Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 3
Thepreacherbegantospeakinaquietfriendlytone.Hisfacewaskindandhejoinedgentlythefingersofeachhand,formingafrailcagebytheunionoftheirtips.
—Thismorningweendeavoured,inourreflectionuponhell,tomakewhatourholyfoundercallsinhisbookofspiritualexercises,thecompositionofplace.Weendeavoured,thatis,toimaginewiththesensesofthemind,inourimagination,thematerialcharacterofthatawfulplaceandofthephysicaltormentswhichallwhoareinhellendure.Thiseveningweshallconsiderforafewmomentsthenatureofthespiritualtormentsofhell.
—Sin,remember,isatwofoldenormity.Itisabaseconsenttothepromptingsofourcorruptnaturetothelowerinstincts,tothatwhichisgrossandbeast-like;anditisalsoaturningawayfromthecounselofourhighernature,fromallthatispureandholy,fromtheHolyGodHimself.Forthisreasonmortalsinispunishedinhellbytwodifferentformsofpunishment,physicalandspiritual.
Nowofallthesespiritualpainsbyfarthegreatestisthepainofloss,sogreat,infact,thatinitselfitisatormentgreaterthanalltheothers.SaintThomas,thegreatestdoctorofthechurch,theangelicdoctor,asheiscalled,saysthattheworstdamnationconsistsinthis,thattheunderstandingofmanistotallydeprivedofdivinelightandhisaffectionobstinatelyturnedawayfromthegoodnessofGod.
