What are the proximal occasions of sin?

By Jesus Urones and Yasmin Oré

It is said that the person who is in danger of offending God is because he is in a situation that leads him to sin; that is, in circumstances that make it easy for him and incite him to sin. The proximal occasion of sin can come from people who incite him with their bad example or from things that attract his will to evil.

Therefore, we should not always think that it is the result of bad company, they are also habits or places that we frequent that lead us down the wrong path. To understand this, we can use as an example those friends who invite us to participate in activities that incite lust, drunkenness, vanity, etc. or certain places that are not recommended for Catholics due to their high content of temptation towards vices or sins of the flesh such as discos, disco-pubs, taverns (bars), casinos, etc.

It is important to know that consenting to occasions of sin is similar to “loving danger,” because you are putting your soul at risk of falling into temptation. Approaching sin (a near occasion) is letting ourselves be bitten by the serpent. Scripture says:

The hardened heart will fear evil in the end, and he who loves danger will perish in it. Sirach 3:27

"Flee sin as a serpent, for if you come near it, it will bite you. Its teeth are like a lion's tooth, taking away the life of men." Sirach 21:2

Therefore, we must learn to avoid these occasions, or what is the same thing, "not put ourselves in temptation." Temptation is a request, instigation or encouragement, internal or external, to commit some sin. We say it is internal when it comes from our concupiscence (egoism, pride, impatience, the flesh). The apostle James teaches that: “Everyone is tempted by his own desires, which attract and entice him” (James 1:14). But there are also external temptations, in this sense they would coincide with the proximate occasions of sin: Suggestions from the world, or from the devil. Many of the temptations that we suffer in the course of our life come from the suggestions and insinuations of the devil and the world. In this case, the scripture itself recommends that we flee from what will cause sin:

And if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. for it is better for you that one of your members should perish than that your whole body should be thrown into hell" Matthew 5: 29-30

This text should not be understood literally but the teaching that is derived from it is that when we are faced with an imminent occasion of sin, we must act quickly avoiding all dialogue with it or giving it pleasure, moving away from temptation, in short, cutting off all relationship with what is going to generate that temptation that will incite us to sin.

Evidently the division into the two types of temptations is due to the fact that there are three enemies of the soul: the devil, the flesh and the world. The three act together, they induce us to sin and condemnation, that is why it is essential to know who the enemies of man are in his spiritual progress and his path of holiness in order to be able to face them.

When in theology we speak of "occasion of sin", we usually differentiate between "proximate occasion" and "remote occasion". The proximate are those that put us in a serious and grave danger; that is, a danger such that One should prudently fear that it will cause the person in question to succumb. Those that involve a slight danger, which calls for caution, but which are assumed to be easily overcome, are remote.

Practical examples of proximate occasions of sin:

Let us give some examples of proximate occasions of sin: let us say that I have the habit of gossiping about people, talking behind their backs. Let us say that God gives me the grace to repent of this sin, to confess it and to feel a strong desire to break this habit. To do this, it will be helpful to avoid situations that tend to encourage gossip (these situations are the “occasions of sin” that we are considering). Perhaps having lunch at the tennis club is a situation in which gossip tends to dominate the conversation. Or perhaps going out for a drink with friends who have this bad habit and incite us to do so. Avoiding going to these places frequently or not spending much time with these people can be a good choice. They would help me avoid situations (occasions) in which I tend to give in to the temptation of gossip.

Another example, I know that temptation comes to me through sight, because men are tempted by the flesh, by sex, by excitement, through their senses, specifically through sight. If I know that I have this temptation, I will avoid buying magazines that generate this temptation, I will avoid watching films with erotic or sexual content, and even going to places where I will be tempted, such as discos, beaches, disco-pubs, etc. 

 How to avoid temptations and the immediate occasions of sin? 

 Finally, I leave you with some teachings from priests who have dealt with this subject more broadly: 

 Jose Maria Iraburu: 

 Temptation must be fought from the beginning, from the moment it appears. The spark of the fire must be extinguished immediately, before it starts a fire. The head of the tempting Serpent must be crushed as soon as it appears, immediately, without entering into dialogue, without giving it any option. 

 Royo Marin in his work “Theology of Christian Perfection”: 

 During temptation. - Practical conduct during temptation can be summed up in one word: resist. It is not enough to maintain a merely passive attitude (neither consent nor fail to consent), but positive resistance is necessary. But this positive resistance can be direct or indirect.

 a) DIRECT RESISTANCE is that which confronts the temptation itself and overcomes it by doing precisely the opposite of what it suggests. For example: starting to speak well of a person when we were tempted to criticize him, giving a splendid alms when stinginess tried to close our hand to a common alms, prolonging prayer when the enemy suggested shortening or suppressing it, making an act of public manifestation of faith when human respect tried to frighten us, etc. This direct resistance should be used in all kinds of temptations, except those that refer to faith or purity, as we will say later. 

 b) INDIRECT RESISTANCE is that which does not confront the temptation, but moves away from it, distracting the mind to another completely different object. It is particularly indicated in temptations against faith or chastity, in which direct struggle is not appropriate, which would perhaps increase the temptation due to the dangerous and slippery nature of the matter. 

 Adolfo Tanquerei in his work “Compendium of Ascetic and Mystical Theologies”: 

 To overcome temptations and make them redound to the benefit of our soul, we must strive for three main things: 1st prevent temptation; 2nd fight it bravely; 3rd thank God after the victory, or get up after the fall. 

 Source: ReL 

 Note: It is convenient to know and keep in mind that exposing oneself voluntarily and deliberately, AND WITHOUT ANY NECESSITY, to a proximate occasion of mortal sin (even if one does not incur in it), is already in itself a serious fault.