Episode 100 -- Spiritual Combat c59.4 -- Dealing with Special Impure Delusions

How should I react if in prayer I am troubled by involuntary impure and scary thoughts and even visions? Am I weird and lost?

In the last part of chapter 59 of The Spiritual Combat, Fr Scupoli deals with a problem that many serious Catholics face at one point or other in their lives: strange sexual ideas during prayer. Chapter 59 has been teaching us what to do in the face of spiritual dryness and darkness, that is, when our minds seem empty and our hearts are cold But what do we do when, far from having nothing in our minds, we suddenly have many unwelcome images and thoughts? Fr Scupoli gives very sound advice.

1. LOVE: Remember the Holy Spirit has not abandoned you! Do not become despondent.

2. FAITH: God has at least three reasons for allowing this trial that we will look at tonight.

3. HUMILITY: Allow it to remind us of what we are capable of if left to ourselves.

4. TRUST: Remember that the ONE who allowed us to see a danger has the POWER to deliver us.

5. PATIENCE! Speedily get your mind elsewhere.

The more general problem is not images, but our inability to pray like we used to pray. God begins to give Himself to us at a deeper level. We saw last episode that there are several things we can do when our usual meditation is no longer possible.

1. Remember the PRAYER of Sara (Tobit 3:21-23). Make it our own.

2. Remember Our LORD’s words in the Garden: “NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE.”

3. THUS WE practice PATIENCE in these times of dryness.

IF we do not give up, we will become truly devout. True devotion has four qualities:

1. eager and unswerving will to follow Christ
2. will to bear the Cross at whatever time or in whatever way He shall decide.
3. loving God because He is worthy of our love.
4. giving us sweetness of God for the sake of God.

Our progress in these four things is the true measure of spiritual ADVANCEMENT and not the warm and sweet feelings we have in prayer. How crucial patience is in the spiritual life. How dryness and aridity contributes to patience. “By your patience,” Christ said, “you will save your souls” (Luke 21:19).