y over self does a
man have who for the purpose of controlling his habit of dirty and
obscene speech seeks the intervention of a saint? Lacking in will,
dispossessed of any idea of struggle with himself, how can he triumph
over himself? Slave to his own passions it might have seemed that
the only thing that might control him was the punishment in store in
future life; but this fear does not preoccupy him in the least since
at the same time that he is threatened with eternal fire he is told
the manner of evading it without ceasing to do evil.

Immorality of the Novenas

These Novenas contain pernicious teachings for society whose moral
foundation consists in the development of the individual qualities
such as industry, fulfillment of duty, respect of law, struggle with
one's own instincts and passions which require above all else the
mastery over one's self. Not only are these social obligations not
taught nor mentioned but there is a real stimulus toward all that
is bad, assuring to the criminal, to the sinner, that he will be
pardoned, that he will be free from punishment, that however badly
he may act and however sinful he may be, without the least effort,
with the greatest ease and naturalness, he will obtain what he wishes
and will triumph on earth as well as in the other life.

On the other hand, the individual is terrorized by the influence of
evil, always tending to push him on to the road of vice and ignominy;
he is inspired with blind confidence by placing on his side a Guardian
Angel who never leaves night and day, who supports him, who guides
him "his (the Guardian Angel's) intervention being so useful that he
modifies that which we asked of God when he knows that our petitions
might bring us some spiritual or bodily ill."

What idea of justice can one conceive when he remembers the spectacle
that was witnessed by that gentleman in the cemetery of Cuzco? Not
only are Mary and Joseph presented as interceding with all energy for
the salvation of the criminal for the mere reason that he invoked
their names, but they remain unmoved and do nothing to soften the
cruelty of Jesus Christ when He condemns to sudden death and eternal
condemnation the two unfortunate sinful women. They did not invoke the
name of Mary and Joseph who only seem to have pity on their clients and
work with the same partiality of a Nacionalista or Democrata demagogue.

And what significance does a law have which does not admit nor
p