SECTION 4 



THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST 



I. Name. — Broadly speaking, every sin is a 

 sin against the Holy Ghost, because every sin is 

 opposed to sanctity, of which the Holy Ghost is 

 the author. But the name "sin against the Holy 

 Ghost" is specifically applied to a certain class of 

 transgressions described in Holy Scripture. 

 When the Pharisees attributed the miracles 

 of Christ to the devil, Our Lord declared: 

 "Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, 

 but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be for- 

 given ; and whosoever shall speak a word against 

 the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him : but he 

 that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall 

 not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in 

 the world to come." * Here is a clear distinction 

 between blasphemy against the Son of man, i. e., 

 Jesus Christ, and blasphemy against the Holy 

 Ghost. To be scandalized at the former in His 

 lowly human appearance is pardonable, 2 but to 

 blaspheme the Holy Spirit, who manifests Him- 



1 Matth. IX, 34; XII, 24, 31 sq.; 2ae, qu. 14, art. 1, ad 2: "Pecca- 

 Mark III, 28-30; Luke XII, 10. turn in Ulium hominis erit peccatum 



2 Matth. XI, 4; cfr. Matth. XXVI, ex ignorantia vel ex infirmitate." 

 31. — St. Thomas, Summa Theol., 2a 



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