26. THE QUESTION WAS:
What was St. Jerome discussing when he said, It is one thing to owe ten
thousand talents, another to owe but a farthing.
a.
the difference between mortal and venial sins
b.
the difference between and poor in wealth and the poor in
spirit
THE ANSWER IS
. A
He was writing about degrees of sins, saying
there is a big difference between a venial and mortal sin.
Here is St. Jeromes quote:
"There are venial sins and there are mortal sins. It is
one thing to owe ten thousand talents, another to owe but a farthing. We shall
have to give an accounting for an idle word no less than for adultery. But to
be made to blush and to be tortured are not the same thing; not the same thing
to grow red in the face and to be in agony for a long time. . . . If we entreat
for lesser sins we are granted pardon, but for greater sins, it is difficult to
obtain our request. There is a great difference between one sin and
another." St. Jerome
("Against Jovinian" c. 393 A.D.)
Regarding Degrees of Sins, see
http://www.catholic.com/library/Mortal_Sin.asp (Mortal Sin)
http://www.catholicoutlook.com/objcath4.html
http://www.catholic.com/library/Grace_What_It_Is.asp (Grace)
http://www.catholic-pages.com/morality/sin.asp (Sin)
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