There is a spirituality closely enmeshed with emotions – esthetic, sentimental, passionate – which is easily combined with selfishness, vanity, sensuality.
Men of this type seek the praise and the good opinion of the priest who confesses them; their confession is very difficult for him, for they come in order to complain of others, to whimper; they are full of themselves, readily accuse others.
The poor quality of their religious exaltation is best demonstrated by the facility with which they pass to a state of anger, irritation.
They are further from genuine contrition than the most inveterate sinners.
Fr. Alexander Elchinanov