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Shorter Rules
St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925
Rule 79: If a Man Accuses Himself of Constant Harsh Conduct Towards His Brother, How…
This thing arises, so I gather from a study of it, either from a state of mind that imagines its own superiority or from grief at the deficiencies of those who ought to be virtuous.2 For when instead of some good thing expected something contrary and troublesome meets us it somehow affects the soul more violently. But there is need of abundant care, in order that in the first case we may curb the vice of arrogance, and in the second that we may show in place of indignation compassion with exhortation and rebuke. But if after all this mode of cure appears ineffective, owing to the wickedness of the underlying vice, then in the future let us use at the proper occasion and with reasonableness strong indignation with sympathy, in order to benefit and reform the sinner.
Notes
- The phrase occurs in Rom. i. 30.
- A modern confessor would at once think of another explanation—scrupulosity.