Deadly Sins Part One

ONE

Pride 

The vice against temperance is, surprise surprise, intemperance, which rears its ugly head in our lives in the form of pride and the seven deadly sins. The vice of pride is a sin against temperance, as it exaggerates one’s own importance. Everyone is guilty of at least some degree of pride and the following list (compiled by St. Josemaria Escriva) is a good criterion for locating your dominant form of pride or vanity:

“Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say; always wanting to get your own way; arguing when you are not right; arguing when you are right but with bad manners or insisting stubbornly; giving your opinion without being asked, when charity does not demand you to do so; despising the point of view of others; not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan (from God); not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honor or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own; mentioning yourself as an example in conversation; speaking badly about yourself, so that others may form a good opinion of you; making excuses when rebuked; being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you; refusing to carry out menial tasks; seeking or wanting to be singled out; dropping words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty or wit or skill or professional prestige; being ashamed of not having certain possessions.”

These characteristics are all symptoms of exulting one’s own identity to the detriment of the other goods. It is very humbling to reflect on one’s own pride, but hopefully, that reflection can lead to the amendment of excessive self-assertion and even excessive self-consciousness.