St. Augustine, What is It Like For Man Before He Seeks God?
Question 022. What is the relationship between prayer and conversion? Part I: Before Conversion Whoever knows himself to be in the depths [that is lost in sin] cries out with groans and sighs until he is delivered from the depths..until [God’s] own image, that image which is man, is freed by God. Unless he is made anew and aright by God, he will remain in the depths… In order that men might not live even [...]