Thought for the Day – 9 April– The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)
“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5
XLIII: … Of the Temptation to Form
Rash Judgements of Our Neighbour (Part Two)
“And know that, whenever you are so unhappy as to think any evil of your brother, then there is some root of the same evil in your own heart which, in proportion as it is ill-disposed itself, gives a ready welcome to anything like itself!
Whenever, therefore, it comes into your mind to judge another for some fault, despise your own self as guilty of the same and say, in your heart,:
“How can a wretch like me, laden with this
and far worse faults, dare to lift up my head
to see and judge the faults of others!”
And thus, will the weapon which, directed against another, would have wounded you, being turned against yourself, bring healing to your wounds.
If the error committed be clear and manifest, find some compassionate excuse for it and believe that in your brother are some hidden virtues, for the sake of which the Lord has suffered him to fall, or to be, for some time, subject to this failing that he may become vile in his own sight and that, being also despised by others on this account, he may reap the fruit of humiliation and render himself more acceptable to God and so, his gain may become greater than his loss.
But if the sin be not only manifest but grievous and wilfully obstinate, turn your thoughts upon God’s awful judgements.
Then you will see men who were once great sinners attaining high degrees of sanctity and others, who seemed to have reached the sublimest heights of perfection, falling into the lowest depths of perdition!
Therefore, fear and tremble for yourself, far more than for any other.
And, be assured that every good and kindly feeling towards your neighbour is the gift of the Holy Ghost and that, all rash judgement, all contempt and bitterness towards him, flow from our own evil hearts and the suggestions of Satan.
If, then, any imperfection of another has made an impression on your mind, rest not, nor give slumber to your eyes, until, to the utmost of your power, you have effaced it from your heart!”
Dom Lorenzo Scupoli
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