Principles and Practices - February 17

The Reason Why

In the garden of the Church there are more trees than one might think that are reluctant to be pruned, and will not allow themselves to be fashioned as they should - who will not submit, or submit but imperfectly, to the necessary cultiva­tion.

And this is because it costs us something to control our actions, to admit the strength of our passions, the baseness of our desires, the number of our faults.

We are afraid of receiving certain advice which will perhaps upset our projected plans, neces­sitate fatiguing exertions, or call for incessant vigilance or some painful acts of self-denial. It is hard also to be thwarted in our tastes and to be perpetually urged to live in a state of oblivion and humility.

-Saudreau.
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From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930