Lectio et Oratio

Episode 48 -- Spiritual Combat c29.2 -- Good Desires and Resolutions are Not Enough

To escape from the devil’s traps, why do we need more than just good desires and resolutions?

When we have realized the terrible state of being in mortal sin, simply wanting to get better and even forming a resolution to do better is not enough. In this episode's reading we will see the three reasons Fr Scupoli gives for needing to put our good desires and resolutions into effect. Staying at the level of desire often puffs us up, makes us miss real obstacles, and makes us too focused on ourselves.

We saw last episode that the devil takes a different tactic with those who begin to want to get out of sin. In summary, the devil will try two methods:

1. Don’t rush. You have a long life left!

2. Before starting a spiritual life, you need to get some other things figured out...you must do A…then B…then C… then you can think about following God…

The answer to these tricks of the devil is as follows:

1. Now! Now! Not tomorrow. There may be no tomorrow.

2. Seek first the kingdom of God. If I get myself in a state of grace and begin a spiritual life, all these others things will fall into place.

Episode 47 -- Spiritual Combat c29.1 -- Devil's Delay Tactics

When we are sunk in sin, how do we escape?

In this episode we take a look at the next tactic of the devil to keep people in their sins. When someone begins to see what they are in a spiritually bad state and want to do something, the devil tries various delay tactics. You have time! Tomorrow! First get rid of that other problem… We will read about these in this episode! We will also read about how to counteract these demonic tactics.

Last episode we saw the method to overcome the devil when we are really sunk in sin and going from bad to worse.

1. Accept Divine Helps when they appear!

2. Say little prayers: Lord help me! Lord make haste! Do not leave me here!

3. Get advice from your confessor….if that is not possible,

   1. Kneel before a Crucifix …

   2. or turn to Mary…and ask for assistance and compassion.

   Never was it known that anyone who fled to Her protection or sought her intercession was left unaided…

Episode 46 -- Spiritual Combat c28 -- The Path From The Depths of Sin

When we are sunk in sin, how do we escape?

In this episode’s reading we discuss the various ways the devil tries to lead a soul in mortal sin into deeper and deeper sin. At the same time, Fr Scupoli offers suggestions for those in this state of slavery to escape.

We saw last episode how Fr Scupoli divides the devil’s tactics into four, according to four different spiritual states of human beings:

1. Those enslaved to sin, but not aware of how bad things are.

2. Those enslaved to sin, but who do nothing to escape, even though they are aware of the disease.

3. Those who are free of serious sin, but are overconfident of their ability to avoid sin.

4. Those who are progressing and distrust their own powers.

The devil treats these four groups differently. Fr Scupoli unmasks the devil’s practices and provides advice for resisting the works of the evil one.

Episode 45 -- Spiritual Combat c27 -- Summary of the Groups the Devil Attacks

Having learned how to have peace of heart, do we need to be concerned about any other enemies? Yes!

One of the key lessons of the Spiritual Combat concerns our main spiritual enemy. Our main enemy, from one perspective, is ourselves, that fallen part of ourselves that keeps trying to rely on its own strength. When Our Lord tells us to pick up our cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23), he is talking about our being a fallen child of Eve. I, in my weakness and tendency to all evil, am my own cross! But the Lord is with us. He alone can enable us to pick up our cross and follow Him.

At the same time, however, we must remember our other spiritual enemy, the devil. In this episode's reading, chapter 27, Fr Scupoli very briefly introduces us to the 4-5 main ways the devil attacks different groups of people depending on their spiritual stature. The chapter is short, but important for what follows.

—> Did you find the last chapter helpful? Here is a summary of last night’s reading in terms of Q & A.

1. Should the number of times we fall make us lose confidence in God? NO!
2. Will the devil be happy that we practice Fr Scupoli’s method of humble confidence after sinning? NO!
3. Is a single performance of his method sufficient? NO!
4. If I have lost peace of soul after sinning, should I raise my mind to heaven? YES!
5. Does Fr Scupoli ignore the need for confession after we have regained our peace of soul? NO!

How beautiful this chapter is. How wise Fr Scupoli is to tell us how to regain peace of soul: forget for a moment your sin and concentrate on God’s goodness and his mercy and his desire for your salvation. Then, with peacefulness, return to your sin and go to confession!

For a longer treatment of this spiritual secret, read the last chapters of the very short, Treatise on the Peace of Soul (chapters 14-15).

Episode 44 -- Spiritual Combat 26.2 -- Reacting to Our own Sins

How often should I practice Fr Scupoli’s method of reacting to my own sins?

What if we sin many times a day? Should I keep repeating Fr Scupoli’s method of loving trust in God? Yes! Tonight we will be reading about why Fr Scupoli’s method of reacting to our own sins must be repeated over and over again and why it helps us so much against the devil and our own self love.

Last episode we read about his advice regarding our reactions to sin, even terrible sins. No panicking. No loss of courage. Instead, he wants us to practice the following steps after we commit a sin. We say to God:

1. “See what I do when I rely on myself….”

2. “Lord I would not have stopped if you had not restrained me….”

3. “Thank you for your love.”

4. “O Master show forth thy divinity and pardon me… Never permit me to be separated from Thee; never permit me to offend you again.”

5. Lord, help me to go on now with my normal duties….

Do not waste time wondering about his forgiveness…as though nothing has happened!

May you reread this chapter 26 and make notes for yourself. Find a way to remember these steps. Fr Scupoli returns to this crucial spiritual lesson in his little book, Treatise on the Peace of Soul (chapters 14-15).

Episode 43 -- Spiritual Combat c26.1 -- How to React after Sinning

What should my reaction be after I sin?

In trying to disturb our peace of soul, the devil likes to suggest not only evil desires, but also misguided good desires. How so? Good actions must be done at the right time and in the right way to be truly good. “It is not enough,” St Philip used to say, “that some action be good. But does the Lord want it done by me? at this time? in this way?”

The devil presents apparently good things to us. He then tries to make us over eager to fulfill them. Fr Scupoli tells us to make use of spiritual director in these times. Act under obedience. Get advice. And wait! Let the impulsiveness pass.

Our bad self-love likes to encourage us to do things that are self-aggrandizing. One of the dangers of the spiritual combat and all the acts of self-discipline that we practice is that our self-love gets inflated. We do things to grow in holiness that we think up and choose. In this way the spiritual combat can make us proud. Our ego gets inflated at all we are doing.

Thus, the Lord allows us to undergo trials. One use of trials is to weaken our self-love by showing us how limited and finite we are.

In this episode we read about a special trial. The trial of our our own sinfulness. What should we do after we sin? How can we keep peace of heart after being spiritually wounded?

Episode 42 -- Spiritual Combat c25.2 -- How the Devil Tries to Rob our Peace

What are some the devils tactics for causing us to lose our peace of soul?

In reading about the importance of peace of soul, we saw that Fr Scupoli listed many trials that come upon human beings:

1. sickness
2. wounds
3. death
4. loss of friends and relatives
5. plagues
6. wars
7. fire
8. etc.

Fr Scupoli is thinking of the more common effects of original sin by giving us this list. He mentions things that have come upon the world through the disobedience of our first parents. God’s grace can enable us to accept these trials as permitted by God.

Fr Scupoli does not mention persecution, physical or emotional or sexual abuse, or various forms of mental illness. I think his advice about how to deal with the trials that he mentions does not apply in the same way to intense traumatic events.

In particular, his discussion gives three reasons why God allows trials,

1. for sinners to do penance,
2. for the just to grow in virtue an, heavenly reward, 
3. and other reasons known to God

He is not saying that these three are at work in every trial. He means that we are sometimes sent trials as a way of returning to God. If we are already close to God, trials can allow us to grow closer. Furthermore, God has many other reasons that he alone knows.

These three reasons need to be supplemented with other discussions and remedies for those who have been through trauma. What Fr Scupoli says will still have some application, but he was not primarily thinking of trials through human cruelty and violence. We can get ourselves in trouble if we think that our suffering such cruelty is our fault.

At the same time, we cannot forget the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection. Our Lord endured human cruelty and terrible persecution. He transformed what people did to him into an act of love and forgiveness. May the Lord open up the mysteries of his grace and love to all of us.

The Lord is the Good Shepherd. He defends us from he devil who wants to cause us to lose our peace of soul. In this episode we will read about some of his tactics.

Episode 41 -- Spiritual Combat c25.1 -- Why Peace in the Midst of Trials is Important

How can I keep my soul in peace even when mighty trials afflict me?

Why does God allow such trials to come upon the world and upon souls? In this episode's reading, Fr Scupoli gives two main reasons. His purpose in writing chapter 25, however, is to show us how we are to keep our souls in peace even when terrible things happen to us. Why does peace of soul matter so much? Why does the devil so try to disturb our peace?

Last episode, we looked at one of the powers in the human person that must be guarded if we want peace of soul: our power of speech.

• Fr Scupoli thinks there is a time to talk and a time to be silent.

• Talking just to talk leads to many other sins.

• One of the worst things that can happen when we talk too much is that we talk about ourselves in the wrong way. Like Fr Scupoli, St Philip urged people not to make a display of self without good reason. “The words, ‘I said,’ and ‘I did’ should rarely be in our mouth,” St Philip used to say.

• Let us ask the Lord, “what would you have me to say?”

• Fr Scupoli wants us to value silence, stillness, being with God. He wants to practice frequent speaking with the angels and saints. Let us ask our favourite saints to help us learn how to use the great gift of speech.

• We do not want to talk in loud and dictatorial tones; we do not want to bore people; we do not want to waste valuable time.

Episode 40 -- Spiritual Combat c24 -- Governing One's Speech

How should I govern my speech?

St Benedict-Joseph Labre, who died on April 16, 1783, is the patron saint of mental illness and unmarried men. As we face a growing number of cases of anxiety and depression and confusion, he is a saint we must grow close to. He never joined a religious order (though he tried); he never got married; he even lived many years on the streets; but he became a saint.

We are all on a pilgrimage, a pilgrimage to heaven. Our Lady is with us, Fr Scupoli assures us. Last episode in the Spiritual Combat, we read about a devotion we can practice in memory of her sorrows at the foot of the Cross. We finished reading about how to govern our senses. We talked about the main focus of the spiritual life:

1. Focus on what is the will of God,
2. Recollection of and attention to God’s presence.
3. Struggle against our main inclinations to sin and practicing the contrary virtues.

Having talked about the training and regulating of our powers of understanding, will, the passions, and the senses, we turn in chapter 24 to governing the power of speech!

• How much should one talk?
• What tone?
• What topics?
• With whom?
• When to be silent?
• What advantages are there to governing one’s speech?

Episode 39 -- Spiritual Combat c23.3 -- Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows and More Advice

How many of these little methods of using my senses to remind myself of God and the saints should I use ?

In the previous reading, Fr Scupoli’s advice on things that remind us of God, opened up a discussion of the the Three Divine Persons, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints.

1. God the Father - we must relate to Him as the One who oversees all and provides for us in all things by his fatherly love and tenderness.
2. God the Son — we must look to Him at all times, in all situations, in our our crosses, as our deliverer from our enemies.
3. God the Holy Spirit — we must look to Him for inspiration and promptings, especially as we read holy books.

Fr Scupoli proposes a regular relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is besides us in all our struggles with her motherly Heart of Mercy. Let us offer her our hearts. Let us thank her for all she gains for us! Let us rejoice in her faithfulness. We should especially love the Angelus Prayer.

The Saints? They are guides to heaven. Today is the feast of St Benedict Joseph Labre, the patron saint of unmarried men, the mentally ill, and the homeless. He died on April 16, 1783, aged 34 or 35. He longed to live for God and with God. But every time he joined a monastery he would exhibit behaviour that made it impossible for him to stay. He could not be obedient. He could not understand how to fit in with others. He found his vocation a a pilgrim, a perpetual pilgrim, walking all over Europe to the great shrines. His final years were in Rome, assisting the homeless, spending hours a day in prayer.

In this episode. we will read about a special devotion we can have to Mary on Friday nights and Saturday mornings. Finally Fr Scupoli gives excellent advice on the place of all these devotions in the whole spiritual combat.

Episode 38 -- Spiritual Combat c23.2 -- Daily Events to Remind of the Trinity, Mary, and the Saints

Is there a method for thinking about God amidst all the changes of my life?

Last episode we began chapter 23. Fr Scupoli told us how to think about certain things we sense:

1. Dirt on feet —> as important as fame, riches, pleasure (compared to heaven).
2. Sun —> when it shines, it is an image of the soul filled with the grace of God.
3. Singing of Birds —> their harmonies suggest the greater harmony of the saints and angels in heaven.
4. Snakes —> not everything that is charming is really good for us. The devil can transform himself into an angel of light. Be on guard.
5. Wounds of Christ —> these are not charming and pleasing to see, but they are our greatest refuge in this world.
6. The winds and rushing waters —> Death itself —> like Christ, we too will die. Death will be swifter than we think.

Fr Scupoli is aware that great changes happen in our spiritual lives. We must not expect everything to stay the same. In this episode, we will read about what to think as things change. Is God still with us?

Episode 37 -- Spiritual Combat c23.1 -- More Advice on Using the Senses to Think about God

Are there other methods for using the sensible world to think about God?

In this episode, we look at chapter 23— more advice on using our senses to think about God!

Episode 36 -- Spiritual Combat c22 -- From What We Sense to the Saviour Himself

Last episode, we read chapter 21 which was the transition from thinking about the soul’s powers of understanding, the will, and the passions to thinking about the power of sensation. Fr Scupoli gave us tips for how to think about the perfection, beauty, and being of God based on what we experience with our five senses.

In the following chapter, he gives us ideas for using what we sense NOW to think back to what it was like in the time of CHRIST.

In this episode, we will read about twenty different sensible things that can make us remember the mystery of Christ, especially His Incarnation and His Passion.

Episode 35 -- Spiritual Combat c21.2 -- From what is sensed to God

Should our senses simply be denied their desired objects? No!

Chapter 21 moves from talking about our intellect/understanding and our will to our lower powers (the senses).

Remember the third weapon of the spiritual combat is the right use of our powers of soul.

• Weapon 1: distrust of our own strength (the self left to itself).
• WEAPON 2: Trust in God.
• Weapon 3: Using our intellect, will, senses in the right way.

 

Chapter 21 tells us that we must turn our bodily pleasures of taste, sight, touch, hearing, and smelling to God. Why? God is the author of every good thing we enjoy. How beautiful and enjoyable must God be if he made this or that enjoyable thing? Where did this singer get his talent? Where did this food get all this taste? Where did this beautiful image get its beauty?

Episode 34 -- Spiritual Combat c21.1 -- How to Use your Senses

What good are our five senses in the spiritual combat?

Last episode, we read chapter 20 which was all about combatting Sloth. The main answer to this enemy is faithfulness, diligence in good works that are small.

Why are small good works so valuable? God loves small things done with great love. Let us ask for the grace to be faithful in small things. Sloth makes us neglect the small things. Why? They seem so difficult. But Christ said, he who is faithful in little will be faithful in much (Luke 16:10). He who was faithful with the five talents, received more (Mt 25). Those who were faithful in the master’s money were given many kingdoms (Luke 19)..

Small things matter..because they build up virtues, good habits, interior readiness.

Small things matter...go after one enemy at a time...cannot fight them all.

God is with you. You will hold off the rest!

Two Pieces of ADVICE about Prayer:

• When you think you want to pray for an hour...cannot you not watch one hour with me? Jesus asked….but you feel distaste...you do not want to pray for so long...just do this.....pray for 15 minutes......after that...pray for another 15 minutes…

• BUT sometimes, if the repugnance is so great...leave it...stop...come back later... take a short break.

   

MANUAL LABOUR...WORK

Why are we so afraid? Why dread work? Why dread labour? Why are we so scared of losing our ease? Why do we keep ourselves from taking the first step? SLOTH truly ruins so much! Lord help us!

What if I do not live to see tomorrow? What if the heavenly Bridegroom appears tonight?

But why is SLOTH so hard to conquer? Because the Lord wants to give you even greater gifts. This may be the hardest vice to beat. But because it requires so much conquering of self, the reward is even greater. Many saints had this vice as their predominant fault...their predominant passion was for Rest, Ease…

 

Courage!

 

In this episode, we will read chapter 21. Chapter 21 moves from talking about our intellect/understanding and our will to our lower powers (the senses).

Episode 33 -- Spiritual Combat c20.2 -- How to Combat Sloth Continued

What are the main ways to combat SLOTH?

Last episode we began speaking of the vice of SLOTH.

Sloth is a disordered desire for peace and rest and ease. Sloth (acedia, accidie) is a spiritual sadness about the effort required to be close to God. Fr Scupoli urges us to the following:

1. Avoid escaping sadness by curiosity, vain amusements, all kinds of things that have nothing to do with our state in life.
2. Comply with all the things God asks of us, in the right TIME and MANNER!
3. Hide from ourselves many of the difficulties we will face.

In this episode we will look more deeply at this vice of Sloth.

Episode 32 -- Spiritual Combat c20.1 -- How to Combat Sloth

What are the main ways to combat SLOTH?

Last episode we finished Fr Scupoli’s advice on dealing with temptations to lust. In this episode we move to his advice about Sloth, acedia. This is one of the most important chapters in the book. And it is important that he links lust and sloth.

Episode 31 -- Spiritual Combat c19.3 -- How We are to Fight Against Impurity

What should we do when impure temptations attack us during our time of meditation?

Last episode we read Fr Scupoli’s advice on what to do at the time when we are tempted to unchastity.

He told us: determine the cause of the temptation.

1. From outside ourselves: another person, how we are dressed, certain conversations…etc

    

   Remedy? RUN AWAY!

    

2. From inside: based on a life of over self-indulgence

Remedy? Practice self-denial

In general, for both causes, he said we have three basic remedies:

1. Serious application to our proper duties

2. Prayer: short prayers to Christ crucified or even (on some occasions) taking up a crucifix and kissing his wounds.

3. Meditation — spending time considering the LIFE AND DEATH of Christ

In this episode we will read about what to do when the temptations occur during our time of meditation. We will also read his short section on what to do after a victory over such temptations.

Episode 30 -- Spiritual Combat c19.2 -- How to Respond to Temptations of Impurity During the Temptation

How should we react in the middle of a temptation to impurity?

Last episode we read Fr Scupoli’s advice on what to do before we are tempted to unchastity. He made five basic points!

1. Be cautious…with occasions…
2. Avoid idleness…remember King David
3. Obey Superiors ….
4. Do not judge others who sin in this area…
5. Be truthful about your spiritual state.

In this episode, we look at what to when the temptations actually are taking place.

Episode 29 -- Spiritual Combat c19.1 -- How to Fight Against Impurity, Before the Temptation

How do we fight against temptations to impurity?

Last episode we read Fr Scupoli’s advice about dealing with sudden strong desires. He gave advice in the following areas:

1. Know your predominant passion…

2. Think ahead about where and with whom you will be and interact…

3. Beg God’s help…

4. Encourage yourself when these arise…

5. Know that God allows the perfect crosses for each of us…

6. Keep in mind the root causes of these strong emotions,

   1. our attachment to things

   2. our antipathy towards someone (strong feeling of dislike of a person and everything he or she does)…

In this episode, we look at one of the most famous chapters in the book. Fr Scupoli gives advice on what to do before we are tempted to unchastity, during, and after the temptation.