Thought for the Day – 25 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
“Month of the Holy Rosary”
“Lead Us Not Into Temptation”
“Life is a prolonged trial.
St Paul compares it to a stadium in which everyone must fight to win.
If anyone lays down his arms, he will be unable to conquer his passions or to achieve the palm of victory.
“One who enters a contest, is not crowned, unless he has competed according to the rules ” (2 Tim 2:5).
With the exception of the Blessed Virgin, every human being is obliged to battle against the temptations of the flesh.
Sometimes, these can be quite terrifying.
St Paul himself confessed that he felt another law in his members, warning against the law of his mind.
“Unhappy man that I am!” he exdclaimed in supplication to God to come to his assistance.
“Who will deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom 7:24).
The false enchantment and the wickedness of the world, also threatens to ensnare us.
“We know that we are of God and the whole world is in the power of the evil one” (1 Jn 5:19).
It is easy to become absorbed in worldly affairs and to forget the all-important spiritual realities.
Finally, there is the devil, whom St Peter describes as wandering about “seeking someone to devour.” Resist him, he urges us, “steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same suffering befalls your brethren all over the world ” (Cf 1 Peter 5:9).
Faced as we are, with these three foes, we should implore God to help us by His grace.
Lead us not into temptation, O God but help us to conquer these enemies.
Without You, we can do nothing but with Your aid, all is possible.
Lead us not into temptation!”
Antonio Cardinal Bacci
PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/10/24/thought-for-the-day-24-october-lead-us-not-into-temptation/
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