SERMONS OF THE CURE OF ARS - EXCERPTS
THE DREADFUL STATE OF THE LUKEWARM SOUL
HAVE YOU RELIGION IN YOUR HEART?
THE WORLD IS EVERYTHING AND GOD IS NOTHING!
YOUR HEART IS BUT A MASS OF PRIDE
THE TONGUE OF THE SCANDAL-MONGER
ST. NICHOLAS AND THE THREE GIRLS
ARE YOUR AFFAIRS GOING BETTER?
HOW DEATH WILL REVEAL THIEVES!
IF YOU KNOW HOW TO GIVE, YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO PAY BACK
THE DUTIES OF THE PREGNANT WOMAN
YOU WILL ANSWER FOR THEIR SOULS
TO THEIR SHAME IT MUST BE SAID
GETTING TO KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE
BEWARE IF YOU HAVE NO TEMPTATIONS
IT IS NECESSARY TO BE CONVERTED
YOUR PRAYERS ARE ONLY AN INSULT
THE SERVICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
But, you will tell me, we cannot be always following them around. We have other things to do.
As to that, my dear brethren, I will say nothing. All I know is that you will answer for their souls as much as for your own.
But we do all we can.
I do not know whether you do all you can, but this much I do know: if your children incur damnation at home with you, you, too, will be damned. That much I know, and nothing else.
You may go on saying "No" to that, saying that I go too far.
You will agree with it if you have not entirely lost your faith.
That alone should suffice to cast you into a state of despair from which you could not emerge. But I know well that you will not take another step to fulfil any better your duties to your children. You are not at all disturbed, and you are almost right, for you will have plenty of time to torment yourselves during all eternity. We will pass on.