The Three Sins

The First, Second, and Third Sin

Review last meditation:  Now we will begin the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises

Preparatory Prayer[46]: I will beg God our Lord for grace that all my intentions, actions, and operations may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty.

Mental Representation:  Imagine my soul as a prisoner in this corruptible body, and consider my whole composite being as an exile here on earth, cast out to live among brute beasts.  My whole composite being, body and soul. 

Grace:  I will ask God for what I desire: shame and confusion, because I see how many have been lost on account of a single mortal sin, and how many times I have deserved eternal damnation, because of the many grievous sins that I have committed. 

Note:  we must not forget to do these preparations before every single meditation. 

Points [50-53]:  Ignatius gives three points for this meditation of 3 sins.  He wants us to make use of our minds–the memory, our ability to think critically.  Also to use our will to exercise our freedom. 

Additional Considerations:

Ignatius says – they were changed from grace to hatred of God and cast out of heaven into hell.

Not everything is in man’s control.  Sin causes one to misjudge his own strength.  By pride, they were changed and cast out.  They were not in control as they thought.  The consequences of sin came down upon them. 

Ignatius asks us to consider the gravity and malice of sin against our Creator and Lord. When a person loves, he wants to protect the honor of his friend.  This is why the Saints defend God.  They do not refer to God as Master–they call God, Our Creator and Lord, which indicates endearment.  Sin is an injustice against their Creator whom they love. 

End with an Our Father