Choose a topic from Part 2B:

34. Hatred

1. It is possible for a debased human will to hate God.God is altogether lovable, but to the sinner who incurs thenecessary penalties of sin, hatred of the divine justice, whichimposes the penalties, is possible.

2. Hatred of God is manifestly the worst of sins. For theevil of sin consists in the fact that it turns the soul away fromGod. And there can be no more complete and dreadful turning fromGod than by hatred of God.

3. It is always a sin to hate one's neighbor. For, asSt. John says (I John 2:9): "He that hateth his brother is indarkness." We are to hate sin in our brother, but we are tolove our brother.

4. Our hatred of our neighbor is a sin less hurtful to himthan other sins, such as theft, or murder, or adultery. Therefore,it is not true to say that hatred is the most grievous of sinsagainst a neighbor.

5. Hatred is not listed with the capital sins. For, thoughother sins may arise from hatred as from their capital source,hatred itself is not promptly present to fallen nature, but comesas the result of the gradual deterioration and destruction oflove.

6. Hatred grows out of the capital sin of envy, which issorrow over a neighbor's good. Envy makes a neighbor's goodhateful to the envious man, and thus, as St. Augustine says in hisRule: "Out of envy cometh hatred."

"Before a man chooses his confessor, he ought to think well about it, and pray about it also; but when he has once chosen, he ought not to change, except for most urgent reasons, but put the utmost confidence in his director."
St Philip Neri

* * *

"To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself. "
Thomas á Kempis

* * *

"Does our conduct correspond with our Faith?"
The Cure D'Ars

* * *