Book I, Chapter III Summary and Analysis

Avarice is another deadly sin that can trip up new believers. Avarice (greed) takes root when beginners become unhappy with the spirituality God has given them. Possessing and reading books, as well as unique crucifixes and rosaries is important. Greed for possessions is wrong and must be removed from a person's character. In writing of the trouble avarice can bring a person, St. John recalls two Christians, one who used a cross made of a branch and another whose rosary was made of the spines of fish. Although neither of these two believers had fancy religious aids, they were both deeply spiritual. However hard a human may work at not allowing the sins of pride or avarice a place in their lives, they can not be fully purified until God takes them through this dark...