Same verse.— Let gloom occupy it. 32. The salutary gloom of the penitent mind.— For since in gloom the eye is confounded, the very confusion of our mind through penance is named gloom. For just as a misty gathering of gloom obscures the day, so confusion, with disturbed thoughts, beclouds the mind. Of which it is said through a certain one: 'There is a confusion that brings glory' (Ecclesiasticus 4:25 [4:21]). For when by repenting we bring back to mind our evil deeds, we are soon confounded by a heavy grief; a throng of thoughts clamours in the soul, grief crushes, anxiety devastates, the mind is turned into distress, and is obscured as if by a certain cloud of gloom. For this gloom of confusion had salutarily oppressed the mind of those to whom Paul was saying:
'For what fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed?' (Romans 6:21). Let gloom, therefore, occupy this day of sin, that is, let the affliction of penance disturb, with worthy grief, the allurement of wickedness. Whence it is also fitly subjoined: