Counsels Required for Overcoming the More Common Temptations

Friday November 17, 2006
Group discussion Part IV
Anne, Marcel, Javier, Thien-An

Practicing the devout life is not always easy for we are living in the world with many others who do not believe in God. There are thousands of reasons for them to attack us, but the main reason is that we are different from them. They want us to be liked them all the time, but we cannot. We should be determined to embrace the devout life and forming ourselves for the means of our desires and resolutions because after all, we will find rest in the eternity to come.

1. About Temptation, St. Francis reminds us that it may occur any time and any where. It is always out there waiting for us. Temptation is the first of the three steps – temptation, delight, and consent – that leads us to sin. Is temptation always bad? The saint answers that temptation “can do us no harm as long as we take no pleasure in it.” (Ch. 3, par. 4) We like the example that St. Francis gives us about St. Catherine of Siena asking the Lord where he was during her temptation. The Lord answers He was in her heart, and it was Him who enables our hearts to “resist the temptation with all its power.” St. Francis de Sales also believes that after overcome temptations we, like Sts. Francis of Assisi and Benedict, will “lost nothing of God’s grace, but grew greatly in it.” (Ch. 3, par. 2)

To solve the problem, St. Francis proposes some remedies in chapter seven. First, he addresses that we should pray as Jesus has commanded his disciples “Pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Mt. 26:41). Secondly, we should not look at the temptation itself; yet instead we look at our Lord and embrace his Holy Crucifix. Thirdly, we need to humbly open our hearts and make known our temptations to our spiritual directors and seeking for help. Lastly, if it is necessary we should be stubborn ourselves in resisting the temptation. We should absolutely ignore to temptations exclusively even have no argument with it. However, St. Francis encourages us that “in time of peace, that is, when temptations to sins to which you are inclined do not trouble you… go boldly to meet them. In this way you will find strengthen your heart against future temptations.” (Ch. 10, last par.)

2. For anxiety, St. Francis believes that it is not just merely a temptation but a source of many temptations. If we rely on the love of God to deal with our problems, we will be patient, gentle, humble and calm. However, we will be eager and anxious if we become dependent in ourselves.

St. Francis also proposes some solutions that can help us to overcome our trouble of anxiety in chapter 11. First, he tells us to install our peace and tranquility quietly and gently instead of wildly struggle with our problems. Secondly, Francis challenges us to examine ourselves more than once a day that if whether “my soul is still in my hands” or “some passion or anxiety has robbed it.” If it is wandered around, we need to “go after it and bring it back quite gently to the presence of God.” (Ch. 11, par. 5) Lastly, St. Francis advises us to disclose our anxiety by seeing our spiritual directors or some faithful and devout friends.

3. For sadness, St. Francis points out that it can be either evil or good. It is interesting that the saint believes that there are six evil streams flow from the source of our sadness: anxiety, sloth, anger, anger, jealousy, envy, and impatience. However, sadness can produce compassion and repentance. Obviously, there are more evil than good in sadness. The saint insists us to “resist vigorously all inclinations to sadness.” (Ch. 12, par. 5)

St. Francis encourages us to occupy ourselves with some fervent exterior works such as singing a spiritual canticle or psalm, kissing the Crucifix, clasping it to the breast, raising eyes and hands toward heaven.

Thien-An