which some call “effeminacy.” Secondly, by copulation with a thing of undue species, and this is called “bestiality.” Thirdly, by copulation with an undue sex, male with male, or female with female, as the Apostle states and
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this is called the “vice of sodomy.” Fourthly, by not observing the natural manner of copulation, either as to undue means, or as to other monstrous and bestial manners of copulation. In Dante’s Purgatorio the lustful are purged amongst flames.
Lust
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Sloth is a sin associated with physical and spirtual apathy.
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Envy is described as an obsession with the traits/ qualities of an other. Thomas Aquinas said of Envy: “Envy according to the aspect of its object is contrary to charity, whence the soul derives its spiritual life... Charity rejoices in our neighbor’s good, while envy grieves over it.” In Dante’s Purgatorio the Envious are punished by having their eyes sewn shut and forced to wear clothing that makes them indistinguishable from the ground.
Envy
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Wrath is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury.
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Thomas Aquinas said Anger is “the name of a passion. A passion of the sensitive appetite is good in so far as it is regulated by reason, whereas it is evil if it set the order of reason aside.� In Dante’s Purgatorio the wrathful are purged by walking around in acrid smoke Souls correct themselves by learning how wrath has blinded their vision, impeding their judgment (the sin of wrath represents a perversion of the natural love of justice).
Wrath
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Enneagram of Personality
typology (a model of personality types) but is also presented in ways intended
to discover and develop higher states of being, essence and enlightenment.
Paradiso
The Enneagram of Personality is mostly taught and understood as a psychospiritual
Paradiso
Patience is the virtue that counters the sin of unjust anger, also called wrath or rage. Where the sin of wrath is about quick temper and unnecessary vengeance, the virtue of meekness focuses on patiently seeking appropriate resolution to conflicts, and on the ability to forgive and show mercy.
“All human power is a compound of time and patience.� Honore de Balzac
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“Kindness in giving creates love.”
Kindness, or love for one’s neighbor, is the virtue which counters the sin of envy. Envy, in contradiction to God’s law of love, is manifest in a person’s sorrow and distress over the good fortune of another person. Conversely, kindness is manifest in the unprejudiced, compassionate and charitable concern for others.
Lao Tzu
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17 Diligence, or persistence, is the virtue which counters the sin of sloth. Sloth, as a capital sin, refers to laziness in matters of Faith and spiritual combat. Diligence manifests the appropriately zealous attitudes toward living and sharing the Faith.
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“Decay is inherent in all compound things. Strive on with diligence.� Buddha
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Chastity is the counter-virtue to the sin of lust. Chastity embraces moral wholesomeness and purity, and in both thought and action treats God’s gift of sexuality with due reverence and respect.
“God is love. God is faithful God is pure.”
John 4:8
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The virtue of temperance or abstinence counters the sin of gluttony. To be gluttonous is to overindulge. On the opposite hand, the virtue of temperance is centered on self-control and moderation.
“Abstinence is the great strengthener and clearer of reason.� Robert South
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“Liberality consists rather in giving reasonably than much.”
Liberality, or generosity, is the virtue that is counter to greed – the sin of immoderate desire for earthly goods. The virtue of liberality is focused not merely on the appropriate concern regarding one’s earthly goods, but also on generosity and a willingness to give, freely and without
request for commendation.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Humility is the virtue that counters pride. As pride leads to other sin, true humility clears a path for holiness. Pride is a sin based on undue and inappropriate appreciation of one’s self worth. Conversely, the virtue of humility is about modest behavior, selflessness and the giving of respect..
“Pride makes us artifical and humility makes us real.” Thomas Merton
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Seven Contrary Virtues of holy virtue throughout Europe. Restraint is the keystone of the seven holy virtues. The other holy virtues are created through selfless pursuits:
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Humility: Pursuit of Modesty Liberality: Pursuit of Will Abstinence: Pursuit of Giving Chastity: Pursuit of Courage and Knowledge Diligence: Pursuit of Ethics Kindness: Pursuit of Charity Patience: Pursuit of Peace
The Contrary Virtues were derived from the Psychomachia, an epic poem written by Prudentius Practicing these virtues is alledged to protect one against temptation toward the Seven Deadly Sins: humility against pride, kindness against envy, abstinence against gluttony, chastity against lust, patience against anger, liberality against greed, and diligence against sloth. The intense popularity of this work in the Middle Ages helped to spread the
Aurelius Prudentius Clemens was a Roman Christian poet, born in the Roman province of Tarraconensis (now Northern Spain) in 348. The poetry of Prudentius is influenced by early Christian authors, such as Tertullian and St. Ambrose, as well as the Bible
Prudentius and the acts of the martyrs. His hymn Da, puer, plectrum (including “Corde natus ex parentis”: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”) and the hymn for Epiphany O sola magnarum urbium (“Earth Has Many a Noble City”), both from the Cathemerinon, are still in use today.
The allegorical Psychomachia, however, is his most influential work and became the inspiration and wellspring of medieval allegorical literature.
Contest of the Soul/Psychomachia The Psychomachia (Battle for Mansoul) by the Late Antique Latin poet Prudentius is probably the first and most influential “pure” medieval allegory he poem describes the conflict of vices and virtues as a battle in the style of Virgil’s Aeneid. Christian faith is attacked by and defeats pagan idolatry to be cheered by a thousand Christian martyrs.
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Humility Liberality Abstinence Chastity Diligence Kindness Patience
Wrath Envy Sloth Lust Gluttony Greed Pride