Thought for the Day – 23 March – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)
“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5
XXXVI: … Proceed with Unceasing Watchfulness
in the Exercise of Virtue
“One of the most important and necessary means for the attainment of virtue, besides what has been already taught, is to press forward continually to the end we have proposed to ourselves, lest by standing still, we fall back.
For, when we cease to produce acts of virtue, many unruly passions are generated within us by the violent inclination of the sensitive appetite and, by other exterior influences, whereby virtue is destroyed, or at least diminished and moreover, we thus lose many gifts and graces with which our Lord might have rewarded our further progress.
Therefore, the spiritual journey is different from the course of the earthly traveller; for he, by standing still, loses nothing of the ground already gained as is the case with him, who travels heavenward.
And moreover, the weariness of the earthly pilgrim increases with the continuance of his bodily motion, while, in the spiritual journey, the farther a man advances, the more does his vigour and strength increase!
For, by the exercise of virtue, the resistance of the inferior part of the soul which made the way difficult and wearisome, grows daily weaker while the superior part, wherein the virtue resides, is estalished, in the same proportion and strengthened.
Hence, as we advance in holiness, the pain which accompanied the progress, gradually diminishes and, a certain secret joy which, by the Divine operation, is mingled with that pain, increases hourly more and more.
And thus, proceeding with increasing ease and delight, from virtue to virtue, we at last reach the mountaintop, where the perfected spirit henceforth labours
without weariness but, rather with joy and ecstasy because, having now tamed and conquered its unruly passions and overcome itself and all created things, it dwells forever blessed in the bosom of the Most High and there, while sweetly labouring, takes its rest. Amen.”
Dom Lorenzo Scupoli
AnaStpaul 