Prayer Drives Out Sin

One of the first effects of praying a daily holy hour will be to get rid of any evil that is in our life.  Evil is not always to be overcome by combatting it directly.  St. Paul even suggests that certain types of mortification do not do away with certain sins.  How do we get rid of evil? By the expulsive power of a new affection.  We do not drive out evil, rather we crowd it out.  We drive it out when we attack it directly.  We crowed it out when we bring something else in.  It's like a man who leads an evil life until he meets a fine woman who leads him in the path of virtue. So, St. Paul says: 'Be not overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.' How do we know for example that water is polluted? We know it from clean, clear water.  Why are we shocked at bad grammar?  Because we know good grammar. Why are we shocked at bad music?  Because we know harmonious music.  Our spiritual life must not start with a deep consciousness of our guilt and sin.  No. It is Christ that gives us a consciousness of guilt.  He is first.  Then we become aware of the fact that we have sinned against him.