Saint Augustine on Sin, Fear and Love (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)

http://the-american-catholic.com ^ | March 23, 2014 | Donald R. McClarey

[NKP_Vet]

.....Augustine thought that refraining from sin due to fear of Hell did not involve the rejection of sin but rather fear of burning. The true reason for avoiding sin is love of God and therefore rejection of sin as a result of that love. Our Act of Contrition mentions both motivations but is clear what should be the most important:

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love.

As the saying goes, fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and no doubt the fear of Hell for many a sinner is the beginning of repentance, but that is only the beginning, and not the end, of our struggle against sin. Christ taught us to call God Father and that He is a loving Father. Anything that turns us from the God who loves us with such an eternal love, we reject, not out of fear but out of love:

[Salvation]

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