He does not grow more charitable or kind to his family or his peers. If anything, his various methods of self-discipline make him more irritable. He finds it difficult to maintain a state of saintly serenity. At times, he is gripped by a great, spiritual love for God and His Creation.īut before long, Stephen's old independence begins to reassert itself. He prays fervently, and attends mass every day. He forces different forms of unpleasantness on himself to punish each of his five senses. He sweeps away any doubts or misgivings he has with the idea that at a later stage of his spiritual development, all will be clear. Stephen becomes almost fanatically pious, devoting himself daily to prayer and contemplation of Catholic doctrines.
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