DO NOT TURN BACK

When the Holy Spirit has led the repentant man to undertake the work of personal holiness, He also grants him comforts and teaches him not to turn back nor be attached to anything of this world. To this end, He opens the eyes of the soul and gives him to see the beauty of purity of heart reached through repentance. In this way, He kindles in the soul zeal for  complete purification of both soul and body, that the two may be one in purity. For this is the work of the Holy Spirit -- to bring man back to his original state, as they were in Paradise.

The Holy Spirit destroys in man everything added by the devil's envy so that nothing of the enemy may remain therein. This way, the body becomes obedient to the soul while the soul will masterfully keep the body under subjection, as St. Paul exhorted.

St. Anthony, the Hermit

( 12-07-02)