Dominican Life_Joret_OCR_CK.pdf - the Catholic Kingdom!

DOMINICAN
32
.
LIFE
themselves in this way to the observance of those kinds
of regulations." This enactment which St. Dominic
originated and which St. Thomas regarded as so very
wise has since then been extended by ecclesiastical law
to all religious families. Of course, the matter of the
three vows is on an altogether different footing, and so
is the case of a formal precept imposed on anyone who
makes a vow of obedience. But these things do not
affect Tertiaries. On the other hand, what follows in
the text of St. Thomas does "
apply also to them. They
may, however, sin, either venially or mortally, if their
conduct proceeds from negligence, passion or contempt." *
Is it then possible for them, by breach of rule, to commit
mortal sin? Yes, in the case of contempt. Total and
wilful disregard of their Rule, which is an authorized
form of Christian perfection, approved by the Church
and voluntarily professed, is direct opposition to the duty
of seeking perfection
: it is an offence against Holy
Church and it is the attitude of an apostate. But contempt
of that sort, St. Thomas considers, is rare, even
amongst those who often fail to keep the Rule.
" An act
of transgression or omission," he says, "implies contempt
when the will of its
perpetrator rebels against the
precept of the law or of the rule, and ,when it is this
rebellious spirit which makes him act in opposition to
the law or the rule. But when it is a particular motive,
such as concupiscence or anger, which induces him to
infringe the law or the rule, he is not sinning from contempt
but from some other motive even should the
lapse recur frequently for the same motive or one similar.
St. Augustine also states that every sin does not originate
in contempt. Nevertheless, constant repetition of a fault
predisposes us to contempt."
If there is no contempt, the sin can only be venial :
it will never be mortal, and this should reassure overtimorous
souls. Nevertheless, some measure of venial
sin, slight though it may sometimes be, is always entailed
1 Ila Ilae, q. 186, a. 9.
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