Choose a topic from Part 2B:

99. Irreligion: Sacrilege

1. Sacrilege is the violation or misuse of what is sacred.Things that belong to the worship of God have, by their purpose anduse, a certain sacredness. To violate or profane such things is tobe irreverent to God for whose worship the things exist.

2. Sacrilege is a special sin opposed to the virtue ofreligion. St. John Damascene says that when the purple has beenmade into a royal robe we honor it, and that he who dishonors it ispunished. So also when anything is made into the instrument ofdivine worship, it is sacred, and he who dishonors it does aspecial and punishable thing.

3. Sacrilege is not only found in the profane andirreverent use of sacred things; it is also found in irreverenttreatment of sacred persons, and in irreverent conduct in sacredplaces. The worst sacrilege against persons is that of irreverentuse of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament; this terrible sin iscommitted by those who misuse or profane the sacred species, and bythose who deliberately receive Communion unworthily. Sacrilegeagainst persons is also committed by those who offer physicalindignity to persons consecrated to God by vow or by holy order.Sacrilege in things is found in the irreligious use of sacredvessels, vestments, images, relics, medals, and the like. Sacrilegein places is committed by whatever profanes the altar or the houseof God.

4. Sacrilege is sometimes punished by the Church throughexcommunication or other censure. In Catholic countries, it issometimes punished by civil laws also.

"Lord, here burn, here cut, and dry up in me all that hinders me from going to You, that You may spare me in eternity."
St Louis Bertrand

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"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

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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God. "
Thomas á Kempis

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