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Objection 1: It would seem that the temporal punishment, the debt
of which remains after Penance, is not imposed according to the degree
of fault. For it is imposed according to the degree of pleasure
derived from the sin, as appears from Apoc. 18:7: "As much as
she hath glorified herself and lived in delicacies, so much torment and
sorrow give ye her." Yet sometimes where there is greater pleasure,
there is less fault, since "carnal sins, which afford more pleasure
than spiritual sins, are less guilty," according to Gregory
(Moral. xxxiii, 2). Therefore the punishment is not imposed
according to the degree of fault.
Objection 2: Further, in the New Law one is bound to punishment
for mortal sins, in the same way as in the Old Law. Now in the Old
Law the punishment for sin was due to last seven days, in other
words, they had to remain unclean seven days for one mortal sin.
Since therefore, in the New Testament, a punishment of seven years
is imposed for one mortal sin, it seems that the quantity of the
punishment does not answer to the degree of fault.
Objection 3: Further, the sin of murder in a layman is more
grievous than that of fornication in a priest, because the circumstance
which is taken from the species of a sin, is more aggravating than that
which is taken from the person of the sinner. Now a punishment of
seven years' duration is appointed for a layman guilty of murder,
while for fornication a priest is punished for ten years, according to
Can. Presbyter, Dist. lxxxii. Therefore punishment is not
imposed according to the degree of fault.
Objection 4: Further, a sin committed against the very body of
Christ is most grievous, because the greater the person sinned
against, the more grievous the sin. Now for spilling the blood of
Christ in the sacrament of the altar a punishment of forty days or a
little more is enjoined, while a punishment of seven years is
prescribed for fornication, according to the Canons (Can.
Presbyter, Dist. lxxxii). Therefore the quantity of the
punishment does not answer to the degree of fault.
On the contrary, It is written (Is. 27:8): "In measure
against measure, when it shall be cast off, thou shalt judge it."
Therefore the quantity of punishment adjudicated for sin answers the
degree of fault.
Further, man is reduced to the equality of justice by the punishment
inflicted on him. But this would not be so if the quantity of the
fault and of the punishment did not mutually correspond. Therefore one
answers to the other.
I answer that, After the forgiveness of sin, a punishment is
required for two reasons, viz. to pay the debt, and to afford a
remedy. Hence the punishment may be imposed in consideration of two
things. First, in consideration of the debt, and in this way the
quantity of the punishment corresponds radically to the quantity of the
fault, before anything of the latter is forgiven: yet the more there
is remitted by the first of those things which are of a nature to remit
punishment, the less there remains to be remitted or paid by the
other, because the more contrition remits of the punishment, the less
there remains to be remitted by confession. Secondly, in
consideration of the remedy, either as regards the one who sinned, or
as regards others: and thus sometimes a greater punishment is enjoined
for a lesser sin; either because one man's sin is more difficult to
resist than another's (thus a heavier punishment is imposed on a young
man for fornication, than on an old man, though the former's sin be
less grievous), or because one man's sin; for instance, a
priest's, is more dangerous to others, than another's sin, or
because the people are more prone to that particular sin, so that it is
necessary by the punishment of the one man to deter others.
Consequently, in the tribunal of Penance, the punishment has to be
imposed with due regard to both these things: and so a greater
punishment is not always imposed for a greater sin. on the other hand,
the punishment of Purgatory is only for the payment of the debt,
because there is no longer any possibility of sinning, so that this
punishment is meted only according to the measure of sin, with due
consideration however for the degree of contrition, and for confession
and absolution, since all these lessen the punishment somewhat:
wherefore the priest in enjoining satisfaction should bear them in
mind.
Reply to Objection 1: In the words quoted two things are mentioned
with regard to the sin, viz. "glorification" and "delicacies" or
"delectation"; the first of which regards the uplifting of the
sinner, whereby he resists God; while the second regards the pleasure
of sin: and though sometimes there is less pleasure in a greater sin,
yet there is greater uplifting; wherefore the argument does not prove.
Reply to Objection 2: This punishment of seven days did not expiate
the punishment due for the sin, so that even if the sinner died after
that time, he would be punished in Purgatory: but it was in expiation
of the irregularity incurred, from which all the legal sacrifices
expiated. Nevertheless, other things being equal, a man sins more
grievously under the New Law than under the Old, on account of the
more plentiful sanctification received in Baptism, and on account of
the more powerful blessings bestowed by God on the human race. This
is evident from Heb. 29: "How much more, do you think, he
deserveth worse punishments," etc. And yet it is not universally
true that a seven years' penance is exacted for every mortal sin: but
it is a kind of general rule applicable to the majority of cases, which
must, nevertheless, be disregarded, with due consideration for the
various circumstances of sins and penitents.
Reply to Objection 3: A bishop or priest sins with greater danger
to others or to himself; wherefore the canons are more anxious to
withdraw him from sin, by inflicting a greater punishment, in as much
as it is intended as a remedy; although sometimes so great a punishment
is not strictly due. Hence he is punished less in Purgatory.
Reply to Objection 4: This punishment refers to the case when this
happens against the priest's will: for if he spilled it willingly he
would deserve a much heavier punishment.
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