After committing a crime, remorse and fear arise that do not leave the criminal alone, forcing him to resort to religious rites and ceremonies to atone for his guilt. Everything that weakens or disturbs our internal constitution promotes the interests of superstition; and there is nothing more ruinous for it than a brave and firm attitude, which preserves us from disastrous and sad events or teaches us to bear them. On the contrary, when we surrender to the ungovernable suggestions of our anguished heart, all kinds of barbarities and whims are attributed to the Supreme Being. And the priests, instead of correcting these perverse ideas, have often been willing to foster and encourage them, and the more extravagant the proofs of acceptance that she demands, the more necessary it is that we abandon our natural reason and surrender to her guidance and direction. spiritual. It must therefore be accepted that the artifices of men aggravate our weakness and doubts, but in no case do they engender them.
D.H.