In what way would you say that the phrase "felix culpa" could be applied to a besetting sin? God can turn all things to good, even our weaknesses. Perhaps one positive function of a besetting sin is to give us something stout against which to fight, if we only will.
I take a "besetting sin" to be one in which we no longer have full free will - an addiction, or a habit whose claws are so sunk into our entrails that the very thought of removing it is painful, a habit against which the fight will take years or perhaps a lifetime. Mysteriously, I'm free of the inclinations to sin by excessive drinking or excessive gambling, so I'll consider one of those :-). Perhaps the life of Venerable Matt Talbot, alcoholic, could shed some light on the question.
Posted by billw at January 7, 2003 06:24 AMDear Mr. White,
I am always concerned about the misuse of "felix culpa." The phrase must be taken in context of the Easter Exsultet in which the entire story is laid out, and I paraphrase, "O happy fault of Adam that wrought for us such a savior." In this context we are praising and extolling the virtues, not of the fault, but of the Savior. It is true that God can use anything to properly effect His Will, but while we are in them, there are no happy faults. The "happiness" of the fault is only found in the context of salvation by the loving Savior of all.
shalom,
Steven
Posted by: Steven Riddle at January 7, 2003 11:40 AMMy dear Mr. Riddle,
Yes. I haven't expressed my thoughts well (no surprise there ;^).
I have a besetting sin (which I'll not describe outside the confessional) that, at the rate things are going, will be hanging around for some time to come, barring the ol' lightning-bolt miracle of grace that hasn't appeared yet.
From the looks of things, I will struggle against it (if I will) and make progress here and fail again there. Given the besetting sin, an unremitting evil, the struggle against it is a good thing. I suppose the title of the blog entry was a bit too loose an improvisation. My besetting sin is not felix, but the fight I'm required to put up is.
"All their wars are happy and all their songs are sad."
Dear Mr. White,
No need for explanation as I probably misread. I have certain hot-buttons, and this just happens to be one of them. I always send up the alert flags because I have heard it used too often as St. Paul must have done. "What then, should we sin more so that grace can more abound." (A paraphrase, but you get the idea.)
Thanks for the response.
shalom,
Steven
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