I remember studying St. Thomas Aquinas' analysis of sin in college. 
He does an amazing dissection of the stages of sin, from contemplation
all the way through to action.  Can anyone find the text of this
analysis online, or even a summary of it?  Thank you.

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 18 Dec 2003 19:23 PST

Does any of this look familiar?
OF THE DISTINCTION OF SINS (NINE ARTICLES)
http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/summa/FS/FS072.html

The piece mentions "three stages of sin," but Aquinas seems to be
quoting St Augustine.

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Clarification of Question by viseu-ga on 16 Jan 2004 07:29 PST

Hmmm, that's interesting but not quite what I remember.  It may be
that my professor synthesized Aquinas to get the "stages of sin"
scheme.  But maybe not -- if you don't mind looking some more I'd be
grateful.

Aquinas was not too original. James [ in the Bible] wrote it first, at
James 1;14. But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by
his own desire.15. Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives
birth to sin, in turn, sin, when it has been accomplished, brings
forth death.