Chapter III. Ten hindrances to devotion

As there are clearly some things which aid, there are as clearly some which hinder, Devotion. Amongst these must first be mentioned our sins, not the mortal sins only but the venial ; for these, even if they do not drive out charity entirely, yet diminish the heart's fervour, which is well-nigh the same as its Devotion. Wherefore we must guard against them with all care, not so much for the evil they do to us, as for the good which they hinder.

Remorse of conscience, also, coming from those sins, will hinder Devotion when it is exaggerated ; for then it leaves the mind upset, cast down, dismayed and unfit for any holy exercise.

Scruples, too, for the same reason, hinder Devotion ; for they are like thorns which prick the conscience and disquiet it, and will not allow it to find repose and comfort in God, or to enjoy the happiness of true peace. So, too, any kind of bitterness of spirit or despondency, or excessive sadness will hinder Devotion ; for with these the delight and sweetness of a good conscience and spiritual joy will ill agree.

Similarly those innumerable cares and anxieties, which are like the gnats in Egypt, disturb the mind, and will not allow it to take that spiritual repose which Prayer should bring, but these will especially unsettle it, and divert it from Devotion. These manifold occupations hinder Devotion, through their taking up our time, and stifling our spirit, and so they leave us without heart or opportunity to devote ourselves to the service of God.

Then, too, sensual delights and gratifications, when taken with excess, must hinder Devotion, for “he that gives himself over to the consolations of the world deserves not those of the Holy Spirit,” says S. Bernard.’ Inordinate self-indulgence in eating and drinking, especially prolonged banguets, hinder Devotion, ill preparing one for spiritual exercises or sacred vigils, for, with the body weighed down by too full feeding, the mind becomes very unfit for soaring upwards to things above.

Again, Devotion is hindered by the vice or fault of curiosity, whether of the senses or the intellect, the craving to hear or see or know about many: things, or strange much-talked-of events, for all this takes up our time, disturbs the senses, unsettles the mind, and wholly distracts it from thoughts of Prayer, And, lastly, Devotion is hindered by the interruption of these holy practices, unless this interruption should be on account of some pious or just necessity for, says a holy Teacher, the spirit of Devotion is of a very delicate nature, so that when it has once passed away, it either never comes back, or comes back only with great difficulty. And so, as trees and plants and human beings equally need their ordinary sustenance, and, in default of this, soon wither and fall away, so too, will Devotion without its watering and nurturing.

All this has been thus briefly set forth, that it may the better be kept in memory, and its usefulness we shall discover, with further experience, and practice, in this holy exercise.