I Am Not Able
1. Often, when the violence of our passions threatens to overcome all
our powers of resistance, we are tempted to say: “Lord, I am not able; I
cannot go any further. Why are You not helping me? Why have you
abandoned me?” This is a trick of the devil to make us give up the
fight, to make us believe that God has deserted us and that we must
inevitably give in to temptation.
This is the last stratagem of the devil when he sees that he cannot
persuade us in any other manner. But the Lord addresses to us the
reproof which he addressed to St. Peter who, while walking on the water,
doubted for an instant, and then felt himself going under. “O thou of
little faith, why didst thou doubt?” (Mt. 14:31) In such a situation, we
must strengthen our faith, our love, and our dedication to Jesus
Christ. Then the Lord will extend His helping hand to us as He did to
Peter. He will give us the spiritual tranquility which only grace and
Christian fortitude can offer.
Let us recall how this has
happened in the temptations of our past life. When we were strong and
generous with Jesus, we implored His help with faith and perseverance
and emerged victorious from the fray. Then we experienced the heavenly
joy which only God can give. Why can we not always do the same? We must
never say: “I am not able!” We are poor and weak, but with the grace of
God we can overcome all obstacles. As St. Paul says, “I can do all
things in him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)
2. Whenever we
feel called upon to make some sacrifice for Jesus or to form some good
resolution, how often do we cry: “I am not able!” It may be a question
of praying more fervently, of performing some mortification, or of
helping our neighbour spiritually or materially. Or perhaps it is a
matter of saying a few words of apology or of encouragement to our
neighbour, whom we have previously treated with coldness and
selfishness. Or it may be something entirely more generous which is
demanded; it may be that God is inviting us to renounce ourselves
completely and to dedicate ourselves to Him. Naturally this requires
sacrifice, and great generosity of heart. But we say to Jesus when He
calls us: “I cannot, it is too difficult!” And yet the Lord says: “You
shall make and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy.” (Lev. 11:44;
19:2) “You therefore, are to be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is
perfect.” (Mt. 5:48) We must not refuse God, Who became man for us and
shed His blood for our redemption.
3. When the crosses sent to
us by God have seemed too heavy, we have often uttered these words of
refusal in a mood of weariness or even in a spirit of revolt. If only we
had taken our sorrow to the foot of the Crucifix! Then we should not
have had the audacity to have spoken these selfish and unchristian
words.
We would have remembered that Jesus, the innocent Lamb,
suffered for love of us, and we could not then have told Him that our
cross was too heavy. We would have embraced it with resignation and
walked towards Heaven in the footsteps of Christ.
Showing posts with label perseverance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perseverance. Show all posts
Sunday, 14 September 2014
Thursday, 4 September 2014
Perseverance - Cardinal Bacci
Perseverance
1. “He who has persevered to the end,” Jesus tells us, “will be saved.” (Mt. 10:22; 24:13) Elsewhere He says that “no one, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Cf. Luke 9:62) It is necessary, therefore, to persevere in goodness if we wish to be saved.
It is easy to begin, but it is difficult to continue. In a moment of fervour, perhaps, you promised to be holy. Maybe some misfortune came your way, such as the loss of someone very dear to you, and you were moved to meditate upon the vanity of earthly things and promised to dedicate yourself entirely to God. In that moment you experienced the truth of the words of Ecclesiastes, summarised in the “Imitation of Christ:” “Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity, but to love God and serve Him alone.” (Bk. 1, Ch. 1:4)
Unfortunately, your good resolutions wore away with time. You may have been swept away once more by the deceptive pleasures of this world. Or perhaps your charity grew cold and in your tepidity you gave in to the violent onslaught of temptation.
Christian perseverance has three main enemies. (1) Firstly, there is time, which slowly consumes this virtue. You must conquer time by resolving to begin the battle anew every morning of your life. (2) Then there is the devil, who goes about, as St. Peter warns us, like a lion in search of his prey. (Cf. 1 Peter 5:8) You must resist him by the strength of your faith. (3) Finally, there is spiritual sloth which easily invades the soul. You must take your cue from St. Paul’s exhortation: “My beloved brethren, be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58)
2. Perseverance may be a difficult virtue, but nothing is really difficult to a man of strong resolution. When the sister of St. Thomas Aquinas asked him how to become holy, he replied that it needed only one thing – a firm act of the will, for God will certainly supply the necessary grace. Think of how much work and sacrifice is required to achieve worldly success. Cicero wrote that it required constant and tireless labour in order to become a great orator. (Cf. De Orat., 1:39) St. Paul cited the examples of athletes who are prepared to make such great sacrifices in order to train themselves to win. If they are prepared to do so much to gain a perishable crown, he comments, we should be prepared to do much more to gain an imperishable one. (Cf. 1 Cor. 9:25)
3. The grace of God is the principal weapon upon which we must depend in order to gain our victory. We should pray for it humbly and perseveringly. There will be victors and losers in the battle for Heaven as well as in earthly contests. We must make sure that we are on the winning side. For this purpose we should combine fervent and constant prayer with generous cooperation with the grace of God.
1. “He who has persevered to the end,” Jesus tells us, “will be saved.” (Mt. 10:22; 24:13) Elsewhere He says that “no one, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Cf. Luke 9:62) It is necessary, therefore, to persevere in goodness if we wish to be saved.
It is easy to begin, but it is difficult to continue. In a moment of fervour, perhaps, you promised to be holy. Maybe some misfortune came your way, such as the loss of someone very dear to you, and you were moved to meditate upon the vanity of earthly things and promised to dedicate yourself entirely to God. In that moment you experienced the truth of the words of Ecclesiastes, summarised in the “Imitation of Christ:” “Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity, but to love God and serve Him alone.” (Bk. 1, Ch. 1:4)
Unfortunately, your good resolutions wore away with time. You may have been swept away once more by the deceptive pleasures of this world. Or perhaps your charity grew cold and in your tepidity you gave in to the violent onslaught of temptation.
Christian perseverance has three main enemies. (1) Firstly, there is time, which slowly consumes this virtue. You must conquer time by resolving to begin the battle anew every morning of your life. (2) Then there is the devil, who goes about, as St. Peter warns us, like a lion in search of his prey. (Cf. 1 Peter 5:8) You must resist him by the strength of your faith. (3) Finally, there is spiritual sloth which easily invades the soul. You must take your cue from St. Paul’s exhortation: “My beloved brethren, be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58)
2. Perseverance may be a difficult virtue, but nothing is really difficult to a man of strong resolution. When the sister of St. Thomas Aquinas asked him how to become holy, he replied that it needed only one thing – a firm act of the will, for God will certainly supply the necessary grace. Think of how much work and sacrifice is required to achieve worldly success. Cicero wrote that it required constant and tireless labour in order to become a great orator. (Cf. De Orat., 1:39) St. Paul cited the examples of athletes who are prepared to make such great sacrifices in order to train themselves to win. If they are prepared to do so much to gain a perishable crown, he comments, we should be prepared to do much more to gain an imperishable one. (Cf. 1 Cor. 9:25)
3. The grace of God is the principal weapon upon which we must depend in order to gain our victory. We should pray for it humbly and perseveringly. There will be victors and losers in the battle for Heaven as well as in earthly contests. We must make sure that we are on the winning side. For this purpose we should combine fervent and constant prayer with generous cooperation with the grace of God.
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
The Main Way to Conquer Temptation - Cardinal Bacci
The Main Way to Conquer Temptation
1. God never allows us to be tempted beyond our strength, but will always give us the grace which we need in order to resist. “God is faithful,” St. Paul writes, “and will not permit you to be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will always give you a way out that you may be able to bear it.” (Cor. 10:13)
The man who is so discouraged by frequent falls that he surrenders to temptation and resigns himself to the slavery of sin as if there were no other way out, is making a fatal mistake. God is infinitely good and merciful and loves us all, even those who are sinners. Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son and of the lost sheep. How could our heavenly Father abandon us and not give us the strength to resist evil?
If we are discouraged, let us ask God's help, for He loves us and knows how weak we are. “He knows how we are formed.” (Ps. 102:14) It is a favourite trick of the devil to persuade us that nothing can help us. Let us cast aside all thoughts of discouragement, therefore, and arm ourselves with the necessary spiritual weapons. With humility, perseverance, and the grace of God, we are sure to triumph.
2. The masters of the spiritual life suggest various ways of combating temptation. As St. Alphonsus de' Liguori points out, however, “the first way is absolutely essential, and that is to pray to God for the light and strength to conquer. Without prayer it is impossible to overcome temptation, whereas with prayer we are sure of victory.” (Al Servizio Divino, p. 11, c. 6)
The reason is obvious. Prayer is not simply a verbal address to Almighty God, but is an elevation of the mind and heart, a conversation with God. Let us pray, therefore, with confidence and with love.
3. Jesus Himself commands us to do this. “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Mt. 26:41) Temptation against chastity in particular can only be conquered by prayer. There must be no hesitation, but an immediate recourse to God as soon as the temptation is experienced.
“Slay the enemy while it is small,”' recommends St. Jerome. When a lion is small, it is easily killed, but if we wait for it to grow up, it will be more likely to kill us instead. It is the same with temptation. St. Francis de Sales tells us that we should imitate the little children who fly to the arms of their father and mother as soon as they spy a wolf. We should fly to Jesus and Mary for protection.
As long as temptation lasts we should persevere in prayer.
1. God never allows us to be tempted beyond our strength, but will always give us the grace which we need in order to resist. “God is faithful,” St. Paul writes, “and will not permit you to be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will always give you a way out that you may be able to bear it.” (Cor. 10:13)
The man who is so discouraged by frequent falls that he surrenders to temptation and resigns himself to the slavery of sin as if there were no other way out, is making a fatal mistake. God is infinitely good and merciful and loves us all, even those who are sinners. Remember the parable of the Prodigal Son and of the lost sheep. How could our heavenly Father abandon us and not give us the strength to resist evil?
If we are discouraged, let us ask God's help, for He loves us and knows how weak we are. “He knows how we are formed.” (Ps. 102:14) It is a favourite trick of the devil to persuade us that nothing can help us. Let us cast aside all thoughts of discouragement, therefore, and arm ourselves with the necessary spiritual weapons. With humility, perseverance, and the grace of God, we are sure to triumph.
2. The masters of the spiritual life suggest various ways of combating temptation. As St. Alphonsus de' Liguori points out, however, “the first way is absolutely essential, and that is to pray to God for the light and strength to conquer. Without prayer it is impossible to overcome temptation, whereas with prayer we are sure of victory.” (Al Servizio Divino, p. 11, c. 6)
The reason is obvious. Prayer is not simply a verbal address to Almighty God, but is an elevation of the mind and heart, a conversation with God. Let us pray, therefore, with confidence and with love.
3. Jesus Himself commands us to do this. “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Mt. 26:41) Temptation against chastity in particular can only be conquered by prayer. There must be no hesitation, but an immediate recourse to God as soon as the temptation is experienced.
“Slay the enemy while it is small,”' recommends St. Jerome. When a lion is small, it is easily killed, but if we wait for it to grow up, it will be more likely to kill us instead. It is the same with temptation. St. Francis de Sales tells us that we should imitate the little children who fly to the arms of their father and mother as soon as they spy a wolf. We should fly to Jesus and Mary for protection.
As long as temptation lasts we should persevere in prayer.
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