Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/97

 danger and  inspired  to  correct  herself, which  she soon did. Single drops  of  deadly  poison  may  be harmless,  but  if  taken  steadily  they  will  kill. Dropping water will  wear  away  even  stones,  and  so,  too, venial sins  wear  out  our  good  resolutions.

''Q. Which  are  the  effects  of  venial  sin? ''

''A. The  effects  of  venial  sin  are  the  lessening  of  the love  of  God  in  our  hearty  the  making  us  less  worthy  of His  help and  the  weakening  of  the  power  to  resist mortal  sin. ''

Indulgence in  venial  sins  weakens  the  will. A certain prince  gave  an  entertainment  to  which  he invited  several  persons  of  rank. After a sumptuous repast he  took  his  guests  on  to  a balcony  overlooking the  courtyard  in  which  stood  a caldron  of boiling  honey. Into this  courtyard  a bear  was  suddenly let  loose. As soon  as  it  smelled  the  honey,  it rushed  up  to  the  caldron  and  burned  its  muzzle terribly. Roaring with  pain,  it  fled  to  the  opposite end  of  the  yard. But after  a while  it  came  near and began  to  lick  up  the  honey. It was  still  too hot; the  bear  burned  its  tongue  and  again  retreated to a distance,  yet  not  so  far  as  before. Once or  twice it came  up  and  tried  again; finally  it  devoured  all the honey  with  such  greediness  that  it  burst. Thus it is  with  a man  who  is  addicted  to  vice. When the evil consequences  of  his  misdeeds  make  themselves felt, the  sinner  forms  excellent  resolutions,  but presently he  relapses  again  into  sin. The more