Elizabeth Scalia - Little Sins Mean a Lot: Kicking Our Bad Habits Before They Kick Us

Wise, thoughtful, compassionate, insightful and, above all, practical, this brief book will help you confront those little sins that nonetheless have a very big effect on your Christian life.

James Martin, S.J., author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage

Elizabeth Scalsia takes a wry and insightful look at how modern Catholics can make an effective examination of conscience, recognizing not only their faults but also the mercy of forgiveness. Pope Francis has urged Catholics not to be afraid or ashamed to go to confession. This book is the perfect companion for those making that journey.

John Thavis, author of The Vatican Diaries and The Vatican Prophecies

The Internets Anchoress cautions us to limit our time on social media in this book! Is it a miracle? Decide for yourself, dear reader. Read this book and God may just work miracles in your life too, giving you the desire and the graces to eradicate the little sins in your life so that you can get on with the business of being Christian, already! Jesus invites and demands radical conversion. This book is an accessible, practical guide to repentance, drenched in Divine Mercy.

Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor-at-large of National Review Online

Captivating, witty, and wise, Little Sins is a big gift of heart and hope. What may be most audacious: Elizabeth Scalia finds a way to share some of her own story and make it ours too. In this book, the woman countless readers know as The Anchoress takes off her veil, lets down her hair, and reveals us. Anyone who wants a deeper understanding of what makes us poor sinners do what we do, and who yearns to grow, will find in this book a delightful and helpful guide. You might just read it and weep with gratitude.

Deacon Greg Kandra, Diocese of Brooklyn, blogger at Aleteia.org

No one knew better than Christ that murder, adultery, and the pillaging of the planet begin with the small sins of anger, petty jealousy, and resentment. No one knew better how very much we love to point the finger at our neighbor and how very much we resist examining our own consciences. No one knew better that the point isnt so much to be good as to open ourselves to receive the priceless gift of one another in all our brokenness and all our glory. Like St. Thrse of Lisieux, Elizabeth Scalia has penetrated to the heart of the Gospels.

Heather King, author of Stripped: At the Intersection of Cancer, Culture, and Christ

From gossip to gluttony and all points between, vice and sin wreak havoc on our lives, robbing us of right relationship with God and one another. In Little Sins Mean a Lot, gifted writer Elizabeth Scalia pulls no punches in honestly leading us in a greatly needed collective examination of conscience. But the good news is that this book is not only a look at those sins over which we feel powerless. Its also a friendly companion on the path to total reconciliation, offering teachings of the Church, wisdom from saints and Scripture, and Elizabeths own companionship along a path to virtue and total healing. An honest, challenging reminder that our souls are worth saving and that sins large and small matter, but that with faith in Christ, hope abounds!

Lisa M. Hendey, founder of CatholicMom.com and author of The Grace of Yes

Part examination of conscience, part memoir, part comedy, part poetry, studded with literary and scriptural references, rooted in theology, rounded off with solid, no-nonsense practical advice with real insight into the human psyche, this book is an eye-opener. Funny, wise, easy to read, hard to put down.

Simcha Fisher, author of The Sinners Guide to Natural Family Planning

You know that tendency we all have to rationalize bad behavior because its not that big of a deal? Little Sins Mean a Lot will stop that in its tracks yet leave you feeling energized and hopeful, as if youve just had a fun coffee date with a good friend.

Jennifer Fulwiler, author of Something Other Than God

We can convince ourselves that we are just fine in our spiritual lives, but Elizabeth Scalia believes that little sins or bad habits are our own worst enemies and a certain gateway to the deadly sins. This one-of-a-kind book piqued my interest in the introduction and had me laughing out loud reading the very first paragraph of ! Throughout Little Sins Mean a Lot, the author cleverly identifies 13 little sins using intriguing and witty stories. Very practical solutions are offered, utilizing Scripture, the saints, the Catechism, and prayer. A must read!

Donna-Marie Cooper OBoyle, EWTN TV host and award-winning author of 20 books, including The Kiss of Jesus (www.donnacooperoboyle.com)

Elizabeth Scalia has a way of writing that scares me, yet helps me see that Im not alone. Her writing is like a flashlight that shines light on sins hidden in the dark corners of my soul like dust bunnies under a bed. She doesnt do it in a holier-than-thou way, but rather in a way that says, I know, and Im walking with you, which is what compassion is all about. This book is a treasure, just like its author.

Leticia Ochoa Adams, radio host at Breadbox Media and blogger at www.letiadams.com

Little Sins Mean a Lot

Kicking Our Bad Habits Before They Kick Us

Elizabeth Scalia

Our Sunday Visitor

www.osv.com

Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division

Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.

Huntington, Indiana 46750

Every reasonable effort has been made to determine copyright holders of excerpted materials and to secure permissions as needed. If any copyrighted materials have been inadvertently used in this work without proper credit being given in one form or another, please notify Our Sunday Visitor in writing so that future printings of this work may be corrected accordingly.

Copyright 2016 by Elizabeth Scalia. Published 2016.

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All rights reserved. With the exception of short excerpts for critical reviews, no part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without permission from the publisher. For more information, visit: www.osv.com/permissions.

Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 200 Noll Plaza, Huntington, IN 46750; 1-800-348-2440

ISBN: 978-1-61278-904-0 (Inventory No. T1690)

eISBN: 978-1-61278-905-7

LCCN: 2016932022

Cover design: Lindsey Riesen

Cover art: Shutterstock

Interior design: Dianne Nelson

Printed in the United States of America

For Jamie, Carol, and Jack

Mother-Wounded All
Standing gold amid the dross
Bright chests of wonder

Dont let your sins turn into bad habits.
St. Teresa of vila

Dont let your bad habits turn into sins.
Elizabeth Scalia

Contents

Acknowledgments

Scripture quotations are from the following versions:

Revised Standard Version of the Bible Second Catholic Edition (Ignatius Edition) (RSV), copyright 2006 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition (NRSV), copyright 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New American Bible, revised edition (NAB), copyright 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. Used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.