KINDS OF SIN 57 



4. Sins of Thought, Word, and Deed. — 

 Psychologically, we may distinguish between sins 

 of thought, word, and deed. The Angelic Doc- 

 tor explains the underlying process as follows: 

 "The first beginning of sin is its foundation, as 

 it were, in the heart; the second degree is the 

 sin of word, in so far as man is ready to break 

 out into a declaration of his thought. The 

 third degree consists in the consummation of the 

 deed. Consequently these three differ in re- 

 spect of the various degrees of sin. Neverthe- 

 less it is evident that all three belong to the one 

 complete species of sin, since they proceed from 

 the same motive. For the angry man, through 

 desire of vengeance, is at first disturbed in 

 thought, then breaks out into words of abuse, 

 and lastly goes on to wrongful deeds; and the 

 same applies to lust and to any other sin." la 



proximus, in quos peccatur per pec- corporis corruptionem cadere, quam 

 cata spiritualia, et ideo peccata cogitatione tacita ex deliberata ela- 

 spiritualia, inquantum huiusmodi, Hone peccare, sed quum minus tur- 

 sunt maioris culpae. Tertia ratio pis superbia creditur, minus vitatur. 

 potest sumi ex parte motivi, quia Luxuriant vero eo magis erubescunt 

 quanto est gravius impulsivum ad homines, quo simul omnes turpem 

 peccandum, tanto homo minus peccat, noverunt. Unde fit plerumque, ut 

 peccata autem carnalia habent vehe- nonnulli post superbiam in luxuriam 

 mentius impulsivum, id est, ipsam corruentes ex aperto casu malum cul- 

 concupiscentiam carnis nobis inna- pae latentis erubescant; et tunc 

 tarn, et ideo peccata spiritualia, in- etiam maiora corrignnt, quum pro- 

 quantum huiusmodi, sunt maioris strati in minimis gravius confundun- 

 culpae." — Idem, De Verit., qu. 25, tur. Reos enim se inter minora con- 

 art. 6, ad 2: "Peccata irascibilis spiciunt, qui se liberos inter graviora 

 sunt graviora, sed peccata concu- crediderunt." (Migne, P. L., LXXVI, 

 piscibilis turpiora." — St. Gregory the 688). 



Great, Moral., 1. 33, c. 12, n. 25: 12 Summa Theoh, ia 2ae, qu. 72, 



"Scimus, quia aliquando minus est in art. 7: "Peccatum dividitur per 



