Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/108

 fall into  mortal  sins. He that  contemncth  small  things  shall fall  by  little  and  little.

Do not  then,  therefore,  says  St.  Dorotheus,  say  that the habit  of  venial  sins  is  only  a  small  evil;  but  reflect on its  consequences. A bad  habit  is  an  ulcer  which  infects the  soul;  and  as  it  diminishes  her  strength  to  avoid light faults,  so  it  gradually  renders  her  unable  to  resist grievous temptations. " Do  not,"  says  St.  Augustine, "contemn them  because  they  are  numerous:  ruin  is  to be  apprehended  from  their  multitude,  though  not  from their  magnitude." Despise not  your  faults  because they are  venial,  but  tremble  because  they  are  many:  for the greatness  of  their  number  may  bring  upon  you  that destruction which  the  heinousness  of  their  malice  does not deserve. You, says  the  saint  in  another  place, carefully fly  from  the  danger  of  being  crushed  by  a  rock; but I  caution  you  to  shun  the  risk  of  suffocation  by  a heap  of  sand. By a  collection  of  sand  the  holy  Father means frequent  habitual  venial  transgressions,  which, when committed  with  deliberation  and  without  efforts of amendment,  destroy  in  the  soul  the  fear  of  committing mortal  sins. And whoever  fears  them  but  little, will easily  fall  into  them. Hence St.  John  Chrysostom has gone  so  far  as  to  assert  that  we  should,  in  a  certain manner have  a  greater  dread  of  habitual  venial  sins  than of mortal  sin. Because the  latter  naturally  excites  horror; but as  the  habit  of  the  former  generates  negligence  and contempt for  small  faults,  so  likewise  it  induces  a  disregard for  grievous  transgressions. Hence the  Holy Ghost says:  Catch  us  the  little  foxes  that  destroy  the  vines.