ontempt." Showing by our words or actions that we disregard or despise
those placed over us. A man who is summoned to appear in court and does
not come is punished for "contempt of court," because he shows that he
disregards the authority of the judge. A thing not very bad in itself
may become very bad if done out of contempt. For example, there would be
a great difference between eating a little more than the Church allows
on a fast-day, simply because you were hungry, and eating it because you
wanted to show that you despised the law of fasting and the authority of
the Church. The first would be only a venial sin, but the latter mortal.
So for all your actions. An act which in itself might be a venial sin
could easily become a mortal sin if you did it through contempt.
"Stubbornness"--that is, unwillingness to give in, even when you know
you are wrong and should yield. Those who obey slowly and do what they
are ordered in a sulky manner are also guilty of stubbornness.

366 Q. What is the Fifth Commandment?
A. The Fifth Commandment is: Thou shalt not kill.

367 Q. What are we commanded by the Fifth Commandment?
A. We are commanded by the Fifth Commandment to live in peace and union
with our neighbor, to respect his rights, to seek his spiritual and
bodily welfare, and to take proper care of our own life and health.

"Proper care of our own life." It is not our property, but God's. He
lends it to us and leaves it with us as long as He pleases: nor does He
tell us how long He will let us have the use of it. Thus suicide, or the
taking of one's own life, is a mortal sin, for by it we resist the will
of God. One who in sound mind and full possession of reason causes his
own death is guilty of suicide. But it is sometimes very difficult to
determine whether the person was really sane at the time he committed
the act; hence, when there is any reasonable doubt on that point, the
unfortunate suicide is usually given the benefit of it. It is also a sin
to risk our lives uselessly or to continue in any habit that we are sure
is injuring our health and shortening our lives.

Thus an habitual drunkard is guilty of sin against the Fifth
Commandment, for besides his sin of drunkenness, he is hastening his own
death. So, too, boys or girls who indulge in habits which their parents
forbid are guilty of sin. For example, a boy is forbidden to smoke, and
he does smoke. Now to smoke is not in itself a sin, but it becomes a sin
for th