Choose a topic from Part 2A:
1. In no way whatever, directly or indirectly, is God thecause of any sin.
2. God supports his creatures in being and existence. Godtherefore supports man's free will, even while man is abusingfree will by sinning. God causes the man who sins, and causes hiswill, and enables or causes it to act. But, though God is the causeof the act which free will makes sinful, he is in no waythe cause of the sin as such.
3. God is called the cause of spiritual blindness and ofhardness of heart, in the sense that he withdraws or withholds hisgrace from those in whom he finds an obstacle or block to the entryand effectiveness of such grace.
4. Spiritual blindness and hardness of heart indicate aman's determined abandonment of God, and, consequently, hisabandonment of the hope of heaven. Sometimes, however, atemporary spiritual blindness may work towards a man'sgood by warning him; just so a temporary blindness of the bodilyeyes may warn a man to avoid strain and unsuitable light whichcould permanently injure or destroy his vision.
"Though the path is plain and smooth for people of good will, those who walk it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty if they do not have good feet, courage, and tenacity of spirit.
"
St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church
* * *
"Whom do you seek, friend, if you seek not God? Seek him, find him, cleave to him; bind your will to his with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life and in the next."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
* * *
"Men should often renew their good resolutions, and not lose heart because they are tempted against them."
St Philip Neri
* * *