external temptations, and never be turned from what is right by any difficulties or persecutions.
The greatest loss. “What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul?” It would profit a man nothing if he possessed all the power, honour and riches that it was possible for him to have, and injured his soul thereby. All sin, and especially mortal sin, does injury to the soul. If, therefore, a man could gain the whole world by committing one mortal sin, would it be of any profit to him? None at all, for death would take all his possessions from him, and he would then be punished for ever in hell.
Once lost, for ever lost! “Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” What can he do or give to redeem his soul from hell? Nothing! Once a man’s soul is lost, it remains lost, and nothing can redeem it from everlasting damnation. The care of our soul is our one important business in life, “the one thing needful”.
The necessity of grace. Grace “draws” us, by enlightening us and awakening in us a desire for salvation; but it does not compel us. God leaves us at perfect liberty either to obey or resist the attractions of grace.
The resurrection of the body. On the last day our Lord Jesus Christ will raise to life the bodies of the dead (Eleventh article of the creed).
Life everlasting (Twelfth article of the creed).
The law of Jesus is sweet and easy 1. because the purport of it is love, and love makes all duties light and pleasant; 2. because Jesus does not merely impose duties on us, but helps us by His grace to fulfil them; 3. because Jesus has gone before us, showing us an example. He Himself has done everything which He requires us to do, and that in the most perfect manner, as, for example, showing love to our enemies. His law is sweet and easy 4. because an exceeding great reward is promised to us if we obey it, namely, peace and joy of heart on earth, and inconceivable glory and happiness in heaven.
Gentleness and humility are especially taught us by the example of our Lord Jesus. The sins contrary to these virtues are the two capital sins of anger and pride.
Devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our Lord Himself directs us to His Sacred Heart and invites us to imitate its virtues of love, mercy, gentleness, humility, obedience, patience, fortitude &c. The Heart of Jesus is the model of all virtues and the fountain of all grace, and must therefore be loved and adored by all who love Jesus. The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is kept on the Friday [in some places, on the Sunday] after the Octave of Corpus Christi.
