Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. Idolatry is that form of superstition which sets up falsegods, and pays divine honor to what is not divine. St. Augustine(De Doct. Christ, ii) says: "Anything invented by manfor making and worshiping idols, or for giving divine worship to acreature, or any part of a creature ... is superstitious." Thesuperstition here indicated is that of idolatry.
2. It is certainly a sin to worship idols, outwardly orinwardly. It is right to give honor to superiors, but not to regardthem as gods. Idolatry is utterly inordinate; it is flatly contraryto reason; it conflicts with religion; it is a thing evil initself. Hence, idolatry is never to be tolerated. We mustreject the error of those heretics who say that, in times ofpersecution, it suffices to hold the true religion in the heart,and, for the sake of freedom from trouble, to take part in theoutward worship of idols.
3. It is a sin, and in itself the gravest kind of sin, topractice idolatry. For it is directly against God, like hatred ofGod which we have called the worst sin in its kind. Idolatry wouldupset the order of the universe by ascribing universal control andabsolute power to a creature. Some sins may be worse than idolatryby reason of the contempt for God and his law that exists in thesinner's heart; but no sin is worse in itself.
4. Men cause idolatry by their excessive affections,inordinate loyalties, too high an esteem for artistic objects, andalso by ignorance. Scripture says (Wisd. 14:14): "By thevanity of men, they [idols] came into the world." A furthercause of idolatry is found in the solicitation of demons who offerthemselves to be adored.
"It is well to choose some one good devotion, and to stick to it, and never to abandon it."
St Philip Neri
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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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"It is better to be burdened and in company with the strong than to be unburdened and with the weak. When you are burdened you are close to God, your strength, who abides with the afflicted. When you are relieved of the burden you are close to yourself, your own weakness; for virtue and strength of soul grow and are confirmed in the trials of patience."
St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church
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