PRO EXAMEN

PER VITIA CAPITALIA · DE SVPERBIA

Capital Sins - Pride

Pride (superbia) is the inordinate love of one's own excellence - the root and queen of all sins. It was the sin of Satan and of Adam. St. Thomas teaches that pride is 'the beginning of all sin' (Ecclesiasticus 10:15). From pride flow vainglory, ambition, presumption, contempt, and disobedience. Its contrary virtue is humility.

LATINE
Superbia est inordinatus amor propriae excellentiae.
Num superbus, vanus, vel sui complacens fui?
Num laudem et aestimationem aliorum quaesivi?
Num alios despexi vel infra me spectavi?
Num culpas meas admittere vel correctionem accipere recusavi?
Num in opinionibus meis obstinatus fui?
Num de effectis, talentis, vel possessionibus meis gloriatus sum?
Num eis qui ante me praelati sunt invidus fui?
Num aliis servire vel inferiorem locum capere nolui?
Num bonum quod a Deo venit mihi attribui?
O Iesu, mitis et humilis corde, fac cor meum secundum Cor tuum.
A superbia vitae,
libera me, Domine.
ENGLISH
Pride is the inordinate love of one's own excellence.
Have I been proud, vain, or self-satisfied?
Have I sought the praise and esteem of others?
Have I despised or looked down upon others?
Have I refused to admit my faults or accept correction?
Have I been stubborn in my own opinions?
Have I boasted of my accomplishments, talents, or possessions?
Have I been envious of those who have been preferred before me?
Have I been unwilling to serve others or to take a lower place?
Have I attributed to myself the good that comes from God?
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.
From the pride of life,
deliver me, O Lord.
NOTA
FONS
Summa Theologiae II-II, q. 162; Formulae Traditionalis Examinis
USUS
Examination by capital sins, preparation for confession
CONTEXT
St. Thomas teaches that pride is the beginning of all sin (Ecclus 10:15). It was through pride that the angels fell and that Adam sinned in seeking to be 'like God.'