temptations

[Monica4316]

for the past month or so I’ve been going through a really hard time spiritually, and dealing with temptations etc… I feel so distant from God I think a lot of it is because of my sins or too little trust in Him. But after I confess my sins, at first everything is great, and then more temptations come. It’s like I’m in a constant battle here. So I was wondering… if you’re being spiritually attacked or experiencing temptations or going through spiritual dryness/feeling far from God… is this a bad sign, or is it good? I keep on wondering, is there something wrong with me, that I should change. Of course I realize we can’t know for sure, but what do you think about these situations in general? Sometimes I start feeling very afraid of going to hell, it’s really distracting me from prayer and other things… sometimes I feel like literally there’s no hope for me. I sure hope that’s a lie. The question is, how do I get out of this…or if I just need to wait.

thanks

 

[Shin]

Temptation is normal… (though of course we -must- avoid near occasions of sin and fight -desiring- out of ourselves temptations)… the holier you become the more temptations, in general you can expect, in fact… generally those who are not tempted, are those who have given up the fight…

Prayer always, especially during temptation is the key to overcoming temptation.

Some quotes for thought. . .

'Some say, “I do not make mental prayer, because I am subject to desolation, to distractions, and to temptations; I have a wandering mind that I cannot confine to the subject of meditation, and therefore I have given up mental prayer.”

But to such persons St. Francis de Sales says, that if in their meditations they do nothing else than banish distractions and temptations, the meditation is well made, provided the distraction is not voluntary. The Lord is pleased with a good intention, with a patient endurance, during the whole time prescribed for meditation, and with the pain arising from distractions, and will bestow many graces in return. We ought to go to prayer, not to please ourselves, but to please God. Even holy souls generally suffer aridity in meditation, but because they persevere, God enriches them with his blessings.’

‘Prayer is, beyond doubt, the most powerful weapon the Lord gives us to conquer evil passions and temptations of the devil; but we must really put ourselves into our prayer: it is not enough just to say the words, it must come from the heart. And also prayer needs to be continuous, we must pray no matter what kind of situation we find ourselves in: the warfare we are engaged in is on-going, so our prayer must be on-going also.’

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

‘This is the Great Work of a man: always to take the blame for his own sins before God and to expect temptation to his last breath.’

St. Anthony of Egypt

‘The enemy kept to this particular method by giving her for a long time the temptation of blasphemy – for which she never found any remedy either in confession or in any other way – until finally the devil came to her one night while she was sleeping and opened her ears and told her to blaspheme God. She, still sleeping, refused, saying: “I will not do that.” And when the evil one saw how much she despised him, he made such a loud racket that she woke up and felt him depart. And in this way, she realized clearly that it was the enemy who had afflicted her so by putting in her heart such blasphemies and then leading her to think that they came from herself in order to make her fall into despair. And after this, she remained victorious over temptation, seeing openly how the enemy insinuated such blasphemies into her spirit. So if any of you, beloved sisters, should be tempted in a similar struggle, do not be alarmed nor saddened by thinking that it proceeds from yourself rather than only from diabolic envy which cannot stand it that God be adored and praised. But in eternity, without any respite, he will be blessed and praised and magnified and superexalted in despite and derision of Lucifer and all his companions and the dark brigade. Amen. Amen.’

St. Catherine of Bologna

‘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. When any one has swooned away, and gives no sign of life, we put our hand to his heart, and if we find the slightest fluttering there, we conclude that he still lives, and that, with the help of stimulants and counter-irritants, we may restore consciousness and power. Even so, sometimes amid the violence of temptation the soul seems altogether to faint away, and to lose all spiritual life and action. But if you would be sure how it really is, put your hand on the heart. See whether heart and will yet have any spiritual motion; that is to say, whether they fulfil their own special duty in refusing consent to and acceptance of temptation and its gratification; for so long as the power to refuse exists within the soul, we may be sure that Love, the life of the soul, is there, and that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, is within, although, it may be, hidden; and that by means of stedfast perseverance in prayer, and the Sacraments, and confidence in God, strength will be restored, and the soul will live with a full and joyous life.’

St. Francis de Sales

 

[Monica4316]

Thank you!!

the quotes by St Catherine and St Francis seem most related to my situation…

a week ago, for some reason I got this horrible temptation to just hate God and hate the Eucharist, even desecrate the Eucharist which is something I’d never do… I didn’t consent to this, I was actually pretty horrified, but I felt it so strongly that later I was afraid I actually committed the sin (in my heart).

It was on my mind the whole week… then I finally went to Confession and along with my sins, mentioned how I felt tempted in this way. (I felt guilty even for the temptation, because I wasn’t sure if it’s me or an attack from the enemy.) The priest absolved me… at first, everything was great… but then in an hour or so, I remembered that though I mentioned the temptation, I didn’t say that it made it difficult for me to love God and that I need to love Him more… (I didnt think to mention this.) So I started fearing if I was truly forgiven cause I confessed being tempted (which is not a sin), but not that I might have fallen into it (which I’m not sure about, but again, I felt it so strongly.)

wow am I scrupulous or what!!

then, everything (I mean EVERYTHING) began irritating and annoying me and I found it very difficult to be charitable to people. This came out of nowhere! and I’m usually not like this on a day to day basis.

Then right before I came here, I started feeling again the temptation to hate God, and again I can’t tell if this is from me or an attack from the enemy. Cause it almost feels like hatred…however I’m not consenting to it! I’m fighting it all the time… it’s almost like I feel hatred without my consent and it’s really making me upset because I only want to love God. I don’t know what to do about Communion tomorrow… I already feel so unclean inside.

'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.

there’s absolutely no “delectation” in this, and I do refuse consent… but I’m still worried cause sometimes I can’t remember clearly, and wonder if I have always refused it, and not fell for it at any second.

I finally put this into words.

Maybe it would help if I just repeat the “act of love” or “act of faith” or some other similar prayer… (which basically says the opposite of this temptation)

is our love for God all in our will, in our choices? If you don’t feel any love, but choose it, and reject temptation, is that enough?

 

[Shin]

If you find St. Catherine and St. Francis helpful, perhaps reading more of their works the quotes came from will help.

We’re having a reading/discussion of one of St. Francis’s book’s right now in the book club on these forums. Feel free to join if you feel like it, we definitely need more people.

Love is in the will. We do have a certain control over our feelings, how much, seems to vary, and even depend on the moment.

I think sometimes if we can fight with the feelings and try to overcome them, that is what we must do. I think also though, sometimes what we do, will not succeed, or not be enough. But if we have done what we could, that is enough.

I don’t have all the answers here on how to fight this sort of fight perfectly, so don’t think what I just said is perfect or all there is to it.

But I think from the way you are talking, you are doing better than you think, and you should continue to fight strongly yet not let your peace be disturbed or think yourself get too upset. Fight what you know in your heart you should fight for the sake of God, pray, and pray always – if you pray you will succeed in places without it you will fail, and try to think positively and thankfully about how God has helped you fight temptations, rather than always discouraging yourself with too much criticism.

We have to be thankful for God’s help. Temptations on the outside are inevitable, and I believe may never cease until we die. We simply do not let them in to reign. And if we feel dry, arid, or worn out, well that can be natural. Sometimes we have to work to overcome that because it is not natural, sometimes it is natural.

Draw close to God in your heart as you can, make a place with Him so that however much what is outside batters on the walls, you are with Him in will and desire. And try to find your rest there with Him as needed, then go out and fight when you have the grace to. And try to take some happiness in the fight too, as opportunity allows.

When you fight keep in mind not only the Lord, but all Heaven, above, the many choirs of angels, and saints, all in a chorus of prayer and support and admiration for the grace of God working on earth to help the people here, including yourself.

 

[Shin]

there’s absolutely no “delectation” in this, and I do refuse consent… but I’m still worried cause sometimes I can’t remember clearly, and wonder if I have always refused it, and not fell for it at any second.

I finally put this into words.

Maybe it would help if I just repeat the “act of love” or “act of faith” or some other similar prayer… (which basically says the opposite of this temptation)

is our love for God all in our will, in our choices? If you don’t feel any love, but choose it, and reject temptation, is that enough?

The above, I am not sure what to say to… constant watchfulness and prayer are the goal of life… since we generally at this stage do not pray always… the above can be a goad to do so, though also, it can be just normal not becoming fully aware, etc. the limitations of being human which esp. if you are scrupulous you are too sensitive about. It sounds like scrupulousity to me since you say you are scrupulous. That would concern me with you, I think from the sound of it you are doing well but keep an eye on yourself and see what works without fraying yourself to pieces, but what is possible and what is not.

Think about someone else, and what advice you would give someone else facing what you face.

Love is in the will. But love encompasses all we can will, and how our will deals with what challenges we face, and that can be feelings too.

Acts of love and faith and repeating those sound like a great response to this sort of trouble!

 

[Monica4316]

Thanks so much Shin!

I just read a bit about the Eucharist from a book and about the First Fridays devotion… that somehow helped me to trust in God more (in terms of: not despairing but remembering to rely on Him.) This helped me feel much better… I’ll just keep on praying, and I’ll pray to our Blessed Mother

I know He has overcome all darkness, sin, and the enemy.

God bless you!

 

[fhansen]

for the past month or so I’ve been going through a really hard time spiritually, and dealing with temptations etc… I feel so distant from God I think a lot of it is because of my sins or too little trust in Him. But after I confess my sins, at first everything is great, and then more temptations come. It’s like I’m in a constant battle here. So I was wondering… if you’re being spiritually attacked or experiencing temptations or going through spiritual dryness/feeling far from God… is this a bad sign, or is it good? I keep on wondering, is there something wrong with me, that I should change. Of course I realize we can’t know for sure, but what do you think about these situations in general? Sometimes I start feeling very afraid of going to hell, it’s really distracting me from prayer and other things… sometimes I feel like literally there’s no hope for me. I sure hope that’s a lie. The question is, how do I get out of this…or if I just need to wait.

thanks

I think it’s valuable to know that there’s a reason and a purpose for the trials we must experience here on earth that involve our need to learn of our need for God and nothing else. The Church teaches that the consequences of Original Sin are concupiscence, suffering, and death and that these remain in us “as the means given man to achieve the practice of virtue and moral integrity”, quoting the Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma.

The struggle between the flesh or sinful nature and the Spirit is ongoing but “where sin abounds, grace abounds” and we can trust that God is working things out according to His perfect wisdom for those who love Him and persevere in seeking His kingdom. We’re in an educative process of learning to no longer be impressed by the things that would tempt us and it’s not always comfortable-but it’s a good fight.