Choose a topic from Part 2B:

15. Vices Opposed to Knowledge and Understanding

1. A person who turns away his mind from all considerationof God, or who so busies himself with creatural things that he hasno time to think of God and of his own soul's needs, is subjectto mental and spiritual blindness; in so far as this is aperson's own fault, it is a sin.

2. Blindness of mind is a complete privation ofthe consideration of spiritual goods. Dullness of sense isa partial privation; it is a weakness, not a total absence, ofmental vision which beholds spiritual goods. Thus dullness, in sofar as it is voluntary, is also sinful.

3. It appears that both dullness of sense and blindness ofmind arise primarily from sins of the flesh; the former fromgluttony, and the latter from lust.

"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

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"Whoever wants to stand alone without the support of a master and guide will be like the tree that stands alone in a field without a proprietor. No matter how much the tree bears, passers-by will pick the fruit before it ripens. "
St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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"He who wishes to be perfectly obeyed, should give but few orders."
St Philip Neri

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