left QuoteSt John Cassian (c. 360 - 435)

St John CassianOvercoming the vice of AVARICE does not prove you have great virtue; it would just be shameful and disgraceful to be defeated by it.  When you are overpowered by a strong man, you can take some satisfaction from the fact that he was a worthy opponent; but if the enemy is a poor creature, and your struggle a feeble one, you experience a kind of shame that is worse than defeat.

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In their many different idioms the classical spiritual writers have attempted to throw light on the eternal question of union with God. 
Every month we give you a brief passage from a spiritual classic.