Cutting Off the Occasions of Past Sins

But we know, as we have often said, that we have made amends for past sins only when the very impulses and feelings through which we became guilty of what we must now grieve over have been rooted out of our hearts. But no one should imagine that he can achieve this unless he has first, with all the fervor of his spirit, cut off the opportunities and occasions through which he fell into those sins. For instance, if through dangerous familiarity with a woman he has fallen into sexual immorality or adultery, he must take the greatest care to avoid even looking at one. If he has been overcome by too much wine and overeating, he should discipline with the utmost severity his craving for food beyond measure. Again, if he has been led astray by the desire for and love of money, and has fallen into perjury or theft or murder or blasphemy, he should cut off the occasion of greed that lured and deceived him. If he is driven by the passion of pride into the sin of anger, he should remove the incitement to arrogance with all the virtue of humility. So, in order that each single sin may be destroyed, the occasion and opportunity by which, or for the sake of which, it was committed should first be got rid of. For by this course of treatment we can certainly reach forgetfulness of the sins we have committed. [a]