Lectio et Oratio

Episode 68 -- Spiritual Combat c42.2 -- How to Imitate the Saints

If we are not necessarily meant to imitate the saints in all their austerities, what are we supposed to imitate in them?

In this episode from the Spiritual Combat, Fr. Scupoli gives us a list of ways we can imitate the saints. Not everyone can practice great fasting or physical penances.

We saw last episode that the devil likes to lead true servants of God astray by pretending to be an “angel of light.” The devil is a fallen angel, deprived of the light of sanctifying grace. “But he sometimes urges spiritual persons,” St. Philip Neri liked to say, “to immoderate fasts and mortifications of the body.” The devil gets people to ruin their health. They become discouraged. And then they give up all their spiritual exercises. Let us practice a moderate amount of bodily self-denial under obedience to a spiritual guide. And then follow the saints in humility, charity, patience, distrust of self, etc.

Episode 67 -- Spiritual Combat c42.1 -- More Intense Demonic Delusions

As we begin to make greater progress, does the devil have more subtle tactics?

The third weapon of the spiritual combat is “spiritual exercises.” What Fr. Scupoli means, according to Fr. Robinson, by spiritual exercises is an organized campaign or strategy for building up the virtues and fighting our vices.

This long discussion of spiritual exercises (chapters 7-42) is coming to a close. Soon we will take up the fourth weapon: prayer. In this episode we look at his advice about the more subtle temptations of the devil when we really begin to serve the Lord. Earlier, Fr. Scupoli discussed the five standard tactics of the devil regarding those who are beginning to serve God (chapters 27-32). Then we have had a series of chapters on the right method of growing in virtues one at a time. Now Fr. Scupoli begins to warn us about a lack of moderation. The devil likes to urge us onto practices that we are not really able to do. He tries to make us think that we have reached a height of sanctity that we have not yet reached.

Like St. Philip Neri, St. Francis de Sales, and the Desert Fathers, Fr. Scupoli is stressing moderation/discretion/prudence! We saw last episode that we need great prudence in dealing with afflictions and vexations. We should seek ordinary remedies for pain, remedies that God has given us through the gift of human reason. By our reason, we share in the image of God. God wants us to think and figure things out. But when those ordinary remedies do not help us with our pains, we must with prudence surrender to the divine will. We must beg the Holy Spirit to save us from excessive desire to be free of our crosses.

Episode 66 -- Spiritual Combat c41 -- Avoiding Excessive Desires to Escape Affliction

Is it wrong to want to be free of vexations and afflictions?

In chapter 39 of The Spiritual Combat, Fr Scupoli spoke about seven common afflictions/vexations that can happen to us every day and many times a day. In chapter 40, he stressed how one sign of spiritual progress is our perseverance in prayer and pursuing virtue despite afflictions and vexations and dryness. In chapter 41, the question arises: when is it okay to want to be free of these trials and afflictions and vexations? Do we just have to suffer?

Fr. Scupoli will make a distinction.

• There is an ordinary use of means to be free of an affliction.
• There is also excessive effort.

But what happens when the ordinary means do not work? Here he advises us to be patient. And he gives us reasons why an excessive desire to be free of afflictions is spiritually detrimental to us. If we try to hard to get rid of an affliction, we run the risk of never becoming truly patient and missing out of heavenly rewards that God has for us.

What then is the best course of action? Our Lord in the garden is the model! “If it is possible, let this cup of suffering pass from me, Father; yet not my will, but your will be done.” May the Lord, ascending into heaven, obtain perfect conformity with the will of God for us. May Our Lady of Fatima show us the way to uniting our afflictions to Her Son to make amends for sins.

Episode 65 -- Spiritual Combat c40 -- Time for and Indications of Spiritual Progress

How long will it take before I see signs of spiritual progress?

In this episode we will look at some of the main indications or signs that we are making spiritual progress. Fr. Scupoli warns us, however, not to be too concerned with watching ourselves. He gives some encouragement about how long it will take to start making progress.

In the previous episode we looked at the seven daily vexations that can try us, but that can also be amazing moments of spiritual growth. We looked at five virtues: patience, humility, obedience, poverty, and charity. We saw how each virtue has a different kind of “act” or reaction. The virtues grow by acting as we should in that moment.

Episode 64 -- Spiritual Combat c39 -- Proper Responses to Daily Vexations

How can I respond virtuously to the seven command vexations that life often brings?

Fr. Scupoli lists seven vexations that we commonly face in this episode, chapter 39:

1. Being reprimanded severely for a good action.
2. Being spoken badly about by others
3. Refused a small favour in a harsh manner
4. Unjustly suspected
5. Engaged in a disagreeable/annoying activity
6. Having a meal ruined
7. Overwhelmed with illness or some greater evil

These evils can be combined. There can be greater ones. But the crucial question is our response. What Fr. Scupoli explains tonight is how we can respond differently depending on which VIRTUE (patience or humility or obedience or poverty or charity) that we are trying to work on.

Previously, in chapter 38, Fr. Scupoli gave us the background reasons for why such vexations or trials should be welcomed and patiently accepted with perfect compliance.

• Our wills have a great chance to choose the good!
• God’s Providence permitted this in his Fatherly love for us.
• They help us undermine our innate pride.
• They give us a chance to conform our will to God’s will.

Episode 63 -- Spiritual Combat c38.2 -- Embracing Challenges Permitted by God

Can I really see the harsh and even evil things people do (and I do!) as part of God’s Providence? Yes.

In this episode, we look at a 2nd consideration for why we should be eager to look for opportunities to grow in virtue. We look at how all things happen under the Providence of God.

Last episode we looked at the human will. God wants us to cooperate in our salvation. We have to will what God wills. Crosses and tribulations are valuable from the point of view of our will because they really make us work. They make us do violence to our feelings and choose to follow God. This is a kind of spiritual workout that stretches us and makes us grow in the love of God.

Episode 62 -- Spiritual Combat c38.1 -- Proper Means to Habitual Virtue

While I understand the need to accept passively difficult moments as chances for virtue, but do I need to be actively seeking opportunities to grow spiritually? Yes!

We saw in the last episode that we must not run from difficult people and irksome situations if we truly want to become a patient person. Fr. Scupoli speaks of habitual patience. He wants patience to be a HABIT, a constant READINESS to endure sadness for the sake of a greater good. Having the habit of patience, the VIRTUE of patience, is what makes someone a PATIENT PERSON. Most of us can be patience occasionally. But being patient at easy times is not the sign of HABITUAL PATIENCE.

IF we truly want to become like Christ, then we need to welcome the challenges God allows to enter our life. We cannot run and hide from the irksome events. Let us face our fears with the grace of the HOLY SPIRIT.

BUT REMEMBER — his advice in chapter 37 was not about matters of SEX. In the battle of purity, St Philip says, it is the cowards who win, those who flee. In other words, CHASTITY requires different tactics than PATIENCE.

We have to face our FEARS, not flee! But sexual desires, when at the wrong time, place, or with the wrong person need special treatment! Distraction! Fleeing! Not facing them. More on this later!

In this episode we look at the need to be ACTIVE in trying to look for opportunities to grow in virtue. Yes, we passively accept what God sends. But we must be “pro-active” as people say today.

Episode 61 -- Spiritual Combat c37 -- Seizing Difficult Moments

In trying to make constant advancement in friendship with God, what do I do when really hard things cross my path?

After explaining the tactics of the devil, Fr. Scupoli gives a series of chapters with specific admonitions, strong pieces of advice, encouragements, on how to make progress in the spiritual life. Here is where we have been:

Chapter 33 — Where to start? Identify and seek to root out predominant passion (desire, hatred, fear, pleasure, sadness, anger)

Chapter 34 — What next? Focus on slowly obtaining one virtue at a time, the virtue contrary to that passion.

Chapter 35 — Everyday? Yes. Daily practices to develop one virtue at a time.

Chapter 36 — Like constantly? Yes, or we go backwards due to our fallen nature. Constant advancement towards the summit of perfection, in which revulsion to virtue ceases, peace reigns amidst labours.

In this episode we look at chapter 37. If we must constantly seek to grow in virtue (patience, for example, or chastity, or humility), this means, it seems, that my old ways of escaping hard moments will be to be changed. Do I really need to be constant in virtue during the really hard situations? YES! This is what chapter 37 is about. We have to take advantage, SEIZE, certain opportunities that are especially difficult. Such challenges are crucial to growing in virtues. They are, in fact, a kind of shortcut!

Episode 60 -- Spiritual Combat c36 -- Continual Progress is Necessary

In my spiritual life, is it possible to take a break, stand still, and stop progressing?\

Fr. Scupoli does not think it is possible in our spiritual journey to heaven to stand still. He thinks that we are either making progress or falling back. In this episode he explains why this is the case. It has to do with the inclinations, the desires, of fallen human beings. We will also see that Fr. Scupoli thinks there is a series of stages that we pass through in the spiritual life. The challenges and revulsions we feel now are not forever!

Last episode, Fr. Scupoli encouraged us to desire a whole number of things! In particular, chapter 35 suggests the following list of things we should pray to have!

1. Undaunted courage
2. Resolute will to follow Christ
3. Fondness for the particular virtue we need right now in our lives
4. Frequent reflecting on God’s being pleased with that virtue
5. Early morning resolution to practice that particular virtue
6. Examining ourselves during the day on our faithfulness to that virtue
7. Using our spiritual reading about the Saints and our meditations on the life of Christ to grow in that virtue
8. Knowing certain lines of Scripture that deal with that virtue
9. Daily little Aspirations, ARROW prayers, darts to heaven, when we are tempted to quit.
10. A conviction that God likes to see us LABOUR!
11. An earnest desire to make progress.

Let us ask the Lord for these desires and practice. We need to ask for a new heart and a new mind. We need to do little things each day towards a particular virtue that is contrary to our current attractions to sin.

If I am aiming at patience, what ASPIRATIONS prayers can I say each day?

• —> “O Lord when shall I be armed with patient as a shield against the weapon of my enemy?"
• —> “When shall I love Thee so as to receive with joy all the afflictions You are pleased to send me?"
• —> “O Life of of my soul, shall I never begin to live for Thy glory alone, perfectly resigned to all sufferings."
• —> “O how happy shall I be, if in the fiery trial of tribulation, I burn with a desire of being consumed for Thy service.”

Episode 59 -- Spiritual Combat c35 -- Daily Advice, Scriptures, Arrow Prayers for a Virtue

What is the best way to acquire a particular virtue?

In this episode we turn to chapter 35 in which Fr. Scupoli exhorts us to be courageous in seeking after virtue. He provides some very helpful means of acquiring virtues. He suggests things to do early in the morning, throughout the day, and for times of trials.

We saw last episode that acquired virtues require time and are obtained by degrees. We saw how virtues are connected and united. Our goal is to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. Our desire is to be a true servant of Jesus Christ. To this end, we must seek the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Source of all grace.

Episode 58 -- Spiritual Combat c34 -- Growing in Virtue one by one with Degrees

How quickly should I expect to obtain a certain virtue?

In chapter 33, Fr. Scupoli gave us six pieces of advice for the beginning of our spiritual life. He told us to focus on one virtue at a time. He did not want us to have a different virtue for each day of the week. Focus on the area that most needs growth. In chapter 34, Fr. Scupoli digs deeper into this piece of advice. He explains why this “ONE VIRTUE” at a time approach is so wise. What he adds in chapter 34 is our need to make progress by degrees. “Rome is not built in a day,” the saying goes. And the Second Apostle of Rome liked to say, “Saints are not made in four days.”

In other words, we must manage our expectations of how quickly we make progress. The key is to keep going. The key is to persevere.

 

Episode 57 -- Spiritual Combat c33.2 -- More Advice on Conquering Predominant Passion

Besides focusing on practicing the contrary virtue of my predominant passion and being open to struggle for as long as it takes, what other crucial steps do I need to take to set my life towards God?

Fr. Scupoli gives us four more really good pieces of advice tonight about turning our life towards God. Last episode he told us to avoid spreading ourselves too thin. Pick one virtue and really work on that each day. Which virtue? The one that is most opposed to the attraction to sin that most weighs us down (=predominant passion).

1. Lust? —> practice chastity/self-control/prudence
2. Greed? —> give things away, practice liberality
3. Longing for rest? —> practice diligence
4. Admiration —> be magnanimous, hold your tongue
5. Food and drink? —> self-control in all areas, BE generous with others
6. Envy at others? —> do something good for others, pray for them
7. Anger? —>

Episode 56 -- Spiritual Combat c33.1 -- Critical Instructions for Predominant Passions

Now that I am aware of my predominate passion (or attraction to sin), what should I do?

Having spent several chapters on the devil’s tactics, Fr Scupoli wants to remind us that our main spiritual warfare is fought on the battlefield of our own hearts. The enemies within are

1. our pride,
2. our egoism (bad self-love),
3. our predominant passion.

If we have stuck with The Spiritual Combat this long, then we are convinced that we need some kind of method to gain the victory over our false self, our false view of what we should be. There is a certain pattern to our sins and bad self-love. In chapter 33, Fr Scupoli gives some important instructions on what to do next.

OBJECTION. We saw last episode that humility depends “getting rid of self-esteem.” To modern ears, that sounds wrong! In the 400 years since he wrote Spiritual Combat, new ways of using the words self-esteem have been developed. Why does Fr Scupoli say that we need to get rid of SELF-ESTEEM? He really means getting rid of what we now call: Bad and false self-esteem.

• Bad and false/excessive self-esteem
  • I am something special apart from God.
  • I can be what I want to be without God.
  • I can decide the meaning of my life.
  • I am superior to other people because of all my talents.
  • How lucky other people are to have me around!
• True and good self esteem
  • God created me to share in his Divine Life forever.
  • I am a child of God the Father.
  • I am redeemed by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
  • I share in the divine life by the gift of the Holy Spirit in my heart.
  • I am willed by God and a living, necessary member of his Church, the mystical Body of Christ.
  • With Mary, Joseph, and all the saints, I have a part to play in His plans, like every part of a human body.
  • I am loved into existence by God. Apart from his loving decision to make me, I have no being. His love holds me up and sustains me.
  • In my mother’s womb, he created my soul from nothing.
  • My life is connected to many other lives in this great body of Christ, this web of grace.

In other words, we have to get rid of all the ways we THINK ABOUT OURSELVES without referring to God. My true SELF is found in God!

When we forget God, we develop the false SELF esteem based on an imperfect view of ourselves. Since Scupoli wrote his book, people have so forgotten God that a new problem has arisen on the other extreme: NO SELF-ESTEEM leading to BAD SELF-HATRED. Looking at ourselves in our weakness and loneliness, being ignorant of the eternal life and love of the Trinity, we are tempted to think they are not worth living. Some people feel their life is pointless.

If the devil cannot make us proud and full of bad self-esteem, he tries to convince people of their absolute ugliness. The devil tries to make us PRESUMPTUOUS or DESPAIRING. And so we need to find the BALANCE!

What is the balance? Loving Jesus and being loved by Him. Knowing that we are part of HIS CHURCH. CONFIDENCE in GOD! TRUST! Living in the Truth of God’s existence and God’s LOVE. In Jesus Christ, my life, in all its weakness, has meaning!

The battle plans we will discuss in this episode must be seen in the light of God’s love for us. Even our efforts are rooted in His gifts. We want to become loving persons because He first loved us.

Episode 55 -- Spiritual Combat c32.2 -- Reasons for Humility

Why should I want to be humble rather than vain?

In the final section on how to overcome the devil’s tactics, Fr Scupoli does not even mention the devil. Why? The devil is a haughty spirit. He fell through pride. Fr Scupoli ignores the devil and focuses on the virtue of humility. Humility is opposed to PRIDE, the root of vainglory.

In this episode we will read about various reasons we should want to be humble. We want to be like Christ; we want to build a deep foundation for our spiritual life; we want to honour God.

Fr Scupoli told us last episode what kinds of things we should be thinking about in undermining our vainglory.

1. What is our opinion of ourselves and what is owed us?
2. How do I react when other people despise me or show me contempt?
3. Do we wonder about the motive of the person praising us?
4. When I do something good do I remember that God is the ultimate author?
5. Do I realize there is a gap between the amount of grace given and my actual good deed?
6. Do I ever think about how the saints really acted and how Christ acted on Calvary?
7. How does the greatness of my good deed compare to the infinite greatness of God?

Episode 54 -- Spiritual Combat c32.2 -- Resisting Vain Glory

In the times of temptation to vainglory, what can be done to conquer?

In this episode will be looking at Fr. Scupoli’s advice in combatting vanity or vainglory. Last episode we read about the general things we need to avoid this pitfall. We need true self-knowledge and mindfulness of our need for God. But in the actual times of temptations, what kinds of spiritual exercises can we do?

Episode 53 -- Spiritual Combat c32.1 -- Devil Tries to Use Virtue Against Us

What does the devil do when he cannot lead us away from doing what is truly good?

In this episode we begin the last chapter about the devil’s principal tactics in leading human beings to eternal ruin. When all else fails, the devil will try to make us proud and vain about the progress we are making. In a word, the devil tries to use the good we are doing to make us forget how much we depend on God.

We saw last episode how the devil can easily tempt us because of the bad self-love that dwells in our hearts. We want to be something great. We want to do certain things. We tell ourselves it is for the Lord, but secretly pride and egoism infect our attitudes. Instead of patience and resignation, and loving acceptance of God’s plan, we try to rework things according to our own plans. Lord, open our hearts by the Holy Spirit to true self-knowledge. Come Holy Spirit! Help us accept God’s will.

Let us take heart! April 30th is the feast day of “the spiritual mother of the Americas,” the first nun in Canada, the “St Teresa of the new world”: St Marie of the Incarnation. How the Lord taught her patience. How He formed her through trials and disappointments. She was a wife, a mother, a widow, a business owner, a nun, a missionary, a mystic, a builder, a pioneer, a superior, a great letter writer, and a friend of those who suffer mental distress. St Marie pray for us to be courageous against the devil as you were!

Episode 52 -- Spiritual Combat c31.3 -- Caution against Suggestions of Self-Love

Would I be better if I copied the saints exactly? No!

In this longish chapter on the devil’s fourth tactic, ill-timed resolutions, we have seen that the devil tries to drag people down who are following God by making them want things at the wrong time, even holy things. Instead of patient acceptance of God’s plan, God’s timing, God’s arrangement, we are like Eve in the Garden. We reach out and take what looks good to us! She wanted to be like God — a good thing. But she did not accept it as a gift. She tried to be like God on her own.

Fr Scupoli tells us in this episode that we cannot simply copy the saints. We need caution in reading their lives. The followed the PATH God marked out for THEM. We have to find the PATH God has marked for us. We should imitate the saints in their Love for God, but not necessarily in all the MEANS they were inspired to use to get to heaven.

We saw last episode that God sometimes even allows us to be unable to receive Holy Communion. 1) As a way to make up for our sins. 2) As part of his mysterious arrangement of our lives so as to teach us some other lesson.

That example is one example of having to conform our will to God’s will. In this episode Fr Scupoli will stress the need for RESIGNATION, PATIENT ACCEPTANCE, ABANDONMENT.

Episode 51 -- Spiritual Combat c31.2 -- Trial of Being Without Communion

Why would God allow me to go a long time without receiving Holy Communion?

In this episode we will look at a unique trial of patience: being unable to receive Communion. Last episode we saw how the devil likes to make us impatient under trials and miss out on what God is teaching us!

Episode 50 -- Spiritual Combat c31.1 -- Devil Tries to Derail Those Progressing

What will the devil do to make us at least give up on this virtuous life?

The devil is very crafty. In this episode we look at his fourth general tactic: ill timed resolutions.

We saw last episode how he tries to make those following God to lose sight of their real defects and passions. He tries to create illusions of spiritual grandeur.

Fr Scupoli advised us to withstand the devil by the following:

1. Focus on real spiritual enemies.
2. Remember that resolutions are not the same as VICTORIES.
3. Think about our inherent weakness.
4. Big time confidence in God!
5. Pray: Lord, help me; shield me.

On the feast of “Holy Zita,” St Zita of Lucca, the patron saint of domestic workers, cleaners, peacemakers, may we be given the grace to embrace our real path to holiness. Our path may not be what we dreamed it would be. But the Lord has a plan that surpasses anything we could have come up with or imagined!

Episode 49 -- Spiritual Combat c30 -- Devil's Delusions Aimed at those making Progress

How can the devil bring us back into slavery once we have escaped?

The devil wants our spiritual ruin. He does not give up easily. Once he sees that someone is making progress in following God, he tries to make the person believe a lie. He tries to persuade us that we are far more advanced than we are. He wants to lead us astray by a secret spiritual pride. In this  episode we will read about this third tactic, how he attacks those in a state of grace.

Last episode we finished discussing the devil’s second tactic. Once he sees that grace is moving the person towards God, the devil tries to short circuit the process. Good desires are important. Good resolutions are essential. But Fr Scupoli insists that they are not sufficient for getting out of sin. Remember, last chapter was focused on those in a state of sin. The devil wants those in that state to stay at the level of good desires without doing anything to bring them to completion. When are good desires and good resolutions helpful?

1. When they have as their foundation distrust of our own ability and trust in God.

2. When they are prudently formed in light of potential obstacles.

3. When we form them in light of God’s will and not just our own benefit.

When these three foundations are in place, good desires and resolutions will lead us out of sin into God’s friendship. We will begin to run the race set before us. What will the devil think of next? In this episode, we will go on to the devil’s third tactic to lead us astray.