Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. St. Augustine says that the sin against the Holy Ghostmentioned specifically in scripture (Matt. 12:31) is the sin offinal impenitence by which a man rejects grace and pardon,up to and including the moment of his death. Others, speaking ofsins against the Holy Ghost, say that a sin of weakness is a sinagainst God the Father; a sin of ignorance is a sin against God theSon; a sin of malice is a sin against God the Holy Ghost.
2. There are, in fact, six kinds of sins against the HolyGhost, and all are sins of malice. These are: despair, presumption,impenitence, obstinacy, resisting the known truth, and envy ofanother's spiritual good.
3. In Matthew (12:31) we read, "He that shall speakagainst theHoly Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neitherin this world, nor in the world to come." We may take thephrase, "speak against the Holy Ghost," for "sinagainst the Holy Ghost," since a sin of speech expresses theinternal state of mind and will. If final impenitence is "thesin against the Holy Ghost," it is clear that this sin cannotbe forgiven, because the sinner goes to his death and judgmentunrepentant and resisting the grace of pardon. If "the sinagainst the Holy Ghost" is any sin of malice, it isunforgivable in itself, although God may forgive it none the less.It may be incurable as a disease is incurable; yet God can cure anincurable disease.
4. It is possible for a person to commit his very first sin bysinning against the Holy Ghost. Yet it is so unlikely as to bepractically impossible. For the sin against the Holy Ghost isregularly the outcome of many previous sins, and comes of a gradualturning of the mind and will to contempt for the means ofsalvation.
"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
* * *
"Men should often renew their good resolutions, and not lose heart because they are tempted against them."
St Philip Neri
* * *
"The supreme perfection of man in this life is to be so united to God that all his soul with all its faculties and powers are so gathered into the Lord God that he becomes one spirit with him, and remembers nothing except God, is aware of and recognises nothing but God, but with all his desires unified by the joy of love, he rests contentedly in the enjoyment of his Maker alone."
St Albert the Great
* * *