Seven Deadly Sins
The early Roman Catholic Church divided sins into those which could be forgiven (venial sins) and capital sins which would result in eternal damnation unless confessed during the sacrament of Confession. Capital sins were known as Deadly Sins because they could have a fatal effect on an individual’s soul.
The Seven Deadly Sins were formalised by Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th Century, although the concept of major human vices dated back to Greek times. They were, from most serious to least: pride, envy, anger, sadness, avarice, gluttony, and lust.
In 1589, Peter Binsfeld paired each of the Seven Deadly Sins with a demon, who tempted people by means of the associated sin. According to Binsfeld's Classification of Demons, the pairings are as follows:
- Lust: Asmodeus
- Gluttony: Beelzebub
- Greed: Mammon
- Sloth: Belphegor
- Wrath: Satan
- Envy: Leviathan
- Pride: Lucifer
The Roman Catholic Church also recognizes seven holy virtues which correspond to each of the seven deadly sins.
- Vice: Virtue
- Lust: Chastity
- Gluttony: Temperance
- Greed:Charity
- Sloth:Diligence
- Wrath: Forgiveness
- Envy: Kindness
- Pride: Humility
