Seven Deadly Sins

The 'seven deadly sins', also known as the 'capital vices' or 'cardinal sins', is a grouping and classification of vices within Christian teachings. Behaviours or habits are classified under this category if they directly give birth to other immoralities. These sins are said to be contrary to the 'seven virtues'. They are often thought to be abuses or excessive versions of one's natural faculties or passions (for example, gluttony abuses one's desire to eat).

This classification originated with the desert fathers, especially Evagrius Ponticus, who identified seven or eight evil thoughts or spirits that one needed to overcome. Evagrius' pupil John Cassian, with his book The Institutes, brought the classification to Europe, where it became fundamental to Catholic confessional practices as evident in penitential manuals, sermons like "The Parson's Tale" from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and artworks like Dante's Purgatory (where the penitents of Mount Purgatory are depicted as being grouped and penanced according to the worst capital sin they committed). The Catholic Church used the concept of the deadly sins in order to help people curb their inclination towards evil before dire consequences and misdeeds could occur.

On a more perfunctory and down to earth note, there are in fact 9 horse racing courses in Yorkshire and being so inclined to include them all, I am adding to this list, the two extra 'Historical' deadly sins' spoken of by Evagrius, before the later definitions set by Pope Gregory I in AD 590.

  • Estimated walking time

    Not to be contemplated!

  • Estimated running time

    Not so sensible either!

  • Best to take a Bus or Train!

    And best spread out - one day at a time.

GLUTTONY

One of the lustful appetites (Latin; Gula)

"In the beginning when God Created the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep..."

Pontefract Race Course

 

"... an obsessive anticipation of meals, and the constant eating of delicacies and excessively costly foods."

LUST

A second lustful appetite (Latin; luxuria)

"In the beginning when God Created the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep..."

Ripon Race Course

"... an intense or unbridled sexual desire, which leads to fornication, adultery, rape, bestiality, un-natural sexual practices, and other immoral sexual acts or an overwhelming desire for money, power, and other things "

GREED

Another of the lustful appetites (Latin; avaritia)

"In the beginning when God Created the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep..."

Doncaster Race Course

 

"... an artificial, rapacious desire and pursuit of material possessions."

WRATH

Irascibility (Latin; ira)

Gary Campbell at Thirst Races

Thirsk Race Course

 

"... uncontrolled feelings of anger, rage, and even hatred which oft times reveals itself in the wish to seek vengeance"

PRIDE

A corruption of the mind (Latin; superbia)

York Races on Race Day

York Race Course

"... the irrational belief that one is essentially and necessarily better, superior, or more important than others and in its final form superior to God Himself. "

ENVY

Another corruption of the mind (Latin; invidia)

"In the beginning when God Created the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep..."

Beverley Race Course

 

"... a sad or resentful covetousness towards the traits or possessions of someone else."

SLOTH

Yet another corruption of the mind (Latin; Tristitia)

"In the beginning when God Created the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep..."

Wetherby Race Course

 

"... an absence of interest or habitual disinclination to exertion."

ACEDIA

A spiritual corruption of the mind

"In the beginning when God Created the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep..."

Redcar Race Course

"... the neglect to take care of something that one should do especially in the spiritual realm. "

VAINGLORY

A last corruption of the mind (Latin; vanagloria)

"In the beginning when God Created the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep..."

Catterick Race Course

 

"... an unjustified boasting."