# CXVIII: Evening explained — Verses on Various Occasions

> Chapter companion for Verses on Various Occasions by John Henry Newman.

## What happens

The speaker confesses to having lied to the Holiest Truth by vowing to keep a festival but failing to maintain the morning's purity. By evening, the speaker is dim and has been robbed of heaven's flame by a gloomy foe, and prays for help to overcome darkness.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sin and Redemption

The speaker confesses to lying and failing in devotion, then seeks redemption through divine help.

### Suffering and Humility

The speaker humbly acknowledges weakness and the loss of spiritual light, pleading for assistance.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who confesses to lying and failing to keep the vow.

### Lord

The one addressed in the plea for help to overcome darkness.

### Satan

The gloomy foe who robs the speaker of heaven's flame.

## Key lines

> O Holiest Truth! how have I lied to Thee! I vow’d this day Thy festival should be: But I am dim ere night.

O most holy Truth, I have deceived you! I promised that today would be dedicated to you, but I have grown spiritually dark before evening.

_The speaker admits to breaking a vow of devotion and experiencing spiritual decline._

> But my foot slipp’d; and, as I lay, he came, My gloomy foe, and robbed me of heaven’s flame.

But I stumbled and fell, and while I was down, my dark enemy came and stole the divine light from me.

_The speaker describes a fall into sin and the subsequent loss of grace._

> Help Thou my darkness, Lord, till I am light.

Lord, please help me in my darkness until I become filled with light.

_A plea for divine assistance to overcome spiritual darkness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters/cxviii-evening
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters