Posted on 06/14/2021 7:03:11 AM PDT by Cronos
We are living in times when many are doubling down on their sin. As the darkness grows, many fiercely defend their sinful practices. This is especially evident in the matter of abortion. The science could not be clearer that there is a unique, beautifully formed, distinct human life in the womb of a pregnant mother, with a heartbeat, brain activity, alternating sleep and wake cycles, and the ability to feel pain. Despite this, many demand that all limits on abortion be removed. They “shout” and celebrate abortion, rejoicing in the dismemberment of babies in the womb and all the while considering themselves morally superior to those who support life.
How does it happen that so many obstinately persist in sin and promote wickedness until they are ultimately lost? As with all progressive diseases, sin is a sickness that moves through stages, further debilitating and hardening the sinner in his ways.
St. Alphonsus Liguori laid out five stages through which sin (if not resisted and repented of in its initial attacks) takes an increasing toll on the human person, making repentance less likely and more difficult.
While the names of the stages are mine, I am summarizing the insights of St. Alphonsus, who details these stages in his lengthy essay, “Considerations on the Eternal Maxims” (also called “Preparation for Death”) in Chapter 22, “On Evil Habits.” I have added some of my own additional insights as well.
Stage 1: Impairment – The first effect of habitual sin is that it blinds the understanding. Scripture says, Their own malice blinded them (Wisdom 2:21). Yes, every sin produces blindness, and the more that sins are multiplied, the greater the blindness they produce.
A further effect of this blindness is a foolish and dangerous wandering about. Scripture provides several references for this:
Thus, habitual sin leads to impaired vision and an impaired walk. Not seeing, the wicked stumble about and fall into a pit of their own making.
Stage 2: Indifference – After an evil habit is contracted, the sins that previously excited sorrow are now viewed with increasing indifference. Scripture says the following:
To the increasingly indifferent and careless, the Lord gives this solemn and salutary warning: In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come (Is 32:10).
Thus, as unrepented sin grows, not only does the sinner stagger about and fall into pits, he cares less and less about the foolishness of his ways. The sins that once caused shame, or the thought of which caused sorrow and aversion, either go unnoticed or seem normal—even attractive.
Stage 3: Incapacity – As sin deepens its hold, the willingness and even the capacity to repent decreases. Why is this? St. Augustine answers this well when he says, dum servitur libidini, facta est consuetudo, et dum consuetudini non resistitur, facta est necessitas (when lust was served it became habit, and when habit was not resisted it became necessity) (Confessions, 8.5.10). Sin deepens its hold on the sinner in this way.
Stage 4: Incorrigibility – As Scripture says, The wicked man, when he is come into the depths of sins, has contempt (Proverbs 18:3). St. John Chrysostom commented on this verse, saying that habitual sinners, being sunk in the abyss of darkness, despise corrections, sermons, censures, Hell, and God; they despise everything.
A bad habit hardens the heart and the habitual sinner remains increasingly unmoved and mired in contempt for any correction or remedy. Scripture says of them, At your rebuke O God of Jacob, they have all slumbered (Psalm 76:7). An evil habit gradually takes away all remorse and replaces it with angry indignation at any attempted correction.
Then, instead of regretting his sins, the sinner rejoices in them, even laughing and boasting of them. Scripture says,
Thus, they are incorrigible. They laugh at attempted correction and celebrate their sins with pride.
Stage 5: Indisposition – When the understanding is deprived of light and the heart is hardened, the sinner ordinarily dies obstinate in his sin. Scripture says, A hard heart shall fare ill at the end (Ecclesiastes 3:27).
Some may say that they will amend their ways before they die, but it’s very difficult for a habitual sinner, even in old age, to change his life. St. Bernard said, “The man on whom the weight of a bad habit presses, rises with difficulty.”
Indeed, how can a sinner, weakened and wounded by habitual sin, have the strength to rise? Even if he sees the way out, he often considers the remedies too severe, too difficult. Though conversion is not impossible, he is indisposed because it all seems like too much work. In addition, his love has likely grown cold for the good things that God offers.
Thus, even on their deathbeds, many sinners remain unmoved and unwilling to change; the darkness is deep, their hearts have hardened, and their sloth has solidified.
In these ways sin is like a progressive illness, a deepening disease; it moves through stages in much the same way that cancer does. Repentance at any stage is possible, but it becomes increasingly unlikely, especially by stage four, when the sinner becomes proud of his sin and joyful in his iniquity.
Beware the progressive illness of sin!
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While it was about politics and meant for comedy, this Freedom Toons cartoon about the Republicans in 5 years matches up fairly well with how people without an anchor in Christ can slide into depravity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igBTQiZbzfE
It’s been stated that God doesn’t send people to hell but that they choose to go there.
Wow - great article on the quicksand of sin.
I am a fan Freedom Toons and the guy behind it is a faithful Catholic. In that cartoon he did a great job of showing how anchorless the Republican Party is.
Since the Democrat party officially abandoned God, and they no longer embrace His sacraments, their new sacraments in resistance are the seven deadly sins.
Over time, and with considerable overlap, each of the seven deadly sins has evolved its own faction within the Democrat party. Yet, as has been demonstrated, each of the sins has devolved down to their lowest rank and file.
This uniformity of sin does make them appear powerful at times, acting as a group with a similar goal without needing much guidance.
Thank you for posting.
Very thoughtful article explaining how sins become habituated and ingrained into lifestyles and often impervious to change.
And,
Listening, they do not hear.
Looking, they do not see.
bookmark
I remember reading the book Hans and Rudolf - this is by a grand-nephew of Jews who escaped Nazi Germany.
It is about the commandant of Auschwitz.
What is horrifying about this book is that the commandant started justifying his actions step by step.
And one can see how any of us could become monsters just by taking one step lower at a time. just one step
That's so true. Without God there's just an abyss out there that any of us could fall into.
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