Thought for the Day – 7 May – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)
“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5
Final Remarks on Prayer and the Combat
LIX: … Concerning Sensible Devotion and Dryness
(Part Three)
“If the multitudes of those, who profess piety would measure advancement in the spiritual life by this true standard [see Part Two], rather than by the saccharine effervescences of a purely sensible devotion, they would be deceived, neither by the devil, nor by themselves; nor would they be so abominably ungrateful as to murmur against their Lord and unjustly complain of the gift He bestows upon them.
For such situations in which the virtue of patience may be developed and strengthened, are truly gifts.
On the contrary, these multitudes would exert themselves in serving Him with greater fidelity than ever, being convinced that He permits
everything for the greater advancement of His glory and our salvation.
There is another dangerous illusion to which women especially are frequently subject, detesting vice as they do and being sedulously watchful in avoiding occasions of sin.
At times, as they are molested by impure and frightful thoughts and even loathsome visions, they become despondent, thinking that God has forsaken them.
They cannot conceive of the Holy Ghost dwelling in a soul filled with impure thoughts and imagine themselves inevitably banished from the Divine Presence.
Being thus disheartened, they are ready to despair and half-conquered by the temptation, they think of forsaking their exercises of devotion entirely and returning to Egypt.
Blind as they are, they do not see God’s goodness in permitting them to be tempted as a preventive measure against human negligence and also, a coercive measure designed to bring prodigal man to closer union with his loving Father.
Actually, therefore, it is most thoughtless for them to complain, of that which should occasion their unceasing gratitude!
On such occasions, we should consider well the perverse propensities of our wounded nature.
For God, Who knows best what is to our ultimate advantage, would make us aware that, of ourselves, we tend to nothing but sin and, when unaided by Him, fall into innumerable miseries.
After this, we must cultivate within ourselves a loving confidence in His Divine Mercy, realising that since He has been pleased to open our eyes to our danger, He also wishes to free us from it and join us to Himself in prayer and confidence – for this, we owe Him our most humble gratitude and thanksgiving.
To revert again to those vile thoughts which are involuntary – it is certain that they are put to flight, much sooner, by a patient resignation to the anxiety they occasion and, a speedy application of the mind, to something else, than by a tumultuous and overanxious resistance.”
Dom Lorenzo Scupoli
PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/05/05/thought-for-the-day-5-may-concerning-sensible-devotion-and-dryness-part-one/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/05/06/thought-for-the-day-6-may-concerning-sensible-devotion-and-dryness-part-two/
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