Summary of text [comment] pages 36 and 37

Once Schoonenberg established the concept of grades [of grace or disgrace] plus the inherence of knowledge and will [see previous blogs], he turned to the idea of “the levity or gravity of matter” in sins.

“Matter” touches base with “what makes an action moral”.  There must be external independent sources for the criteria of “what is moral”.  At the same time, the notion is personal.  The external criterion must be assumed within the internal.

The outward aspect provides a norm.  The inward aspect belongs to the human mind and body.

We may speak of action as if it were a “thing in itself”, an isolate from the person’s external and internal criteria, to be judged independently as a “sin” or “virtuous” act.

Tabulations of actions as “mortal sins” pose a danger because action is the sign of an interior decision and a sign of valuation that reflects the ordination of one’s life.  The tabulations lead to the false conclusion that actions are isolated from judgments (external criteria) and potentials (inward criteria).

Judgments and potentials matter.