Just where does this come from? I know it's Lent and we're all supposed to be feeling pious because we've given up something for a short period of time in order to win spiritual brownie points with the Big G. But sin is miserable?
Oddly enough, I've never found that to be the case. Indeed, I find quite a bit of sin to be rather good fun.
We all know that, when the religious start talking about 'sin', what they really mean is sex. Well, what can I say? Sex doesn't make me feel miserable.
But then again, quite a lot of sins are 'forbidden' pleasures.
According to one Father Roberto Busa, a 95-year-old Jesuit scholar, men and women sin differently.
For men, it's a case of lust first, followed by gluttony and then sloth. Anger, pride and envy follow, with greed taking up the rear.
For women, it's pride, followed by envy (Damn! I really want the handbag she's got!) and then anger. Lust comes a poor fourth.
Mind, the poor dear probably doesn't get out much.
And he hasn't met me.
Or quite a few other women I know.
How extraordinary though – that a (presumably) virginal 95-year-old should be such an expert on sin, after living an exemplary life of contemplation, scholarship and piety.
I'm going to admit something here: it has sometimes crossed my mind that would be a rather good ruse to take confession – just to see how quickly I could make the priest's hair curl.
And confession is good for the soul, so they say.
But then again, probably not half as much fun as a bit of sin.
