"Though the path is plain and smooth for people of good will, those who walk it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty if they do not have good feet, courage, and tenacity of spirit. "

St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God. "

Thomas á Kempis

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"It is better to be burdened and in company with the strong than to be unburdened and with the weak. When you are burdened you are close to God, your strength, who abides with the afflicted. When you are relieved of the burden you are close to yourself, your own weakness; for virtue and strength of soul grow and are confirmed in the trials of patience."

St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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Venerable Louis of Granada, OP  (1504-1588)
 
 

THE SINNER'S GUIDE
   

By Venerable Louis of Granada, OP

 

Imprimatur and Apostolic Brief of Pope Gregory XIII


Translated by a Dominican Father
Vidimus et Approbabimus:
Fr. C. H. McKenna, OP
Fr. J. L. O'Neil, OP, Revisores Deputati
New York, November 15,1883

Imprimi Potest:
Fr. M. D. Lilly, OP, Prior Provincial
Province of St. Joseph, November 15,1883

Imprimatur:
John J. Williams, DD, Archbishop of Boston
By his Vicar General, November 22,1883

APOSTOLIC BRIEF
Pope Gregory XIII
To our well-beloved Son, Louis of Granada, of the Order of Friars Preachers

Dearly Beloved Son, Health and Apostolic Benediction:
Your arduous and incessant labors, both for the conversion of sinners and for the guidance of souls to perfection, together with the valuable assistance you render those who are earnestly engaged in the work of the ministry, have always afforded us great consolation.

Your sermons and writings, filled with sublime doctrine and practical piety, are unceasingly drawing souls to God. This is particularly gratifying to us, for all who have profited by your teaching (and their number is very great) may be considered as so many souls gained to Christ. You have thus benefited your fellow creatures more than if you had given sight to the blind and raised the dead to life. For the knowledge of the Eternal Light and the enjoyment of the heavenly life, according as they are given to man on earth to know and enjoy, are far above the knowledge and enjoyment of the transitory goods of this world.

The charity with which you have devoted yourself to your great and important labor has gained for you many crowns.

Continue, then, to devote all your energies to the prosecution of your undertakings. Finish what you have begun, for we understand that you have some works yet incomplete. Give them tot he world for the health of the sick, for the strength of the weak, for the delight of God�s servants, and for the glory of the Church both militant and triumphant.
Given at Rome the 21st of July, 1582,

In the eleventh year of our pontificate.
GREGORY PP. XIII