Eugene\u2019s tears were initially caused by his awareness of being in a state of sin. Nowhere does he say what this \u201cmortal sin\u201d was, but the context suggests that it was his realization of how his life had been pointing in the wrong direction, away from God.<\/p>\n
The highpoint of the experience is that his tears of sorrow turned to tears of peace and joy. He was not being punished for being a sinner, but was given the grace to convert and change to direction of his life towards God.<\/p>\n
\nI was in a state of mortal sin\u00a0 and it was precisely this that made me grieve. I could then, and also on some other instance, perceive the difference. Never was my soul more satisfied, never did it feel such happiness; for in the midst of this flood of tears, despite my grief, or rather through my grief, my soul took wings for its last end, towards God its only good whose loss it felt so keenly.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Retreat Journal, December 1814, O.W. XV n.130<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eugene\u2019s tears were initially caused by his awareness of being in a state of sin. Nowhere does he say what this \u201cmortal sin\u201d was, but the context suggests that it was his realization of how his life had been pointing … Continue reading