Thought for the Day – 8 January – I: Distrust of Self

Thought for the Day – 8 January – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

The First Two Weapons
of the Spiritual Combat

I: Distrust of Self (Diffidence)

“So necessary is self-distrust in this conflict that, without it, you will be unable, I say, not to achieve the victory desired but even to overcome the very least of your passions!
And let this be well impressed upon your mind; for our corrupt nature too easily inclines us to a false estimate of ourselves; so that, being really nothing, we account ourselves to be something and presume, without the slightest foundation, upon our own strength.
This is a fault, not easily discerned by us but very displeasing in the sight of God.
For He desires and loves, to see in us, a frank and true recognition of this most certain truth — that all the virtue and grace which is within us, is derived from Himself alone, Who is the Fountain of all good and that nothing good can proceed from us, no, not even a thought which can find acceptance in His sight.

And, although this very important self-distrust is, itself, the work of His Divine Hand and is bestowed upon His beloved, now by means of holy inspirations, now by sharp chastisements and violent and almost irresistible temptations and by other means which we, ourselves, do not understand; still, it is His will that we, on our part, should do all in our power to attain it.
I, therefore, set before you four methods, by the use of which, in dependence always on Divine grace, you may acquire this gift. …

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli