Thought for the Day – 24 March – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)
“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5
XXXVII: … Do Not Shun Any Opportunity
which Offers the Attainment of Virtue
“We have seen very clearly that we must go forward without ever stopping in the way of perfection.
To this end, we ought to be very careful and vigilant, not to let slip any opportunity which may present itself for the attainment of any virtue.
For they have very little knowledge of this way, who avoid, as much as they can, all such adverse things as might greatly assist their progress.
For, not to forget my accustomed advice, if you would acquire the habit of patience, it is not expedient to avoid those persons, actions, or thoughts which move you to impatience.
Withdraw not, therefore, from the society of anyone because it is disagreeable but, whilst conversing and holding intercourse with those who most annoy you, keep your will always ready and disposed, to endure whatever may befall you, however wearisome and annoying; for otherwise, you will never learn to be patient.
In like manner, if you find any occupation irksome, either in itself, or because of the person who imposed it upon you, or because it hinders you from doing something else more pleasing, do not, therefore, shrink from undertaking and persevering in it, although it disquiets you and although you think to find peace by neglecting it; for this would be no true peace, as proceeding, not from a soul
purified from passion and adorned with virtues, neither could you ever, in this way, learn to suffer.
I would say the same of harassing thoughts — which, at times, will annoy and disturb your mind.
There is no need to drive them entirely from you, for besides the pain they occasion, they accustom you too, to bear contradiction.
And to give you contrary advice, would be to teach you rather to shun labour, than to attain to that virtue which you have in view.
It is very true that it becomes every man and especially the tried soldier, to defend himself on these occasions with vigilance and dexterity – now confronting his enemies, now evading them, according to the measure of spiritual strength and virtue which he has attained.
But, for all this, he must never actually turn back and retreat, so as to leave behind all opposition, for, even if we thereby save ourselves for the time, from the peril of falling, we shall risk exposing ourselves, more to future attacks of temptation, not being armed and fortified beforehand, by the exercise of the contrary virtue.
This counsel, however, applies not to the sins of the flesh, of which we have already spoken more particularly.”
Dom Lorenzo Scupoli
AnaStpaul 