HATING THE CAUSES OF SIN ---- St. Isaac the Syrian

Until a man begins to hate the causes of sin, sincerely and from the heart, he cannot be free from the feeling of enjoyment produced by an act of sin. This is the most grievous fight of all (that is, with enjoyment of sin), which resists a man even at the cost of blood. Thereby man's freedom in the singleness (exclusiveness) of his love for virtue is put to the test.

In this struggle lies the force of sin, by which the enemy is determined to disturb the souls of the chaste, compelling them to experience what they had never in any way accepted in themselves.


And this is the time of invisible endeavour, which can be very hard if the attacks, strengthened by an acquired habit, gain great power over those who have been accustomed to surrender to defeat by consenting to their own thoughts.

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