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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture In the 13th century English Ancrene Wisse they are the seven 'heaued sunnen' ['head sins', translated as 'capital sins' by Bella Millett, Guide for Anchoresses, University of Exeter Press, 2009, p. 74]. The author of AW then listed all seven, which he thought of as 'temptations' (in line with Cassian's original understanding), describing them as animals with their offspring. For example, the lion of pride has the cubs vainglory, disdain, hypocrisy, presumption etc. To return to your original question about cowardice (that was it wasn't it?) 'Pusillanimity' ['Pusillanimitas'] is one of the offspring of the bear of heavy sloth and is described as 'a heart that is just too wretched and too cowardly ['earh'] to take on any lofty enterprise . . . ' [p. 77 in both translation and text edited by Bella Millett for EETS]. The capital sins can, as I understand it, be considered temptations which if indulged in become habits which must be rooted out by confession. So a single moment of pride or jealousy may not condemn you to everlasting damnation, but take pride or jealousy as the leading motivation in your life and you will probably end up committing a deadly sin. But have you noticed how many more books are written - now and in the Middle Ages - on vice than on virtue? The virtues tend to be an 'add- on' to the exposition of the sins. Cate On 6 Oct 2014, at 17:09, H.J.M.J. Goris wrote: > medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and > culture > > Dear George, > > Evagrius Ponticus and Cassianus listed eight in their writings for > the formation of monks. The traditional list of 7 capital sins is > mentioned by Gregory the Great: pride, greed, gluttony, lust, sloth, > envy, anger (if I remember correctly, Gregory left 'sadness' or > 'melancholy' out). And it has been fairly common ever since. For > references to a number of medieval theologians, who mention the > list, see Eileen Sweeney, 'Aquinas on the seven deadly [sic] sins. > Tradition and innovation' in: Sin in Medieval and Early Modern > Culture: The Tradition of the Seven Deadly [again: sic] Sins, ed. by > Richard Newhauser and Susan Ridyard, York, Medieval Press 2012, p. 87. > > It seems to me that the confusion between 'capital' and 'deadly' sin > in English is more widespread than I thought. > > Best, Harm > > dr Harm Goris > senior lecturer systematic theology > School of Catholic Theology (Utrecht campus) > Tilburg University, the Netherlands > phone: +31-13-466 3821 > Office: Nieuwegracht 65, Utrecht > Postal address: P.O. Box 80101, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands > > > -----Original Message----- > From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval > religious culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On > Behalf Of George Ferzoco > Sent: maandag 6 oktober 2014 17:34 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [M-R] it's a sin > > medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and > culture > > Dear Harm (or anyone else who might know), > > Thanks for your detailed reply. Might you be able to point me to a > theologian who organizes sins according to 'capita' (that is, who > uses the term you've indicated, regarding sins at the head of a > system)? > > Gratefully, George > > ********************************************************************** > To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR > NAME > to: [log in to unmask] > To send a message to the list, address it to: > [log in to unmask] > To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion > to: [log in to unmask] > In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: > [log in to unmask] > For further information, visit our web site: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religion > > ********************************************************************** > To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR > NAME > to: [log in to unmask] > To send a message to the list, address it to: > [log in to unmask] > To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion > to: [log in to unmask] > In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: > [log in to unmask] > For further information, visit our web site: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religion Cate [log in to unmask] ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religion