"And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and said: I will no more curse the earth for the sake of man: for the imagination and thought of man's heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more destroy every living soul as I have done."
God was appeased by the divine worship of Noah who built an altar and offered animal sacrifices to God after the universal flood.
In the Basic Catechism we read about the dangers of our inclination to evil from our youth and the need for self-denial in order to combat it, in order to be saved.
Q. 342. Has Jesus Christ given us another great rule [besides the rule of life always to hate sin and to love God, and to love our enemies]?
Jesus Christ has given us another great rule in these words: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23
Q. 343. How are we to deny ourselves?
We are to deny ourselves by giving up our own will, and by going against our own humors, inclinations, and passions.
Q. 344. Why are we bound to deny ourselves?
We are bound to deny ourselves because our natural inclinations are prone to evil from our very childhood; and, if not corrected by self-denial, they will certainly carry us to hell.
Basic Catechism of Christian Doctrine, Washington, New Jersey: AMI Press, 1999.
Cf. Cilice.
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