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''Farewell to Sin!”

By

Rev. Wilfred G. Hurley, C.S.P.

*

The Paulist Press

New York 19, N. Y.



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Nikil Obstat:

Imprimatur:

John M. A. Fearns, S.T.D.,

Censor Librorum.

^ Francis Cardinal Spellman,
Archbishop of New York.

New York, February 8, 1949.

Copyright, 1949
,
by

The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle

m THE State of New York.

printed and published in THE U. S. A. BY

THE PAULIST PRESS, NEW YORK 19
,

N. Y.





“Farewell to Sin!”

Majestically, in all its magnificent

power and might, the United States

Navy is steaming along its course across

the vast expanse of the gently rolling

Pacific. There have been long and

tedious weeks of arduous battle drill

and gruelling practice. But that is over

now, and with all duty well done, the

great battleships are homeward bound

once more. With happy hearts and gay

spirits the officers and men are busy with

their various daily routine work. While

in the minds of all, thoughts are racing

ahead to their beloved homeland and to

their loved ones with whom they will

soon be again.

It is early morning and as "the sun

comes up like thunder” to burst forth

in all its glory in the East, there appears,

far ahead, yet sharply outlined against

the horizon, a small, bleak and drab

little island.

Suddenly, over the ship’s loudspeaker

comes the order of the day. An un-

Page 5



precedented procedure, with an un-

precedented order. The entire fleet is

to prepare itself for a '^presidential re-

view’’ and to "prepare to pass in re-

view” before the island ahead, with a

salute of the full twenty-one guns.

Officers and men spring into action.

Soon flags are flying in the breeze. Then

all the line flags are run up; from the

bow far up to the dizzy heights of the

steel mast-tops and then down to the

fantail of the stern. The guns are

readied for the salute. The entire per-

sonnel of every ship is arrayed in its

finest "full dress” uniform. Every man

stands at "attention” lining the rails.

The ships quietly and in perfect order

swing into single file, each in its allotted

position. The Review is on!

But why all this?

Because they are the officers and men

of the United States Navy, representing

a nation which will live forever in

history as a country unsurpassed for its

humanitarian principles, for its gen-

erosity to the suffering, its kindness,

Page 6



thoughtfulness and goodness to the

afflicted.

And this is the island of Molokai.

And .on this island live men and women

who, in the opinion of mankind, are

the most unfortunate of all peoples on

the face of the earth. For they are the

lepers of Molokai.

And so the entire fleet passes in im-

posing review!

To bring into the lives of these poor

unfortunates a little happiness. A little

consolation and comfort in the knowl-

edge that they are not forgotten. That

the hearts of this great people deeply

sympathize with them in their suffer-

ings and sorrows.

And surely every American, worthy

of the name and the traditions of this

beloved land, cries out in his heart to

these gallant officers and men: "Well

done, gentlemen!’’

Certain it is, also, that every man

aboard those mighty battleships, stand-

ing erect with "eyes, front,” was proud

and happy for this opportunity to par-

Pagb 7



ticipate in this magnificent tribute and

salute. For these men knew the horror

of leprosy! And knew it well.

In their many weeks of service in the

Far East, where this disease is so rampant

and common, they had seen its victims.

Had seen their sufferings and misery.

And having seen, could never forget.

Do you know what leprosy is?

It is a disease that kills with the

stealthiness of consumption. That mur-

ders with the sureness of cancer. But

with a horror all its own. For this

terrible disease destroys life by the

rotting away of the body. The hands,

the feet, and other parts of the body

rot and fall away. With a stench and

foulness only it could have. And, as

for the suffering, there is nothing like it.

It is a disease too horrible for words,

too foul even for thought.

It is a living death! A death of agony

and shame. Terrible and terrifying. One

can only pray: "God have pity upon

them!”

But why dwell upon this vile disease

of leprosy?

Page 8



Simply to bring out the appalling fact

that while leprosy is so vile and evil

as to chill the mind by its terror, yet

there is another leprosy infinitely far

greater in its vileness and horror and

frightfulness. As far greater as a vast

ocean compared to a tiny drop of water.

Or a towering mountain compared to

a grain of sand.

How can this be?

Because there is a leprosy, not of the

body, but a leprosy of the immortal

soul!

This leprosy is "mortal sin”!

And what is "mortal” sin?

The name "mortal” comes from the

Latin word "mors,” meaning death.

Hence it is any sin which steadily,

stealthily and remorselessly rots away,

destroys and kills the life of grace in

the soul.

Which ruthlessly cuts off the im-

mortal soul from the grace and friend-

ship of Almighty God.

Thus it is called the leprosy of the

soul.

Page 9



And these are not my words.

They are the words of Almighty God

Himself!

Again and again, He speaks of mortal

sin as the ''leprosy of the soul!”

However, understand that it is of

mortal sin alone that God speaks. For

every offense against God is not a mortal

sin.

You know that this is so. You know

there are many offenses which, while

they are displeasing to God, are not

so bad as to cause Him to withdraw His

friendship entirely. There are many

sins which are not committed with full

deliberation, or the matter is small, or

perhaps the sin is more from ignorance

than from malice. And God, Who sees

things as they are in all truth
and

reality, and W^ho reads the human heart,

while He is displeased, yet is not

mortally offended.

But every sin in which the soul sees

that it must choose between the friend-

ship of God and the gratification of its

unlawful passions, and then, in full

Page 10



deliberation, in full defiance of the

Commandments of God, that soul

rejects God . . . this is a ^^mortal sin.^^

Then it is, that the soul which

grievously offends God, cuts itself off

from God’s friendship and grace.

And if the soul goes into eternity

in such a state of sin, it is suflScient to

cause that soul to lose God forever.

To merit the everlasting punishment,

remorse, regret and pain of the Damned.

How can this be?

To the modern world which will con-

done almost any evil except the sin

of being caught at it, which glamorizes

sexual rottenness and filth, which con-

stantly belittles decency and honesty

and which scornfully ridicules truth-

fulness and righteousness, such action on

God’s part seems incredible and im-

possible.

Perhaps you, too, have adopted this

attitude? This loose and false thinking?

Then look at sin for what it is. See it,

not as it is in the dreams of fools and

children, but as it is in actual reality

Page 11



and fact. Know it for what it really

is!

Use your God-given reason and in-

telligence. Use your God-given wisdom

and common-sense. And do it now!

Tomorrow may be too late. Your eternal

destiny may depend upon it.

So know what sin is! Look at sin,

face to face!

See its ugliness, its hatefulness, its

diabolical rottenness.

Know what sin really means!

Thus, for instance, do you realize

that mortal sin is a deliberate betrayal

of your God? Betrayal of your Heavenly

Father?

Surely if there is anyone who fills you

with loathing and contempt, it is a son

or daughter who would shamefully be-

tray the love and confidence of a good,

upright, lovable and trusting father.

Bring dishonor and disgrace upon him.

Subject him to scorn, ridicule, and con-

tempt. Even the idea of such a thing

as this sickens you. And especially when

Page 12



such is done for some trifling, paltry

advantage for themselves.

But is this not exactly what you are

doing when you commit a mortal sin?

For you betray Almighty God, your

Eternal Father!

He Who brought you into existence
from absolute nothingness. And then

gave you everything you possess. Gave

you your mind, your body, and all

your wonderful faculties as a human

being. God, Who watches over you.
Guards you. Protects you. Who lavishly
pours forth His graces upon you. Gave

you that soul of yours with its im-

mortal life.

The Eternal Father Who has always
been so infinitely kind to you. In-

finitely good to you. Infinitely patient.

Infinitely thoughtful. He Who is so
infinitely lovable and trusting.

And yet, in mortal sin, you betray
Him!

For you are the living child of the

Living God. Your soul made in His

own image and likeness.

Page 13



Your body is the temple of God, and

within this temple He dwells in your

heart.

Before you all the legions of Hell are

powerless. For you are invincible.

Nothing in Hell or upon earth can

harm you, unless in treason and be-

trayal you hand over this body and

soul of yours to the diabolical forces

of evil. Unless you, yourself, bring

them within this citadel of your soul

to destroy it.

And what tempts you to do this?

A few pieces of silver? A few beastly

satisfactions? The sexual excitement of

loose living? The diaboUcal satisfactions

of revenge or hate? Always some

despicable, miserable, tricky payment!

The price of your betrayal!

In the history of the human race,

the great model and example of all

traitors and betrayers is Judas.

Whose betrayal was so hateful, con-

temptible and loathsome that from that

day on, until time shall be no more, no

parents would curse their offspring with

this despised name.

Page 14



Yet, when you commit a mortal sin,

the honored name of the saint which

you bear is forgotten as the voice of

your conscience calls you by the name

which is now yours, this loathed name:

''Judas!”

And do you not deserve it?

For when temptation came to you, as

it comes to all, did you turn away in

disgust? Laugh it to scorn? Cast it

from you? Or did you not dally with

the thought? Craftily think it over!

And then did you not begin to bargain

with Satan!

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, it

is always the same. Always there comes

the inevitable hell-inspired question:

"Will you betray God?” And mortal

sin means that the answer is, "Yes!

Give me my price and I also will betray
Him.”

"And even the angels weep!”

Again, need it be pointed out that

while such betrayal is loathsome and

repulsive beyond all measure, it has

another characteristic that strikes terror

into the heart.

Page 15



To commit a mortal sin is to insult

Almighty God to the best of your

ability to do so!

It is one of the great mysteries of

life that a man can sin and live to tell

about it. If you do not realize this, then

you do not realize the enormity of the

insult and offense against Him.

For mortal sin is a direct insult to

God. Any and every way that insolence

and insult can be made terrible, you

have it in a mortal sin. You mock God!

You despise Him! You dishonor Him!

With the added viciousness that it is

a mockery, insult and dishonoring from

you. His own child. And all this by

the very faculties which were His gifts

to you. For you use these very gifts

to mock His goodness, to despise His

love, to dishonor His image in your

soul.

And remember this insolence is against

Him Who created all of Heaven and

earth. True to His laws, all the vast

worlds of the universe flash through

space in perfect harmony and order. All

nature honors Him in its obedience. It

Page 16



is man alone who rebels against His

goodness and love. Who insolently dis-

regards all His Commandments of

decency and right living. Who out-

rages God’s infinite justice and right-

eousness. Who flaunts His wisdom and

knowledge. Jeers at His holy Will.

With diabolical malice and with

basest ingratitude you stand against Him

with the hateful forces of Hell as you

re-echo that diabolical cry of Satan:

'•I will not serve. I will not obey!”

And again, why all this malice and

hate and mockery?

For a few dollars of unjust gain?

To satisfy the black passions of hellish

desires? For a night’s debauch? For

what worthless object did you "kill a

soul that should not die?”

How could you?

Do you not know that at the end

of life lies death!

And that "it is appointed to man

once to die and after this the judg-

ment!”

Pace 17



As you value your eternal life, look

at sin in common-sense and reason. See

what you are doing to yourself when

you thus turn against God. For re-

member there is no compromise with

God, ever! You are either a child of

God or a servant of Satan. It must be

one or the other.

Surely you realize this! Know it

beyond all doubt.

And surely you know also that when

you are free from sin, your soul is as

the most wonderful and the most

beautiful of God’s works. As Scripture

joyfully tells you, you are but a little

lower than the angels, and God has set

you over all creation. You are the be-

loved and cherished of this Eternal and

Almighty God. You are His child! In

His image you have been brought forth

from the eternity of nothingness.

Protected and guarded by your Lov-

ing Father you are safe from all harm or

danger. Master of your own life and

fate, you can scorn all temptations.

Ride over them rough-shod. Trample

all evil underfoot. For you are God’s

Page 18



own, and God is omnipotent and all-

mighty. Heaven is already yours, with

its eternity of incredible joy, happiness

and glory. Your conscience is tranquil

and knows no fear. You are filled with

the peace of God. Nothing disturbs

you. All things work for your hap-

piness, for God dwells within you.

Every victory you gain over tempta-

tion, every conquest over sin, every

little act of charity, mortification, or

penance, simply means added treasures

for you in the eternal kingdom of

Heaven.

As you know in the ^'Apostles’

Creed,” you belong to the "Communion

of Saints.” Thus these great heroes and

heroines of God claim kindred with you.

The angels of God love you and hail

with joy and delight your valiant

loyalty to God.

Every day in its passing finds your

soul more lovable in God’s holy sight,

more pleasing to God’s holy eyes.

Every minute, in the passing of time

you march on joyfully and gloriously

to your eternal destiny. Onward to that

i'ACE 19



glorious Kingdom of God where time

shall be no more. Where for the end-

less ages of eternity, you shall dwell

in that Heaven where "eye hath not

seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it even

entered into the heart of man what

things God hath prepared for those who

love Him.”

Surely there are none so blind as

those who will not see!

Surely there is nothing so hard as

a heart which has been hardened by evil.

For only too well, do you know what

happens when mortal sin takes over.

All the beauty and glory of the soul

is destroyed. Your glorious soul which

was once the dwelling place of God,

becomes the habitation of the legions

of Hell. No longer are you the master

of your life, for now you are ruled by

your evil desires and passions. Dia-

bolically and revengefully they degrade

you. Making you an object of con-

tempt, even to yourself.

Gone is your virtue. Gone is your

gaining of merit. You are forced to

Page 20



know yourself for what you have be-

come. Shabby, cheap and coarse! Des-

picable beyond words!

The peace of God has given place to

fear and dread. You are wretched with

the very thought of death and what it

will mean to you. You feel your sin

steadily and surely driving out all real

happiness, all true joy. The "Com-

munion of Saints” is no more. For now

you belong to the company of the

enemies of God. For now you are as-

sociated with the forces of evil. Now
you are one with the reprobates of Flell.

A child of God has become a servant
of Satan. Following Satan in vice,

viciousness, hate, and all that is vile and

evil.

Lost is that tranquillity of a good

conscience. From now on your con-

science is your enemy. With your mind

filled with bitter and reproachful

memories. For as certain as it is that

God exists, the remembrance of whole-

some, clean, decent and happy days will

return to plague your sinful life. And

there is nothing in the world which

can punish more cruelly. Nothing

Page 21



which can strike back more viciously,

than a conscience which has been

tortured and tormented.

It has never happened differently.

For how can it? You are a living child

of the Living God who has turned away

from Him. Thrown away your price-

less birthright. Given up the fellow-

ship of the angels, saints, and all good-

thinking and decent-living people. Cut

yourself off from everyone and every-

thing worthy of your respect, trust,

and love.

You, a soul made in the image of

God, have chosen to be a demon. Dwell-

ing with the fearsome spirits of Hell.

Allied with all evil souls. Living with

all that is vile and loathsome. Aligned

with those who hate, despise, and loathe

you, as you do them. THE BROTHER-

HOOD OF THE DAMNED! The only
difference between you and the damned

in Hell is that you have not gone there

as yet. For Hell is now your eventual

destiny. Hell with all its diabolical fury,

hate, despair, remorse and regret.

What can you be thinking of, to

commit mortal sin?

Page 22



You know that God exists. That He

made you. You know what is right

and what is wrong. You have your

conscience. You have the Command-

ments of God written in your inmost

soul!

And God is lovingly yet gently warn-

ing you, every moment of the day and

night. By the passing of time. By the

death of your relatives and friends. By

the coming and going of the seasons.

In the daily acquiring of those little

characteristics which cause people to

term you as "old.” In the daily journey

you make along the path of life to

the grave.

Is it that you think you can deceive

God? But God reads the innermost

thoughts of your heart! Is it that you

think God can be mocked? But you

know that "God is not mocked!” You

that are so wise to do evil, are you

foolish enough to think you can escape

the consequences? Do you think you

can compromise with Almighty God?

You know you can. not! Then how

can you go on insanely wearying the

eternal God of infinite Holiness and

Page 23



Justice by your loathsome words and

sinful actions?

In simple common-sense and reason

then, why these mortal sins? Why

deliberately seek your eternal rejection

from God? Why deliberately turn

away from the eternal joy and hap-

piness and all that Heaven offers? Why

deliberately turn to the wretchedness of

Hell? How can you do this?

Is it reason to turn away from the

infinite love of the great God to the

hate of Satan?

Is it reason to seek a short, cheap sat-

isfaction at the price of an eternity of

regret and remorse?

Is it reason to embrace impurity or

drunkenness at the cost of eternal

damnation?

Is it reason to permit pride or

blasphemy or dishonesty to make you

an outcast from God and Heaven for-

ever?

How true that often-repeated phrase,

**If you would only stop to think, you

would never sin.”

Page 24



Thus your God-given common-sense

and intelligence plead with you not only

to avoid such sin, but to avoid even

any lesser sin lest little by little it should

lead you on.

"He that loves the danger shall perish

by it,” said God Himself!

Furthermore, you must avoid, no

matter what the cost, any occasion that

might cause you to sin.

Whether this occasion is a place or

a person. As you value your salvation,

avoid them. Give them up, gladly and

joyfully. Be your real self. Be faithful

to your birthright. For you are a living

child of the Living God.

You have your free will! Then

choose to be loyal and true to God.

Temptation may be strong, constant

and persistent!

But you can always walk away from

any temptation!

Leave this foulness, this leprosy of

the soul, with all its filth and rottenness,

to the minions of Hell.

Page 25



Put out of your life forever, this

insolence, this fearful, terrifying
in-

sulting of God.

Have no part, even in the smallest

degree, of this repulsive betrayal
of the

Great and Good God Whose own you

are. Rather be it that you engrave deeply

in your heart those splendid,
shining

words of faith and love: ''Though
all

others betray Thee, I will not
betray

Thee.”

If, praise God, such has been
your

life that you have been
preserved from

this diabolical leprosy,
betrayal, and

hellish insanity of mortal sin,
then let

your heart be full of love and
gratitude

to Almighty God.

Yet never presuming on your
own

strength and fortitude, but
instead

constantly keeping close to God and

constantly nourishing this strength
and

fortitude with God’s holy sacraments.

As the Apostle says: "Wherefore he
that

thinketh himself to. stand, let
him take

heed lest he fall.”

Page 26



But what if you are in mortal sin

now?

Did not the Eternal Father send His

only-begotten Son into the world to save

sinners?

And did not this Son cry out again

and again, "I came not to call the just,

but sinners to penance?”

And with His coming, as St. Paul

tells us, "where sin abounded, grace did

more abound.”

For this He came. Jesus Christ, the

Son of God and God Himself, to suffer

and die, as no man has ever suffered

and died, to open again for you, the

gates of the Kingdom of Heaven.

You know these truths only too well!

And that all-consoling and all-com-

forting truth that in His Sacraments

you have the means for forgiveness,

strength, courage, and love beyond all

human power of realization.

And especially, as far as you are con-

cerned, there is that glorious Sacrament

of Penance. For in this sacrament. He

Page 27



has left for you a sane, sure, and reason-

able way for you to receive a certain

forgiveness of any and all sin. An

absolute certainty of forgiveness be-

cause it is based upon His own words.

His solemn promise as the Son of God

and God Himself.

For to His Apostles and to their suc-

cessors until the end of time. He lovingly

promised; "Whose sins you shall for-

give, they are forgiven them.”

And until the end of time, when-

ever a sinner of contrite heart shall come

before His priest and humbly confess

his sins, then does Christ speak through

the lips of His priest and work through

his hands, and the redeeming power of

Christ shall wipe all sins away.

"Thy sins are forgiven thee. Sin no

more.”

And even "if your sins be as scarlet,

they shall be made white as snow.”

It is as simple and easy as that!

And what a happiness shall be yours!

And what a spiritual joy and gladness!

And what a peace shall flood your soul!

Page 28



And what a love shall possess you! For
It is the love of your eternal Father

Who Himself has said: '*! have loved
thee with an everlasting lovef”

All this shall be yours, as you rise

from your knees. Reconciled to your

Eternal God. Your sins rolled away for-
ever.

And may I remind you that while
all Hell may rage, nevertheless all

Heaven shall rejoice.

For as Christ Himself has said: "So

there shall be joy in Heaven upon one
sinner that doth penance, more than

upon ninety-nine just who need it not.”

For surely to know oneself forgiven,
and forgiven at the great cost which

Christ paid for your soul, will bring a

spiritual resurrection, glorious, wonder-

ful and sublime.

It will create a new character within
you.

For it will bring God back into your
heart.

It will make your soul once again

Page 29



beautiful, shining and glorious, to be

so forever. To be eternally, God’s.

For you are the living child of the

Living God!

Made to His own image and likeness!

"Made a little less than the angels.”

"Crowned with glory and honor.”

Endowed with immortality!

With an eternal destiny!

To live forever, through the endless

ages, in the joy, peace, happiness
and

love of Him Whose own you are!

And what else really matters?

Page 30









Pamphlets
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World Without End!

Now Is the Time!

Farewell to Sin!

Home and Happiness!

The Hour of Judgment!

If Heaven Be Your Destiny!

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