The groaning becomes intense as the pain increases. The punishment due to our own negligence and carelessness is being left to one's own resources. Soon the soul realizes how weak and lost it is. This punishment seems to be constant and lengthy. The effects of this punishment burden the soul a great deal.
All enthusiasm seems to have departed.
Then the soul admits its guilt openly. It sincerely expresses its faults and weakness. It does not hide the secret thoughts that seem to lurk in the dark. The Lord quickly comes to the aid of the soul. He lifts this darkness from the soul.