SPIRITUAL  GUIDANCE

No one can bring any excuses before God's tribunal, for everyone knows that one must do what is right and avoid what is wrong. Consequently, we readily understand that we cause our own perdition.                  

No one becomes corrupt all of a sudden.  So we should be afraid of committing little faults.  Never say to yourself that one does not go to hell because of venial sins; for you must know that if you believe this, you are already heading towards the road that leads to hell.           

When God restricts your will, consider him to be guiding you.  For in this way you are being led along the narrow path that leads to eternal life.  If you are seeking eternal life, it certainly does not tell you that a venial sin is of no consequence.        

Beware of a particular friendship, for this is a sign that in your good actions you do not have the right intention.  Nature acts how it pleases and with whom it pleases.  A natural intention directs itself not towards God, but towards the gratification of self.         

Examine the morality of your voluntary action not only from its objective, but also from all its circumstances.  One single bad circumstance renders the whole action bad.  Something is good if it is totally good, but it becomes wrong from any one single shortcoming or defect.                 

You are not bound to repair a damage done if you have not actually caused it.  You are so bound only if you have laid an unjust cause, a cause from which a bad effect has ensued.  Besides, there must also be a theological guilt, that is, you as the agent must have been in your right senses, must have really willed the deed, and did it in order to harm this or that person.

From the Writings of St.George Preca, the Maltese  Saint.