--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Christian soul knows it needs Divine…" description: "\"“The Christian soul knows it needs Divine Help and therefore turns to Him Who loved us even while we were yet sinners. Examination of conscience, inste..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_the-christian-soul-knows-it-needs-divine_1267793.jpg" --- # The Christian soul knows it needs Divine Help and… ![“The Christian soul knows it needs Divine Help and therefore turns to Him Who loved us even while we were yet sinners. Examination of conscience, instead of inducing morbidity, thereby becomes an occasion of joy. There are two ways of knowing how good and loving God is. One is by never losing Him…” quote by Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_the-christian-soul-knows-it-needs-divine_1267793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_the-christian-soul-knows-it-needs-divine_1267793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_the-christian-soul-knows-it-needs-divine_1267793.jpg) > ““The Christian soul knows it needs Divine Help and therefore turns to Him Who loved us even while we were yet sinners. Examination of conscience, instead of inducing morbidity, thereby becomes an occasion of joy. There are two ways of knowing how good and loving God is. One is by never losing Him, through the preservation of innocence, and the other is by finding Him after one has lost Him. Repentance is not self-regarding, but God-regarding. It is not self-loathing, but God-loving. Christianity bids us accept ourselves as we really are, with all our faults and our failings and our sins. In all other religions, one has to be good to come to God—in Christianity one does not. Christianity might be described as a “come as you are” party. It bids us stop worrying about ourselves, stop concentrating on our faults and our failings, and thrust them upon the Saviour with a firm resolve of amendment. The examination of conscience never induces despair, always hope…Because examination of conscience is done in the light of God’s love, it begins with a prayer to the Holy Spirit to illumine our minds. A soul then acts toward the Spirit of God as toward a watchmaker who will fix our watch. We put a watch in his hands because we know he will not force it, and we put our souls in God’s hands because we know that if he inspects them regularly they will work as they should…it is true that, the closer we get to God, the more we see our defects. A painting reveals few defects under candlelight, but the sunlight may reveal it as daub. The very good never believe themselves very good, because they are judging themselves by the Ideal. In perfect innocence each soul, like the Apostles at the Last Supper, cries out, “Is it I, Lord” (Matt. 26:22).”” [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christianity invites people to accept themselves as imperfect, trusting in divine love and grace rather than earning favor through good deeds. **In simple terms:** God loves you despite flaws. Key Takeaway Accept imperfections, seek divine help. Themes faith grace self‑acceptance Mood hopeful reflective Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - confession - counseling - community worship Key Concepts theology spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - How does grace balance with moral responsibility? - In what ways can self‑acceptance foster spiritual growth? 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Examination of conscience, instead of inducing morbidity, thereby becomes an occasion of joy. There are two ways of knowing how good and loving God is. One is by never losing Him, through the preservation of innocence, and the other is by finding Him after one has lost Him. Repentance is not self-regarding, but God-regarding. It is not self-loathing, but God-loving. Christianity bids us accept ourselves as we really are, with all our faults and our failings and our sins. In all other religions, one has to be good to come to God—in Christianity one does not. Christianity might be described as a “come as you are” party. It bids us stop worrying about ourselves, stop concentrating on our faults and our failings, and thrust them upon the Saviour with a firm resolve of amendment. The examination of conscience never induces despair, always hope…Because examination of conscience is done in the light of God’s love, it begins with a prayer to the Holy Spirit to illumine our minds. A soul then acts toward the Spirit of God as toward a watchmaker who will fix our watch. We put a watch in his hands because we know he will not force it, and we put our souls in God’s hands because we know that if he inspects them regularly they will work as they should…it is true that, the closer we get to God, the more we see our defects. A painting reveals few defects under candlelight, but the sunlight may reveal it as daub. The very good never believe themselves very good, because they are judging themselves by the Ideal. In perfect innocence each soul, like the Apostles at the Last Supper, cries out, “Is it I, Lord” (Matt. 26:22).”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fulton J. 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