Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. Sometimes the truths and practices of the true religionare misinterpreted or misused, and this is a kind of superstition.It is true doctrine, for instance, that the souls in purgatory arehelped by our prayers. But it would be superstition to believe thata certain formula of prayer, or a certain number of prayers, givesabsolute assurance of the deliverance of a certain soul frompurgatory.
2. And the good and useful practices of Catholics-inpenitential acts, for instance, and in using medals, scapulars, andother blessed objects-are sometimes turned into superstitioususages by mistaken persons who invest such practices with a kind ofmagical power, instead of using them, according to the mind of theChurch, as means of stirring up reverence and devotion to God intheir own hearts.
"Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God."
Thomas á Kempis
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"Let persons in the world sanctify themselves in their own houses, for neither the court, professions, or labour, are any hindrance to the service of God."
St Philip Neri
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"A single act of uniformity with the divine will suffices to make a saint."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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