Introduction
-
Divisio (see above) 1) First part: the first misery into which human beings fall due to sin is the “servitude”: Qui facit peccatum, servus est peccati (quote from John 8, 34). Exemplum: the liberation of Peter (from Acts 12, 1-11; according to Caracciolo, «Peter in prison represents the sinner, the prison is the sensual desire, the two chains represent two natural defects, i.e. the difficulty in doing good and the ignorance [reference to Augustine], the guards represent worldly pleasures and promises»). 2) Second part: the second misery into which human beings fall due to sin is the “disfigurement” (or “stain”). Exemplum: sins of Salomon (from Book of Sirach 47, 22). Sin makes human beings similar to beasts, and «it’s worse to be compared to beasts than to be born a beast» (reference to John Chrysostom’s «homily of the Ascension»). 3) Third part: the third misery into which human beings fall due to sin is the “loss of temporal goods”: 1. Sin brings kingdoms and kings to ruin (exempla: Saul loses the kingdom of Israel [Samuel to Saul:«Because you have despised the precept of God, the Lord has despised you, and doesn’t want you to be king of Israel», quote from 1Samuel 15, 26]; David loses the obedience of the people of Israel [from 2Samuel 24]); 2. because of sin human beings sometimes lose their possessions (quotes from Luke 12, 20 and Psalmi 48, 11-12); 3. because of sin human beings sometimes lose their reputation («A good name is better than great riches», quote from Proverbs 24; exemplum: Mary Magdalene).
Conclusion Short exposition of the three types of sin: 1) “Original” sin: those who die with original sin cannot obtain eternal life (Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua et spiritu santo non potest intrare in regnum Dei, quote from John 3, 5); 2) “Venial” sin: it doesn’t deprive the human beings of the love of God but can lead them to commit mortal sin; 3) “Mortal” sin: anyone who commits mortal sin and doesn’t confess is «in a state of perdition, damned in the hands of the devil, totally deprived of the goods of the faithful, deprived of the grace and hope of eternal life, worthy of death, enemy of God, expelled from heaven, intruder in the world without advantage».