We should separate ourselves from reliance on religious feeling as a ground of nope and acceptance with God. This is so important that I press it on your attention. There can be no religion without some religious feeling. It is indispensable to the being a Christian. But there is a disposition in some to trust in their feelings, and to make a kind of idol of them. For instance, you experience, perhaps, at some time, great sorrow for sin, or great thankfulness for mercies, or great lowliness of spirit, or self-humiliation. But if you recall those feelings, and dwell much upon them, and so as to place trust and confidence in them, it will be to your soul's injury. It is not our feelings, but Christ that saves us. Do not be frequently examining and poring over your feelings, past or present. It will lead, most probably, to darkness of mind, dejection of spirit, and perhaps to serious errors. For if you are looking for something in your own feelings, whether of joy or sorrow, or earnestness, or devotion, or what not, on which you place your trust for God's acceptance instead of the all-sufficient and present Saviour and His grace, you are, after all, placing confidence in self, and the result will be to your great spiritual injury. Christ is a jealous Saviour, and will not be undervalued. Religious feelings are valuable only as they unite us more closely to God and Him.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp