Satan wants us to be saints

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“Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil: that put darkness for light, and light for darkness: that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” (Isa 5:20)
 
There’s a sort of false piety or sanctity or holiness that we can get caught up in and which is really just priggishness. The true definition of those terms is love, the absolute height of man’s justice or holiness. As we come to realize that true sanctity involves loving God with our whole heart soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves, it becomes much easier to escape the trap of thinking we’re holy -when we’re not.
 
Good article. Ego = easing God out.

“It is only through the destruction of our own ego, through dissolving away our interests, our concerns, our wants, and conforming our will to His, that we become true saints.”
 
fhansen said:
There’s a sort of false piety or sanctity or holiness that we can get caught up in and which is really just priggishness. The true definition of those terms is love, the absolute height of man’s justice or holiness. As we come to realize that true sanctity involves loving God with our whole heart soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves, it becomes much easier to escape the trap of thinking we’re holy -when we’re not.
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Amen!
 
While I agree with the main point of this article, it seems to be a little too harsh. Christ came into the world to provide us with examples of hope, mercy, and love.

If we start to get into the mindset of “I am not struggling enough, I must not be loving God or doing his will” then we have a great chance of falling into despair or falling away completely.

The author seems to think most Catholics are “going through the motions” and saying “that’s good enough.” And while this may be true for some, I don’t think this is the case for most.

There needs to be some sort of middle ground.
 
1AspiringSaint1 said:
While I agree with the main point of this article, it seems to be a little too harsh. Christ came into the world to provide us with examples of hope, mercy, and love.

If we start to get into the mindset of “I am not struggling enough, I must not be loving God or doing his will” then we have a great chance of falling into despair or falling away completely.

The author seems to think most Catholics are “going through the motions” and saying “that’s good enough.” And while this may be true for some, I don’t think this is the case for most.

There needs to be some sort of middle ground.
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I read it as a warning against getting comfortable and saying “that’s good enough,” because no matter how far you’ve come, you’ve still got a ways to go. That’s not a matter for despair, but for joy. When everything has become automatic and easy, that means you’ve got the capacity to go deeper! That period of rest gives you the strength for another climb.
 
Yes. It pretty much applies to the “I’m a good person so I don’t need God/religion/church/Mass/etc.)” type of person.

“Good person” in this sense usually equals reprobate.
 
St_Francis said:
Satan wants us to *think *we are holy when we are not. Then in our complacency, we will not do what is necessary to become holy.
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Self righteousness. False humility. Pride. There is always a hint of pride in everything we do. Perhaps people don’t want to grow closer to holiness because there are more areas to change. More flaws to expose. Humility is hardwork. It is a little frustrating that ultimately you will never be good enough. There is always that little something.
 
cmbergin said:
I read it as a warning against getting comfortable and saying “that’s good enough,” because no matter how far you’ve come, you’ve still got a ways to go. That’s not a matter for despair, but for joy. When everything has become automatic and easy, that means you’ve got the capacity to go deeper! That period of rest gives you the strength for another climb.
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A very good analysis on your part. I will keep this in mind! Thank you for your insight
 
Nelka and Therese,

The OP put a link to an article in his post, that’s what people are discussing. Click the word “true” for the article.
 
1AspiringSaint1 said:
While I agree with the main point of this article, it seems to be a little too harsh. Christ came into the world to provide us with examples of hope, mercy, and love.

If we start to get into the mindset of “I am not struggling enough, I must not be loving God or doing his will” then we have a great chance of falling into despair or falling away completely.

The author seems to think most Catholics are “going through the motions” and saying “that’s good enough.” And while this may be true for some, I don’t think this is the case for most.

There needs to be some sort of middle ground.
Click to expand...
Living life in the secular world, especially the modern world, and being a christian was never ever meant to be an easy or comfortable thing…but most of the catholics I know personally (myself included), life is indeed pretty easy and comfortable, I mean, I do not have anyone actively hating or trying to ruin me due to my beliefs or stands on issues, I do not see the secular govt trying to bring down or ruin my parish (or any parish Ive heard of), in fact, most of the churches around me are considered great civil ‘neighbors’, they all get along great with the secular authorities/ govts.

I think this is a problem though, Jesus told us we would be hated and despised because of his name, warned of persecution and all kinds of problems we would face…but Im not seeing any of that around here.

Its like the old saying, “if your enemy is not hating you, there is probably a good reason”, and Im assuming its because my parish (and many others) are not saying or doing anything that the secular leaders dislike or disagree with…so yeah, that is a problem, its just not one many catholics recognize as being a problem.
 
“Take up your cross and follow me”–it’s too heavy, we reply.
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This really is, I believe, at the heart of things. We are extremely slothful and soft these days and have completely given in to the horror of suffering and run from it wherever we find it. We moreover make pleasure the measure of all things, including religion: and if something pleases us, we call it good, and if it doesn’t, it must be bad.

But the article does treat this as if it’s simply an individual temptation. And while it is certainly that, it is also far more than merely that. This inability to suffer well is generational and therefore cultural, and it must be treated as such, and its progress to the next generation must be stopped. Indeed, many would argue this weakness has been passed on in the US since the baby-boomers.
 
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