Do Not Presume
Whatever high degree of grace and virtue thou hast attained, whatever gift of prayer God hath bestowed upon thee, let it be as sublime as thou wilt; even if thy life hath been one of a thousand years spent in innocence and fervour of devotion, thou oughtest, nevertheless, to walk always in fear and self-distrust, and more especially in matters touching purity.
Recollect that thou carriest about in thee an indestructible germ and an inexhaustible fountain of sin, and knowing that thou art all weakness, all unstableness, and all unfaithfulness.
Look, therefore, always to thyself; close thine eyes and ears so as neither to see nor hear anything that might sully thy soul.
-Leo XIII-Vaughan.
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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
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