The Sin of Acedia

“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us” 

(2 Thes.3:6). 

“Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord” 

(Rom.12:11). 

Dear friends in Christ, 

Did you notice what happened to the ten virgins waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom? The Bible says the bridegroom delayed in coming. Those waiting for him started to dose. And they slept! Their lights started dying down; until the lights of the five foolish ones died out completely! (Mt.25:1-13). God's Word exhorts us to make most of the time because the days are evil. Whether spiritual or temporal responsibility we have, we should be diligent about it. St. Paul charged Timothy, be diligent in studies. 

The Bible, especially in the book of Proverbs, speaks often of the reward of hard work and the consequence of laziness. Colossians 3:23 tells us a Christian should "work with all their heart as working for the Lord". Our work is probably one of the greatest proofs of our faith.Laziness has no place in the character of a follower of Jesus Christ. The Church, therefore, has good reason frowning at a sluggish lifestyle.

What is Acedia? 

Acedia is a Greek word that literally means “a lack of care.” It is an attitude of negligence or indifference.St. Thomas Aquinas says it’s a “sluggishness” of the mind and will “which neglects to begin good” [Summa Theologiae, Q. 35, Art.1&2]. He defines it as “sorrow at the good and disgust with activity.” The Church names acedia one of the seven "capital sins." Others include pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, and envy (CCC 1866, cf. CCD 324). Acedia can manifest through the avoidance of duties in our state of life or a repugnance to do good works. It leads us not to do what one should do, when one ought to do it. Acedia is also known as sloth. But it could as well be associated with apathy, negligence, drowsiness, slumbering, weakness, sloth, laziness, etc. 

Manifestations 

Acedia can manifest spiritually as well. It makes spiritual things distasteful to someone, or makes him to view them as a labor too difficult to perform. It makes someone have a tinge of sadness because he thinks, falsely though, that he cannot do that spiritually good work. As a result, he will turn to worldly pleasures and worldly things for satisfaction. It takes effort to pick up a spiritual book and read or listen to a spiritual talk. it can be quite an effort to go against our wayward will to do what is morally right. It takes discipline to spend solitude in prayers, or to go to daily Mass. 

Often we try to justify this inability with excuses. “I’m too busy.” “My work will not let me.” These could be masks for spiritual sloth. Tricky Nature of Acedia Acedia is fluid and tricky in nature. It is essentially a sin of omission, rather than commission. Sometimes it is difficult to define or classify. And it is so, because it is a complex web, involving mental, spiritual, pathological, and physical dispositions. One definition has it that acedia or sloth is “a habitual disinclination to exertion.”Simply put, laziness! It suggests that through inactivity, one inadvertently invites sin. Devil finds work for idle hands! While the virtue of diligent work promotes the good of the community and accomplishes God’s purpose, sloth slurs and sleeps over this responsibility. Unlike the other capital sins, sloth is a sin of omission or lack of performance.

Is Acedia a mortal sin? 

Unlike the other capital sins, in which the sinner commits immoral acts, sloth is a sin of omission of desire and/or performance. While the state and habit of sloth is a mortal sin, the habit of the soul tending towards the last mortal state of sloth is not mortal in and of itself except under certain circumstances. A sin is mortal because it destroys the spiritual life which is the effect of charity, whereby God dwells in us. 

According to St. Thomas, “any sin which by its very nature is contrary to charity is a mortal sin by reason of its genus. And such is sloth, because the proper effect of charity is joy in God, while sloth is sorrow about spiritual good in as much as it is a Divine good.” Therefore sloth is a mortal sin. “But it must be observed,” St. Thomas further said, “with regard to all sins that are mortal in respect of their genus, that they are not mortal, save when they attain to their perfection. Because the consummation of sin is in the consent of reason: for we are speaking now of human sins consisting in human acts, the principle of which is the reason. 

"Wherefore if the sin be a mere beginning of sin in the sensuality alone, without attaining to the consent of reason, it is a venial sin on account of the imperfection of the act. Thus in the genus of adultery, the concupiscence that goes no further than the sensuality is a venial sin, whereas if it reach to the consent of reason, it is a mortal sin. So too, the movement of sloth is sometimes in the sensuality alone, by reason of the opposition of the flesh to the spirit, and then it is a venial sin; whereas sometimes it reaches to the reason, which consents in the dislike, horror and detestation of the Divine good, on account of the flesh utterly prevailing over the spirit.” 

Acedia poses one of the biggest threats to spiritual life. It is one of the vices too difficult to define, which makes it deadly. And the Church is saying, it is a sin that leads to other sins. That is why it is classified as capital sin! One of the Fathers of the Church calls it, a "noonday demon.” To Christian monks in the fourth century, acedia was more than just laziness or apathy. It is the spirit of dejection that makes it difficult f2or one to be spiritual. It makes one avoid ascetic practices, take to boredom, which leads to falling asleep while reading, and frustration with spiritual life. In fact, acedia is so serious a sin that Fathers of the Church described it as “the last of the sins to conquer” (see Parable of the Ten Virgins). 

How It Concerns 

Us Acedia may perhaps explains why some of us sometimes find it difficult to take active part in bible studies, in prayers, in fasting, in works of charity, evangelization, etc, etc. To pray, one complains of weakness. To read or study the bible, one feels drowsy and falls asleep. To fast, the body vibrates violently! All these could be signs of acedia! Is there anyone of us who has not experienced this condition before, or even now? 

"The Last of the Sins to Conquer" 

Acedia is so serious a sin that Fathers of the Church described it as “the last of the sins to conquer.” How? In the Parable of Ten Girls earlier mentioned, the girls dosed and slept! it was the sin of acedia at work! Despite all their sacrifices and efforts at preserving their Virginity for the Lord, the last sin of acedia wrestled them down. And they missed the bridegroom! Little wonder then Jesus concluded the Parable with these words: “Be on your guard, then, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Mat.25:13). 

Acedia is sleeping on duty! When one slept over one’s spiritual responsibility, the enemy can sneak in and wreck spiritual havoc to the soul. Acedia poses big threat to spiritual life or growth. And the Church is saying, it is “a sin that leads to other sins” (CCC1866). That is why it is classified as capital sin! One of the Fathers of the Church calls it, a "noonday devil.” To Christian monks in the fourth century, acedia was more than just laziness or apathy. It is the spirit of dejection that makes it difficult for one to be spiritual. It makes one avoid ascetic practices, take to boredom, which leads to falling asleep while reading, and frustration with spiritual life. 

Avoiding or Overcoming Acedia, the spirit of lethargy? 

1.. To be conscious of this deadly trap always. 

2. Prayer to avoid falling into the temptation. 

3. Diligenceand active participation in spiritual assignments. 

4. Endurance and patience in times of difficulty 

5. Developing a reading culture and studying to show ourselves approved. 

6. Having a clear timetable for one’s activity; time to work, time to rest, time to sleep, time to read and study, time to pray.

In Summary 

Acedia or sloth is a sin against the joy that springs from God's goodness and charity. The offender those not regard God at all and his good works of creation. The person lacks the gratitude or show zeal for the great things that God has prepared for all that love him. Anyone that commits the sin of Acedia will surely go to hell because he or she has no regard for God, his creator. Because he is indifferent to his duties and obligations to God and to the good things God provided, he is considered God's enemy. We need to show love to God and to humanity. 

We need to take things of God seriously, our prayers, evangelism, teaching, charity work, obedience to God. As Christians, we have to be careful not to fall into this sin, because it creates the environment for other sins-lies, stealing, adultery, laziness, avarice, pride etc. Since the offender is lazy and indifferent, sin becomes part of his life. He does not even care whether heaven exists or not. Acedia deadens ones conscience, nothing matters again, not even God or the fear of God. The flesh here takes total control over the spirit. There is a flight from the divine, total apathy to the things of God. It is a deadly sin.