Introduction -
Divisio (see above)
1) First part: pride manifested itself among human beings for the first time in Adam; it is a so cruel sin that it misled even «the first angel in heaven» (i.e. Lucifer). Criticism of the «diabolical pomp» displayed by human beings in churches (direct indication to the preacher: «At this point, scold men and women for dressing lavishly»). Pride considers neither person nor time (even Jesus was tempted to pride by the devil [reference to Matthew 4, 9], and «more pride is found in prelates than in all others»).
2) Second part: greed is a «disordered appetite to have». Radix omnium malorum est cupiditas (quote from 1Timothy 6, 10); due to greed, numerous crimes are committed (exemplum: Polydorus murdered by his uncle Polymestor [reference to Vergil, Aeneid 3, 49-68]). Caracciolo continues the quote from Revelation 16 (cf. Division).
3) Third part: the content of the third cup is poured on rivers and springs (reference to Revelation 16, 4), that is, «on voluptuousness and carnal pleasure». Lust causes blindness of mind, bad counsel, inconstancy, self-love and hatred of God, desire for earthly life and desperation for eternal life. Regarding the possibility of resisting this sin, even members of the clergy should not rely on their own abilities: in fact, «there is nothing better than avoiding the “troppo domistica conversazione di femine».
4) Fourth part: wrath is a «disordered appetite for revenge»; wrath is «like a fire that consumes and burns human beings» (reference to Revelation 16, 8-9). Three types of wrath (cf. T21/2 Monday after Oculi): 1. Wrath of passion (not a sin, because it depends on the individual nature; reference to Aristotle); 2. wrath of zeal (= desire to take revenge on a bad person; exemplum: Moses angry against the idolatrous people [from Exodus 32]); 3. wrath of vice (= desire to take revenge more out of hatred than reason).
5) Fifth part: sloth is «laziness of mind, the tedium of starting something and the fear of not being able to finish it»; the slothful have dark minds (reference to the darkness caused by the cup of the fifth angel in Revelation 16, 10).
6) Sixth part: gluttony is a «disordered appetite to drink and eat»; the cup of the sixth angel dries up “the great river Euphrates” (reference to Revelation 16, 12), which represents the «insatiability of gluttony». Exempla of gluttonuous: Adam (reference to Genesis 3-4), Noah (reference to Genesis 9, 22), Lot (not Noah, as reported in the text; reference to Genesis 19, 31-37), Esau (reference to Genesis 25, 31-34), Holofernes (reference to Book of Judith 13, 1-10), Herod (reference to Matthew 14, 10; Mark 6, 17-28), the «rich man» (reference to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (beggar), from Luke 16, 19-22).
7) Seventh part: the content of the seventh cup is thrown into the air (reference to Revelation 16, 17), and this means that «the sin of envy is founded in the air and in bad will». Exempla of envious: Cain (reference to Genesis 4), Joseph (patriarch)’s brothers (reference to Genesis 37, 12-36), the priests and Jews who asked for the crucifixion of Christ.
Conclusion
The capital vices are like seven chains that bind human beings to the devil, making them slaves of sin; to escape this condition of slavery, confession is necessary.
... man» (reference to the parable of the rich man and
Lazarus (beggar)
, from Luke 16, 19-22). 7) Seventh part: the content...