Verse 4.— Let that day be turned into darkness. 26. The beginning of delight must be chastised by the laments of penance. — For the day is turned into darkness when the fault is seen, in the very outset of delight, into what end of perdition it may carry us off. We turn the day into darkness when, punishing ourselves strictly, we torment the very allurements of depraved delight through the strict laments of penance, when by weeping we pursue whatever we secretly sin in the heart out of delight. For since every faithful person is not ignorant that thoughts are subtly examined in the judgment, as Paul testifies, who says: 'Their thoughts among themselves accusing, or also defending one another' (Romans 2:15);
discussing himself inwardly, he vehemently examines himself before the judgment, so that the strict judge may then come the more tranquilly, in that He already perceives punished for its fault the guilt which He desires to scrutinize. Whence it is also rightly subjoined: