Principles and Practices - July 30

Is This Understood?

The least venial sin is a greater evil than all others, not excepting death or hell.

The only inference to be drawn from its truth is that if by the smallest venial sin we could avert tbe greatest evils and obtain the most substantial and desirable goods for the whole human race, we should not thereby be justified in committing it.

Oh! thou who makest light of venial sin, 'drinking iniquity like water,' would to Heaven that this 'were deeply graven on the stone of thy heart.'

-Bellecius, S.J.
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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