This seven deadly sins quiz shows which of the capital sins is your main struggle, and what to do about it. Rate 21 short statements honestly; it takes about three minutes. Nothing is stored and nothing is sent.
How the quiz works
- 21 statements, three for each of the seven capital sins, in mixed order.
- Five answers, from “No” to “Yes”. Nobody sees them but you, so be honest.
- The result names the two sins where your answers were strongest. For each it gives the virtue that heals it and three practical steps.
- It is a mirror, not a verdict. The quiz is a help for your examination of conscience.
The seven deadly sins and the virtues that heal them
| Capital sin | Virtue that heals it |
|---|---|
| Pride | Humility |
| Greed | Generosity |
| Lust | Chastity |
| Envy | Kindness and gratitude |
| Gluttony | Temperance |
| Wrath | Patience |
| Sloth | Diligence |
The full explanation of each sin, with Scripture and the Catechism, is in our guide to the seven deadly sins.
What each result means
Pride
Pride puts me at the centre: my opinion, my honour, my will. It is the root of the other sins. The virtue that heals it is humility.
- Each evening thank God for three things you did not earn.
- Ask someone you trust for honest correction, and take it without defending yourself.
- Do one hidden act of service every day.
Proverbs 16:18; Luke 18:9–14
Greed
Greed is a hunger for money and things that is never satisfied. The virtue that heals it is generosity.
- Give away something you like, not only what is left over.
- Set aside a fixed share of your income for the poor and for the Church.
- Before you buy, wait a day and ask: do I need this?
Luke 12:15; 1 Timothy 6:10
Lust
Lust treats another person as a thing to be used for pleasure. The virtue that heals it is chastity.
- Guard your eyes and your screen, and remove what leads you to fall.
- Go to confession regularly and do not lose heart.
- At the first moment of temptation pray a Hail Mary and turn to something else.
Matthew 5:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
Envy
Envy is sadness at the good of another person. The virtues that heal it are kindness and gratitude.
- Thank God out loud for the good that someone else has received.
- Pray by name for the person you envy.
- Praise others sincerely, most of all when it costs you something.
James 3:16; 1 Corinthians 13:4
Gluttony
Gluttony lets the appetite for food and drink rule. The virtue that heals it is temperance.
- Give up one small thing at every meal.
- Keep Friday as a day of penance all year.
- Say grace before and after meals, slowly.
Philippians 3:19; 1 Corinthians 10:31
Wrath
Wrath is anger that wants to hurt or to pay back. The virtue that heals it is patience.
- Wait before you answer, and do not reply while you are angry.
- Pray by name for the person who angered you.
- Make peace before the day ends.
Ephesians 4:26; Matthew 5:22
Sloth
Sloth, also called acedia, is a weariness of spirit that shrinks from the effort that love and prayer ask. The virtue that heals it is diligence.
- Fix a short time of prayer and keep it, whatever you feel.
- Do the hardest duty of the day first.
- Limit your screen time, and give that time to a person.
Proverbs 6:6–9; Matthew 25:26
Your predominant fault
Spiritual writers call the sin a person falls into most easily the predominant fault. Finding it is half the work, because you can then put your effort in one place.
- Name it in confession. Say plainly which fault keeps coming back.
- Ask about it once a day. In the evening, look only at this one fault: when did it show today, and when did I resist it?
- Practise the opposite virtue in one small, concrete act each day.
- Be patient. A deep habit gives way slowly. Falling again is a reason to begin again, not to give up.
Before confession
The quiz looks at seven roots of sin. For a full preparation, go through an examination of conscience on the Ten Commandments, read how to go to confession, and have the Act of Contrition ready.
Frequently asked questions
Are the seven deadly sins in the Bible?
Not as one list. Scripture condemns each of them in many places, for example in Proverbs 6:16–19 and Galatians 5:19–21. The list of seven goes back to the desert monks of the fourth century and was given its present form by Pope St. Gregory the Great around the year 600. The Catechism names them in paragraph 1866.
Is a deadly sin always a mortal sin?
No. The Church calls them capital sins because other sins grow out of them. A sin is mortal when the matter is grave and it is done with full knowledge and free consent (Catechism 1857).
Which of the seven is the worst?
Tradition answers: pride, because it is the root of the others.
Is the quiz anonymous?
Yes. It runs in your browser. Your answers are not saved, not even on your own device.
What should I do with my result?
Take one of the three steps listed under your result and keep it for a week. Then bring what you have seen to confession.