IMPURITY


By - Saint Alphonsus de Liguori


We have now to speak of the fourth gate of
hell, which is impurity, and it is by this gate that the
greater number of the damned enter. Some will say
that it is a trifling sin. Is it a trifling sin ? It is a mortal
sin. St. Antoninus writes, that such is the nauseousness
of this sin; that the devils themselves cannot endure it.
Moreover, the Doctors of the Church say that
certain demons, who have been superior to the rest,
remembering their ancient dignity, disdain tempting to
so loathsome a sin. Consider then how disgusting he
must be to God, who, like a dog, is ever returning to his
vomit, or wallowing like a pig in the stinking mire of
this accursed vice. "The dog is returned to his vomit; and
the sow that was washed, to her rolling in the mire."

The impure say, moreover, God has compassion on
us who are subject to this vice, because he knows that
we are flesh. What do you say? God has compassion
on this vice. But you must know that the most horrible
chastisements with which God has ever visited the
earthly have been drawn down by this vice. St. Jerome
says that this is the only sin of which we read that it
caused God to repent him of having made man. // repented
Him that had made man;. . . for all flesh had corrupted its
way. Wherefore it is, St. Jerome says, that there is no
sin which God punishes so rigorously, even upon earth,
as this. He once sent fire from heaven upon five cities,
and consumed all their inhabitants for this sin. Principally
on account of this sin did God destroy mankind,
with the exception of eight persons, by the deluge. It
is a sin which God punishes, not only in the other life,
but in this also. In confirmation of this, you have only
to enter the hospitals, and see there the many poor
young men, who were once strong and robust, but are
now weak, squalid, full of pains, tormented with lancets
and caustic, and ulcers, all through this accursed vice.
Because thou hast forgotten Me and cast Me off behind My
back, bear thou also thy wickedness and thy fornications?
Because, says God, you have forgotten me and turned
your back upon me, for a miserable pleasure of the
flesh, I am resolved that even in this life you shall pay
the forfeit of your wickedness.

You say, God has compassion upon men subject
this sin. But it is this sin that sends most men to hell
St Remigius says, that the greater number of the
damned are in hell through this vice. Father Segneri
writes, that as this vice fills the world with sinners, so
it fills hell with damned souls; and before him St. Bernardine
of Sienna wrote: "This sin draws the whole
world, as it were, into sin." And before him St. Bernard,
St. Isidore, said, that "the human race is brought
under the power of the devil more by lust than by all
the other vices." The reason is, because this vice proceeds
from the natural inclination of the flesh. Hence
the angelic Doctor says, that the devil does not take
such complacency in securing the commission of any
other sin as of this, because the person who is plunged
in this infernal mire remains fast therein, and almost
wholly unable to free himself more. "No one is so
obstinate in sin as the impure," says St. Thomas of
Villanova. Moreover, this vice deprives one of all light,
for the impure man becomes so blind as almost wholly
to forget God, says St. Laurence Justinian; 4 which is in
accordance with what is said by the prophet Osee:
They will not set their thoughts to return to their God; for
the spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they have
not known God? The impure man knows not God; he
obeys neither God nor reason, as St. Jerome says; he
obeys on4y the sensual appetite which causes him to act
the beast."

This sin, because it flatters, makes us fall at once into
the habit of it, a habit which some carry with them even
to death. You see husbands, and decrepit old men, indulge
in the same thoughts and committing the same
sins that they committed in their youth. And because
sins of this kind are so easily committed, they become
multiplied without number. Ask of the sinner how
many impure thoughts he has consented to: he will tell
you he cannot remember. But, brother, if you cannot
tell the number, God can; and you know that a single
immodest thought is enough to send you to hell. How
many immodest words have you spoken, in which you
took delight yourself, and by which you scandalized
your neighbor? From thoughts and words you proceed
to acts, and to those innumerable impurities which those
wretches roll and wallow in like swine, without ever
being satisfied, for this vice is never satisfied.

But, Father, you will say, how can I hold out against
the innumerable temptations which assail me ? I am
weak, I am flesh. And since you are weak, why not
recommend yourself to God, and to most holy Mary,
who is the mother of purity? Since you are flesh, why
do you throw yourself in the way of sin? Why do you
not mortify your eyes? Why do you gaze upon those
objects whence temptations flow? St. Aloysius never
raised his eyes to look even upon his mother.

It is to be remarked, moreover, that this sin brings
with it innumerable others: enmities, thefts, and, more
especially, sacrilegious confessions and Communions,
by reason of the shame which will not allow these im
purities to be disclosed in confession. And let us re
mark here in passing, that it is sacrilege above all things,
that brings upon us sickness and death; for, says the
Apostle, He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and
drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the
Lord; and then he adds: therefore are many infirm and
weak among you. And St. John Chrysostom, in explanation
of that passage, says that St. Paul speaks of persons
who were chastised with bodily infirmities, because they
received the sacrament with a guilty conscience.

My brethren, should you ever have been sunk in this
vice, I do not bid you be disheartened, but arise at once
from this foul and infernal pit; beg of God forthwith
to give you light, and stretch out his hand to you. The
first thing that you have to do is to break with the
occasion of sin: without that, preaching and tears and
resolutions and confessions, all are lost. Remove the
occasions, and then constantly recommend yourself to
God, and to Mary the mother of purity. No matter
how grievously you may be tempted, do not be discouraged
by the temptation; at once call to your aid
Jesus and Mary, pronouncing their sacred names.
These blessed names have the virtue of making the devil
fly, and stifling that hellish flame within you. If the
devil persist in tempting you, persevere in calling upon
Jesus and Mary, and certainly you shall not fall. In
order to rid yourself of your evil habits, undertake some
special devotion to our Lady; begin to fast in her honor
upon Saturdays; contrive to visit her image every day,
and beg of her to obtain for you deliverance from that
vice. Every morning immediately after rising, never
omit saying three " Hail Marys" in honor of her purity
and do the same when going to bed; and above all
things, as I have said, when the temptation is most
troublesome, call quickly upon Jesus and Mary. Be
ware, brother, if you do not be converted now, you may
never be converted.