Life flows like mighty waters

Introduction to the Devout Life, Part IV
On Temptations
English-speaking Group: Fr. Amaladoss, Fr. John Baptist, Deacon Bro. Lijo Vadakkan

In this part IV, St Francis de Sales makes an elaborate explanation  on temptations trying to give some practical counsels regarding how a soul should fight the temptations.  In fact the whole of part IV is dedicated to this theme.  This section is divided into fifteen chapters and in each of these chapters the saint gives an explanation to the various temptations that the soul has to face in its spiritual journey before attaining the paradise.  These are excellent pieces of advice for anyone who wishes to progress in his/her spiritual life.

There is a first consideration to be kept in mind which is certainly consoling as well as encouraging to the soul.  The saint says, “God allows these great trials and temptations only to those whom he wishes to raise to His pure and excellent love. All the same, it does not follow that they are sure of attaining it thereafter. No one can ever be sure of one’s ability to overcome small temptations just because one has overcome great ones. Trust only in a constant fidelity to God and that is the only way to overcome temptations.  But at the same time not all temptations necessarily lead to sin and the saint makes the clear distinction saying that so long as we abide in our firm resolution to take no pleasure therein of whatsoever temptation we cannot offend God.  “Come what may in the shape of temptation, attended by whatsoever of delectation, so long as your will refuses consent, not merely to the temptation itself, but also to the delectation, you need have no fear, God is not offended.” But if the temptation has been invited by one’s own initiative even though one does not succumb to it, is certainly guilty of the pursuit itself; and even if one withheld his/her consent, one would still deserve censure and punishment.  When it is possible to avoid the delectation arising out of temptation, it is always a sin to accept it, in proportion to the pleasure we take, and the amount of consent given, whether that be great or small, brief or lasting. Therefore when you are tempted to any sin, continues the saint “…examine whether you have voluntarily exposed yourself to the temptation, and if you find that you have done so by putting yourself into its way, or by not foreseeing the temptation, as you ought to have done, then it is sin; but if you have done nothing to bring about the temptation, it is not in anywise to be imputed to you as sin.”

The saint also speaks about the importance of resisting minor temptation if one desires to conquer major temptations.  The saint presents the example of wolves and bears which are certainly more dangerous than flies, but they do not worry and annoy us, or try our patience as the flies do. The saint also underlines very much the importance of spiritual direction when one is faced with temptations because the first condition which the Evil One makes with a soul, when he wants to seduce it, is silence. We can see a heavy influence of this teaching in the insistence of Don Bosco with his boys to be open to the Rector of the house.

In this section the saint also gives examples of different types of temptations like, the temptation of conformity where the tension of the individual is focused on going after the acceptance of the world.  Then, there is the temptation of discouragement. The temptation of anxiety of mind is another one which is considered as the source whence various temptations arise.   This un-resting anxiety is the greatest evil which can happen to the soul and as a consequence of an anxious soul, sin is only to be excepted. The fourth is the temptation of sadness and sorrow and this the saint says can have both good and bad effects but the saint says that there are more bad than good results arising from it, for the only good ones are mercy and repentance; whereas there are six evil results, namely, anguish, sloth, indignation, jealousy, envy and impatience resulting from sadness.  The saint suggests prayer as the remedy against sadness and sorrow as it lifts the mind to God, Who is our only Joy and Consolation.

Life flows like mighty waters

And of course, God also rewards the human being with certain consolations at certain times. The life of man on earth flows by like the mighty waters, heaving and tossing with an endless variety of motion; one while raising him on high with hope, another plunging him low in fear; now turning him to the right with rejoicing, then driving him to the left with sorrows; and no single day, no, not even one hour, is entirely the same as any other of his life.  But, it is important to distinguish what comes from God and what comes from the enemy.  Here the saint exhorts us to use a general rule, with respect to the feelings and affections, he says that their test is in their fruits. Our hearts are as trees, of which the affections and passions are their branches, and deeds and acts their fruits.  That is, a good heart, of which the affections are good, result in good and holy actions.

Just as one was able to experience spiritual consolations there will be also days when one will be completely devoid of all devout feelings, that it will seem that soul is a desert land, fruitless, sterile, wherein one can find no path leading to God, no drop of the waters of Grace to soften the dryness which threatens to choke it entirely.   But the saint says that these are the moments that we have to gather up and use the treasures of God’s Love that we have secured for ourselves in prayer.  If we fail to do so He withdraws them as a punishment of our sloth. Again, any duplicity or unreality in confession or spiritual intercourse with our director tends to dryness and barrenness, because if we lie to God’s Holy Spirit, we can scarcely wonder that He refuses us His comfort.

Summary by deacon Lijo
Photography by Joe