PRO EXAMEN

PER VITIA CAPITALIA · DE ACEDIA

Capital Sins - Sloth (Acedia)

Acedia (spiritual sloth) is disgust with spiritual goods because of the effort required. From it flow malice, spite, faintheartedness, despair, sluggishness, and wandering of the mind. The 'noonday devil' of the desert fathers, it is the most dangerous vice for those in the spiritual life.

Acedia est taedium boni spiritualis propter laborem requisitum. Ex ea fluunt malitia, rancor, pusillanimitas, desperatio, torpor.

LATINE
Acedia est torpor spiritualis et taedium boni.
Num in servitio Dei piger fui?
Num orationes meas neglexi vel negligenter peregi?
Num in recipiendis Sacramentis negligens fui?
Num de statu animae meae indifferens fui?
Num mediis gratiae uti omisi?
Num de misericordia Dei desperatus vel deiectus fui?
Num de faciendo officio meo questus sum?
Num in amore Dei tepidus fui?
Num otium et ludos orationi et bonis operibus praetuli?
Num talenta et facultates meas meliorare omisi?
Domine Iesu Christe, inflamma cor meum igne amoris tui,
ut tibi cum zelo et fervore omnibus diebus vitae meae serviam.
Ab omni pigritia et torpore spirituali,
libera me, Domine.
ENGLISH
Acedia (Sloth) is spiritual torpor and disgust with the good.
Have I been lazy in the service of God?
Have I neglected my prayers or performed them carelessly?
Have I been negligent in receiving the Sacraments?
Have I been indifferent to the state of my soul?
Have I failed to use the means of grace?
Have I been discouraged or despairing of God's mercy?
Have I complained about having to do my duty?
Have I been lukewarm in the love of God?
Have I preferred idleness and amusement to prayer and good works?
Have I failed to improve my talents and abilities?
Lord Jesus Christ, inflame my heart with the fire of Thy love,
that I may serve Thee with zeal and fervor all the days of my life.
From all sloth and spiritual torpor,
deliver me, O Lord.
NOTA
FONS
Summa Theologiae II-II, q. 35; Evagrius Ponticus, Praktikos
USUS
Examination by capital sins
CONTEXT
The desert fathers called acedia the 'noonday devil' (Ps 90:6 Vulgate) because it attacks most intensely in the middle of the day, tempting monks to abandon their cell and vocation.