It was said of a brother that he had to fight against blasphemy and he was ashamed to admit it. He went to where he heard some great old men lived to see them, in order to open his heart to them but when he got there, he was ashamed to admit his temptation. So he kept going because he wanted to see Abba Poemen. The old man saw he was worried, and he was sorry he did not tell him what was wrong. So one day he forestalled him and said, “For a long time you have been coming here to tell me what is troubling you, and when you are here you will not tell me about it, but each time you go away unhappy, keeping your thoughts to yourself. Now tell me, my child, what it is all about.” He said to him, “The demon wars against me to make me blaspheme God and I am ashamed to say so.” So he told him all about it and immediately he was relieved. The old man said to him, “Do not be unhappy, my child, but every time this thought comes to you say, ‘It is no affair of mine, may your blasphemy remain upon you, Satan, for my soul does not want it.’ Now everything that the soul does not desire, does not long remain,” and the brother went away healed.
I will retail this one from memory…it is from the early desert hermits…
a brother went to the alba and was distressed about the thoughts that were happening to him…the alba took him outside and told him…now open your cloak and catch the wind…
the brother replied that this was not possible…
the alba then said…neither is it possible for you to prevent thoughts from coming to you…
your job is to not say yes.
regarding thoughts that come to one and bother them…
while Jesus makes it clear that one can sin in ones thoughts…But just cause some thought happens does not mean that one sinned…for thoughts happen…it is what we do with them…
They can be internal but not willed. They can seem like ‘you are the one causing them’ --for it is the nature of such thoughts.
For a mortal sin one needs a grave matter …full knowledge AND deliberate consent!!!
for a venial sin …one has to consent …
A. If you do not want the thought…it the thought displeases you: it is a sign actually that you did not give consent or do not give full consent.
B. Even if you felt a temptation for the thought – and were drawn to it —but rejected it and maybe even turned to God : again a sign not full consent.
C. But what if one has a tempting thought --say of a sexual nature and even hesitated for a moment…but then rejected it for one did not want to sin? : it can be partial consent perhaps (and thus a venial sin)-- or it may be no sin at all but rather a strong temptation that drew you but then you saw what was happening and turned away.
D. A temptation can even be very strong or the thoughts very often – but this does NOT mean one has consented! so worry not…even it they go on for a long time…
What if one is doubting if they gave full consent – well if you are seeking to follow Christ and live a good life or at least not giving in often in that area-- you can assume or judge that you did not. Especially since you are not ordinarily giving it to such things…
remember --for it to be mortal there must be that deliberate consent!
What to do? on the spiritual side–relax first of all and remember the above.
Next – know that the more one fears the thoughts the more likely they are to come… or said another way --the more a person seeks to avoid the thoughts the more likely he will have a problem with them. (but do not worry about this either!)
for example: for the next 10 seconds try NOT to think of an apple.
tick tock …
Ok what did you think of? Most likely an apple.
So it is best to ignore them and just not consent and then turn your attention to some other good thing…for instance whatever you are doing. Simply do not consent and move on. and do not worry
another point – thoughts can just happen --they are the stuff with which we think…it is up to us to consent and take them further or not. and just because they are REAL VIVID and almost “think themselves” does not mean per se that one has given ANY consent.
they can be annoying…but need cause no actual harm …
and thoughts against faith and chastity are better ‘not fought directly’ but rather ‘indirectly’ by turning to something else…
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Thanks for the posting, Shin.