Choose a topic from Part 2B:

13. Blasphemy

1. Blasphemy is a direct disparging of the divinegoodness. It is therefore a sin in conflict with the faith. For hewho has the faith confesses to the divine goodness.

2. Blasphemy, by its genus or the generalessential class of sins to which it belongs, is always a mortalsin.

3. We have seen that unbelief is the greatest of sinsagainst faith. Blasphemy is an emphatic form of unbelief. Hence, inspeaking of sins against faith, blasphemy is often called the worstof sins.

4. The wicked in hell detest the divine goodness andjustice, and thus they blaspheme. It is believable that, after theresurrection of the body at general judgment, human beings in hellwill utter their blasphemies audibly.

"The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God's will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God."
St Alphonsus de Liguori

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"God gives us some things, as the beginning of faith, even when we do not pray. Other things, such as perseverance, he has only provided for those who pray."
St Augustine

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"The name of Jesus, pronounced with reverence and affection, has a kind of power to soften the heart. "
St Philip Neri

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