Friday 6 March 2009

Inspired to do good

And more:

In order to arrive at a full agreement on a question of marriage, three actions are necessary in regard to the lady whom a man wishes to marry: for first the proposal must be made to her; secondly, she entertains the proposal; and thirdly, she consents. So God acts, when he wishes to do in us, through us, and with us, some act of great charity. First, he proposes it to us by his inspiration; secondly, we entertain it; thirdly, we consent to it; for just as there are three downward steps to sin - the temptation, the delectation, and the consent - so also there are three upward steps to virtue - the inspiration, which is the opposite of the temptation; the delectation in the inspiration, which is the opposite of the delectation in the temptation; and the consent to the inspiration, which is the opposite to the consent to the temptation.

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