Daily Bread - Day 135

It is one thing to fall into little venial faults, through the frailty of human nature, and "another to commit them through - culpable negligence, and want of watchfulness. To speak now of the first only. A man falls through frailty who, while ready and desirous to renounce and avoid what he knows it is according to God's will he shall keep from, yet through some slight impatience of spirit, or excitement, or levity, or too much talking, thinks, or says, or does what he should not think, say, or do, perhaps is more mirthful than is meet, or over-anxious and busy about worldly matters. Now if as soon as he recovers himself he grieves that he was not more guarded and watchful over his own heart, and inwardly and truly abhors all sin, and hastens to confess his faults to God, and seek pardon, his transgressions will not be imputed to him as heavy, for bis heart, through the grace of his Saviour, is not willfully and allowably corrupt. He hates that which is evil; sin has not dominion over him. Nor will such faults, so dealt with, hinder his growth in grace, and progress in the kingdom of God. This reflection may comfort and encourage some.

- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp