Which should I fear more, the devil, or my own venial sins?

by Dan Burke

Fear the Devil or My Own Venial Sins?

Dear Saint Teresa, which should I fear more, the devil, or my own venial sins?

The Devil
The Devil

If this Lord is powerful, as I see that He is and I know that He is, and if the devils are His slaves (and there is no doubt about this because it’s a matter of faith), what evil can they do to me since I am a servant of this Lord and King? Why shouldn’t I have the fortitude to engage in combat with all of hell?

May it please His majesty that we fear Him whom we ought to fear and understand that more harm can come to us from one venial sin than from all hell together – for this is so.

From Saint Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, in The Book of Her Life, Chapter 25

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Art: Teresa of Avila, François Pascal Simon Gérard, 1827, PD-US copyright term of life plus 100 years or less, Wikimedia Commons.

 

Dan Burke

Dan Burke is the past President and C.O.O. of EWTN's worldwide news
network. He is presently the founder and President of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, which offers graduate and personal enrichment studies in spiritual theology to priests, deacons, religious, and laity in 90 countries and prepares men for seminary in over 40 dioceses.

Dan is the author and editor of numerous books on authentic Catholic spirituality and hosts the Divine Intimacy Radio show with his wife, Stephanie, which is broadcast weekly on EWTN Radio. Past episodes can be found, along with thousands of articles on the interior life, at SpiritualDirection.com.

In his deep commitment to the advancement of faithful Catholic spirituality, he is also the founder of Apostoli Viae, a world-wide, private association of the faithful dedicated to living and advancing the authentic spiritual patrimony of the Church.

Most importantly, Dan is a blessed husband, father of four, grandfather of one—and grateful to be Catholic.

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