Those who are self-content are in more spiritual danger than others
January 23, 2022 • 2 min
From The Sinner’s Guide, page 467
By Venerable Louis of Granada
You marvel, doubtless, why a soul that is cold should be less displeasing to God than one that is luke-warm.
The reason of this is because coldness, or the state of the sinner devoid of all virtues, is more easily cured than luke-warmness, which represents the man of few virtues, and these only exterior practices without the life of charity.
The man who is loaded with sins can be brought to realize his malady, and so induced to take the proper remedies. But the man who is luke-warm rests on that false security which, as was the case with the Pharisee, leads him to believe that he possesses all the treasures of virtue. Though these soulless practices avail him naught, he will not realize his sad state, and consequently will take no measures for amendment.
To know that this is the true meaning of the text, read what follows: “Thou sayest, I am rich, and made wealthy, and I have need of nothing; and thou knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” [Ib: Apoc. iii. 15, 16.] Do not these words again show the Pharisee who thanks God for His spiritual riches when he is poor, destitute of all virtue, inflated with pride, and blind to his own failings?
There is nothing in Holy Scripture more frequently extolled than this true justice, nothing more frequently condemned than this Pharisaical justice. Hence we have dwelt at some length on the excellence of the first and the danger of the second.
Latest book snippets
Search | Random | 910 total | 50h 3m
June 28, 2022
Humility will protect our hearts from the accusations of the world
2 min — Imitation of Christ
June 7, 2022
God’s goodness in giving Himself to us sinners should inspire us with even greater humility, trust and love
1 min — Imitation of Christ
June 6, 2022
The more we preserve our hearts for God, the more will he fill us with Divine Love and Grace
1 min — Imitation of ChristThe love of friends must only depend on and exist in the Love of God
1 min — Imitation of Christ
May 24, 2022
Mary’s love was greater than any angel’s or saint’s as much as the moon is bigger and brighter than any star
1 min — The Month of Mary According to the Spirit of St. Francis De SalesMary only slept in order to love and serve God better
2 min — The Month of Mary According to the Spirit of St. Francis De Sales
May 17, 2022
May 17th: Mary not only practiced perfect obedience, but recommended it to all in the Gospel
2 min — The Month of Mary According to the Spirit of St. Francis De Sales
May 15, 2022
May 15th: The union of Humility and Charity in the Blessed Virgin Mary
4 min — The Month of Mary According to the Spirit of St. Francis De SalesMay 15th: The three Unions that occurred at the Incarnation
2 min — The Month of Mary According to the Spirit of St. Francis De Sales