Reply Obj. 3:  In various things, differing in species or genus, nothing hinders our finding one formal aspect of the object, from which aspect sin receives its species.  It is thus that pride seeks excellence in reference to various things; and avarice seeks abundance of things adapted to human use. ________________________

SECOND ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 72, Art. 2]

Whether Spiritual Sins Are Fittingly Distinguished from Carnal Sins?

Objection 1:  It would seem that spiritual sins are unfittingly distinguished from carnal sins.  For the Apostle says (Gal. 5:19):  “The works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, idolatry, witchcrafts,” etc. from which it seems that all kinds of sins are works of the flesh.  Now carnal sins are called works of the flesh.  Therefore carnal sins should not be distinguished from spiritual sins.

Obj. 2:  Further, whosoever sins, walks according to the flesh, as stated in Rom. 8:13:  “If you live according to the flesh, you shall die.  But if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.”  Now to live or walk according to the flesh seems to pertain to the nature of carnal sin.  Therefore carnal sins should not be distinguished from spiritual sins.

Obj. 3:  Further, the higher part of the soul, which is the mind or reason, is called the spirit, according to Eph. 4:23:  “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” where spirit stands for reason, according to a gloss.  Now every sin, which is committed in accordance with the flesh, flows from the reason by its consent; since consent in a sinful act belongs to the higher reason, as we shall state further on (Q. 74, A. 7).  Therefore the same sins are both carnal and spiritual, and consequently they should not be distinguished from one another.

Obj. 4:  Further, if some sins are carnal specifically, this, seemingly, should apply chiefly to those sins whereby man sins against his own body.  But, according to the Apostle (1 Cor. 6:18), “every sin that a man doth, is without the body:  but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body.”  Therefore fornication would be the only carnal sin, whereas the Apostle (Eph. 5:3) reckons covetousness with the carnal sins.

On the contrary, Gregory (Moral. xxxi, 17) says that “of the seven capital sins five are spiritual, and two carnal.”

I answer that, As stated above (A. 1), sins take their species from their objects.  Now every sin consists in the desire for some mutable good, for which man has an inordinate desire, and the possession of which gives him inordinate pleasure.  Now, as explained above (Q. 31, A. 3), pleasure is twofold.  One belongs to the soul, and is consummated in the mere apprehension of a thing possessed in accordance with desire; this can also be called spiritual pleasure, e.g. when one takes pleasure in human praise or the like.  The other pleasure is bodily or natural, and is realized in bodily touch, and this can also be called carnal pleasure.