Choose a topic from Part 2A:
1. In no way whatever, directly or indirectly, is God thecause of any sin.
2. God supports his creatures in being and existence. Godtherefore supports man's free will, even while man is abusingfree will by sinning. God causes the man who sins, and causes hiswill, and enables or causes it to act. But, though God is the causeof the act which free will makes sinful, he is in no waythe cause of the sin as such.
3. God is called the cause of spiritual blindness and ofhardness of heart, in the sense that he withdraws or withholds hisgrace from those in whom he finds an obstacle or block to the entryand effectiveness of such grace.
4. Spiritual blindness and hardness of heart indicate aman's determined abandonment of God, and, consequently, hisabandonment of the hope of heaven. Sometimes, however, atemporary spiritual blindness may work towards a man'sgood by warning him; just so a temporary blindness of the bodilyeyes may warn a man to avoid strain and unsuitable light whichcould permanently injure or destroy his vision.
"If, devout soul, it is your will to please God and live a life of serenity in this world, unite yourself always and in all things to the divine will. Reflect that all the sins of your past wicked life happened because you wandered from the path of God's will. For the future, embrace God's good pleasure and say to him in every happening: "Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good in thy sight." "
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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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.
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St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church
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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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