Lectio et Oratio

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).

 

Episode 99 -- Spiritual Combat c59.3 -- Becoming Truly Devout Despite Dryness and Darkness

What is the true standard for being devout?

In this episode we will examine the true ideal, the true measure, the standard for our advancing in the spiritual life. In the midst of dryness in prayer and even spiritual darkness, how can we know that we are going forward and not backward? What is the sign of really following Christ?

Episode 98 -- Spiritual Combat c59.2 -- Reacting to Dryness and Spiritual Aridity

How should we react to experiences of sensible dryness and even spiritual darkness?

In this episode, as with the last episode, we continue to see that there are different causes of sensible devotion: the dispositions of our nature, the devil, and God. God gives us sensible devotion when he makes us eager to pray and practice our religion. Sensible devotion is a feeling of really wanting to do things for God and our advancement. We have great joy in doing it and can even taste how “sweet” it is to receive Communion. God gives these devotional feelings to lead us away from sin and attachment to the world.

But we are not to look too carefully at the causes of sensible devotion. Enjoy it. But try to attach yourself to God alone and His will.

God also is the cause, at times, of sensible dryness, or distaste, or aridity in spiritual things. When we lose our ability to meditate and pray as we used to do, when we lose our zest for serving God, when we do not feel anything anymore, we have to examine our conscience. Dryness can come from our negligence in denying ourselves things and being generous with God. But if there is not fault that we can discern, we have to humble ourselves before God. He gradually weans us away from emotional and imaginative consolations. He may even lead us into a deeper spiritual darkness in which we experience fear and a loss of awareness of where we are going in the spiritual life. God gradually removes all human consolations so that we will learn to lean on God’s power alone.

Let us not be discouraged. Let us not talk with others about this cross that we are experiencing, except with our spiritual director. We must receive Communion and pray in order to receive the strength to follow God’s will and carry our Cross.

Episode 97 -- Spiritual Combat c59.1 -- Causes of Sensible Devotion and Dryness

What are the causes of spiritual dryness?

Among the special trials we face as we try to live out The Spiritual Combat are dryness, that is, being insensible to devotional practices, feeling nothing. Is it our fault when this happens? What are the causes? In this episode we will read about the various causes. God is even the cause sometimes as He tries to lead us into deeper union with Himself!

Last episode we read about more perfect ways of offering ourselves to God. We must always do so, in all the events of life, through Christ Jesus. He has already offered Himself for each one of us individually. He prayed for each of us. We, in our turn, can offer ourselves to God for our own sanctification and that of others. We can do this above all at Mass.

Episode 96 -- Spiritual Combat c58.2 -- Offering of Self to God 2.0

How do we make our self-offering more acceptable to God? 

The goal of The Spiritual Combat is to lead us to spiritual freedom. We strive to be free of the power of bad self-love so that we can offer ourselves to God and His service. As we draw to the end of the book, however, Fr Scupoli wants to help us make this self-offering more perfect. In this episode we will see that this self-offering should be made at all times with Christ’s self-offering in mind. Fr Scupoli wants us to remember that we can offer Christ’s merits to the Father not only for ourselves, but also for others. He gives us powerful tips for offering ourselves to God in union with Christ for the good of others.

Episode 95 -- Spiritual Combat c58.1 -- Offering Ourselves to God

How do we make our self-offering acceptable to God? 

In this episode we read about how there are two things necessary to make our self-offering completely acceptable to God.

1. Make it in union with Christ’s offering to the Father.

2. Be free of all attachment to creatures.

• Our Lord offered not only His own life to the Father, but also all of our lives and works. When he became Man he united in a mysterious way all human persons to himself. We are called to recognize what He has done for us and offer ourselves back to the Father through Him.

• Detachment: we want to belong totally to God. Thus, we must love Him above all things and all things in relation to God. We must be willing to give up everything and anything that might hinder our union with God. We must seek to love all things as coming from God.

Episode 94 -- Spiritual Combat c57 -- Thanksgiving

Are we bound in justice to give thanks to God for all He has done?

In this episode we begin the final section of The Spiritual Combat. We have read about the four spiritual weapons; we have read about the Holy Eucharist, the weapon of weapons against our spiritual enemies. Fr Scupoli now has a series of final thoughts.

Having discussed the Eucharist, a Greek word that means thanksgiving, it is natural that Fr Scupoli should begin his final words of advice on the spiritual combat with advice on thanksgiving. It is true that we must be courageous in this battle and make significant effort. But God’s love is prior to all our efforts. We strive against self, because His grace sustains us and spurs us on. After the chapter on thanksgiving, we will read a series of chapters on offering ourselves to God, dryness in our spiritual lives, ongoing examination of conscience, preparing for death, and temptations to despair and vainglory.

Last episode we read about how to make a spiritual communion. Fr Scupoli encourages us to prepare for it like we would to receive Holy Communion at Mass. He told us the benefits of receiving Holy Communion:

1. The soul regains lost virtues
2. Recovers her pristine purity
3. The soul is rendered worthy to partake of the merits of the Cross

Receiving Communion is highly pleasing to the eternal Father.

Let us never forget: God wants us to receive Holy Communion! By receiving in the proper state, we are doing His will. We are being obedient. We give the Lord joy. If we really prepare well for a spiritual communion, our spiritual communion could even be more powerful in our spiritual lives than receiving Communion at Mass without much preparation.

Episode 93 -- Spiritual Combat c56 -- Spiritual Communions

Can I receive the grace of Communion without going to church?

In this episode we'll read about making spiritual communions!

Last episode we read about how to make a love filled thanksgiving for communion!

Episode 92 -- Spiritual Combat c55.4 -- Returning Love for Love After Communion

If our desire is to grow in love by receiving Holy Communion, what should we do once we have received?

At the conclusion of chapter 55, Fr Scupoli offers some suggestions for how to pray after receiving Communion. He focuses on our need to speak to Christ Himself. He proposes that we ask Him a question: What has brought Thee to me? Our Lord gives a one word answer. From that answer, a dialogue begins. Fr Scupoli also suggests that we turn to God the Father in thanksgiving.

We saw last episode that we must have great confidence as we approach Communion. If we have repented of our mortal sins in confession and hate sin, let us not allow our fears to hold us back. Let us approach the Lord with great confidence. He is the one that makes us worthy. He is the one that can cleanse us more and more.

Episode 91 -- Spiritual Combat c55.3 -- Immediate Loving Preparation for Communion

As the time draws near to receive Communion and we remember our sins, what should be our thoughts?

Fr Scupoli wants us to turn our minds to the Person of Christ as the time for receiving draws near. He wants us to focus on the greatness of his divinity and his humanity. But he also wants us to remember our own insignificance in comparison to God. But as our past sins crown in around us, what should be a out attitude? How should we approach Our Lord?

We saw last episode that Fr Scupoli never wants us to forget why God gave us the Eucharist. He wants to TRANSFORM US. He wants to make us like His Son. He wants to to become one with the One we eat, to become like the One we feed upon. Let us therefore offer to Christ our memory, understanding, and will. Let us ask for the grace to be pleasing to Christ by the “gracious acceptance of His holy will.”

Episode 90 -- Spiritual Combat c55.2 -- Why God Gave us the Holy Eucharist

If God’s motivation in giving us His Son in Holy Communion is not self-interest, what is His motivation?

Just as chapter 54 of the Spiritual Combat offered us a method before, during and after receiving Communion, so chapter 55 offers another method. Chapter 54 focused on the Eucharist as a weapon to overcome our spiritual enemies. Chapter 55 offers a method in order to grow in divine love.

The reason God gave us the Eucharist was love. God’s love is not like human love. His love has no hidden self-interest. He is not trying to get something for Himself. Why then does he offer us the Eucharist? He wants to transform us!

Last episode we read about five characteristics of God’s love:

1. Eternal

2. Infinite

3. Not necessitated

4. Not responding to our previous merits

5. Not self-interested.

1. Eternal — God has always determined to fee us with the Eucharist!!!

2. His Son is INFINITE. The Gift he offers is Infinite. The Love behind the gift is infinite.

3. Not Necessited: God’s love for us is free. God has chosen to bestow His Son on us.

4. Not merited: God’s love is first. We did not first love Him; He first loved us, St John teaches.

5. Not based on self-interest. He offers us the Eucharist purely out of his own love and His desire to help us. God’s basic happiness is not increased. The Blessed Trinity does not stand in need of anything.

Episode 89 -- Spiritual Combat c55.1 -- Five Characteristics of God’s Loving Desire to Give us the Eucharist

How do I prepare for Communion if I want to grow in the love of God?

Chapter 54 of the Spiritual Combat provided a method of preparing and receiving Communion that focused on fighting our spiritual enemies. Fr Scupoli encourages us in chapter 55 with another method of receiving Communion based on the love of God. Sometimes in the spiritual life the focus of our attention is on fighting our vices and developing virtues. At other times the focus is on uniting ourselves more directly with God by divine love, charity. If our goal is greater union with God by love, how should we prepare for Communion? Fr Scupoli gives us five considerations in this episode that will help us understand God’s love for us. As St Bernard says, “The more we know we are loved, the easier it is to love in return.”

Last episode we read about about the need to turn to God the Son and God the Father after receiving Communion.

1. Speak to God the Son about your prosperity to sin, weakness, inability to fight, He must fight…victory is his.
2. Speak to the Father…offer Him the Son…thanksgiving…ask for grace to overcome enemies
3. Make resolution to fight courageously!

Episode 88 -- Spiritual Combat c54.2 -- The moment of Communion and After Communion

What are some good thoughts at the moment of Communion and then after receiving?

The second and third sections of Chapter 54 of the Spiritual Combat give advice on what to be praying about just before receiving Communion, and then in our time after communion.

Last episode we read about various ways to prepare for Holy Communion.

1. Cleanse ourselves: if we have committed a mortal sin, let us go to confession.

2. Offer Ourselves: let us offer all our faculties and all the good we have done to the Lord in response to his great gift. He is offering us all that He is and all that He has done for us.

3. Meditate: Let us think over, ponder, consider, meditate on the fact that Christ has an ardent desire to join himself with us to help us in the spiritual combat. He wants to help us overcome our sins.

Episode 87 -- Spiritual Combat c54.1 -- Before Receiving Communion

Are there any special tips for making a better preparation for receiving Holy Communion?

Chapter 54 of the Spiritual Combat has three sections: before Communion, at the moment of receiving, after communion. In this episode we will read Fr. Scupoli’s advice on what to do BEFORE receiving. He tells us to CLEANSE, OFFER, and MEDITATE. On the traditional feast of Corpus Christi, the Lord offers us insights for making a better preparation for the greatest gift God could give us: His Son.

We read the opening chapter on the Holy Eucharist last episode. Fr. Scupoli stressed the glorious truth about WHO is present to us in the Eucharist: Jesus Himself. His power is at work in the other sacraments, but the Most Blessed Sacrament is Christ Himself. Whether we receive Him under the appearance of bread or under the appearance of wine, we receive the WHOLE CHRIST. Under the smallest particle of the Eucharist is the BODY + BLOOD + SOUL + DIVINITY of CHRIST JESUS.

Why? He is in heaven now, risen and glorified. He can never die again. His body and soul are united. His body and blood are united. His body and blood and soul (his human nature) is united to his divinity. In the EUCHARIST, we receive Christ as HE is now in heaven. When the bread becomes His BODY, all of Christ is present. When the wine becomes his blood, all of Christ is present.

He knows it is hard for us to fight against the enemies of our SPIRITUAL PERFECTION and SALVATION. This is why he does not leave us to ourselves. HE UNITES Himself to us.

Episode 86 -- Spiritual Combat c53 -- Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist

Is there a fifth spiritual weapon, the Holy Eucharist? Yes!

The final section of the Spiritual Combat holds a little surprise. Up until chapter 53, Fr Scupoli has repeatedly talked about four weapons of the spiritual battle:

1. distrust of self (one’s own unaided strength),
2. trust in God,
3. right use of our faculties,
4. and prayer.

We never read anything earlier in the book about a final, ultimate weapon. In chapter 53, Fr. Scupoli begins telling us about the role of the Eucharist in helping us fight against our egoistic tendencies and building up the virtues.

Episode 85 -- Spiritual Combat c52.3 -- Christ’s Cross as a Book

In this episode, the reading is devoted to finishing the section of prayer. All prayer, Fr. Scupoli teaches us, is aimed at intimate union with Christ himself. Prayer is a living relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that Jesus made possible by his Passion and Resurrection and Ascension. Christ Himself is the way, the truth, and the life. Our prayer aims at fostering a loving union with the will of the Father through union with Christ Jesus, a union made possible by the Holy Spirit.

Episode 84 -- Spiritual Combat c52.2 -- Pondering the Mysteries of Christ’s Soul

How can I meditate more on the soul of Christ?

Fr. Scupoli offers us five points in this episode for searching into what the soul of Christ experienced in his sufferings. We have seen a method of meditating on his bodily sufferings; but Fr. Scupoli provides a method of meditating that focuses more on the soul of Christ itself.

1. What did the soul of Christ suffer for God?
2. What did God do for the soul of Christ?
3. What did the soul of Christ do for itself and its body?
4. What did Jesus for for us?
5. What should we do for Him?

Notice how Fr. Scupoli has given us all kinds of meditation methods. He knows that not all souls are alike. He knows that the same soul, the same human person, is not the same each day. He provides different method for different days and different persons.

Last episode we read the introduction to chapter 52, the final chapter on prayer. We read about the four benefits of MEDITATING ON THE CROSS. Meditating on Cross is advantageous because it bestows on us:

1. Detestation of our past sins
2. Forgiveness of sins
3. Spiritual energy to uproot our disordered habits
4. Ardent desires to imitate our Saviour

• Do I want to detest my past sins more and work to overcome my present disordered desires?
• Do I want to receive grace to have my sins forgiven and to love and serve God? Remember: sanctifying grace is one, but has two effects! The same grace removes the darkness of sin and inspires us to do good!
• Do I want to be able to work continually until the roots of my sins are pulled up?
• Do I want to burn with a desire to imitate

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then meditating on Christ’s Cross is a solution for us.

Episode 83 -- Spiritual Combat c52.1 -- Four Benefits from Meditating on Passion

What benefits are there from meditating on Christ’s Cross? Would it be better to just think of the Holy Trinity in heaven?

We begin the final chapter on prayer as a spiritual weapon in this episode. We will be reading about the benefits of pondering over Christ’s Passion. Remember: the humanity of Christ, and especially his Passion, is our path into the inner life of God. God’s Son revealed the inner life of God through his life and death. 

In the previous episode we pondered the various considerations that help us to feel compassion for Christ’s sufferings.

Episode 82 -- Spiritual Combat c51.2 -- Growing in Compassion for Christ’s Sufferings

How do I develop feelings of compassion for Christ’s sufferings?

The longest part of chapter 51 of the Spiritual Combat is devoted to considerations of Christ’s sufferings that will stir up in our souls feelings of compassion. Beyond the physical or exterior pains, there is the interior anguish. Why was there so much anguish or severe pain in Christ’s soul?

1. Seeing God dishonoured and desiring his Father to be loved.
2. Loving humanity and seeing it pull itself away from God.
3. Knowing all the sins we commit or would have committed.
4. Grasping all the ways human beings can be afflicted.
5. Seeing his mother’s afflictions.

At the root of His sufferings were our sins. Fr. Scupoli tells us a few things we must do in response.

If in this episode we are considering Our Lord’s interior sufferings, the previous episode focused on his exterior sufferings. In the previous episode, we saw there are two steps in the kind of meditation being proposed.

Step 1 — Ponder five moments in the Crucifixion

1. Christ’s arrival…
2. Christ being stripped of his garments…
3. Christ’s crown of thorns taken off and replaced...new wounds
4. Being nailed into the cross...dislocated shoulders...etc
5. Being RAISED UP on the cross...pain of hanging

Step 2 — On the basis of these 5 sufferings consider one the following:

1. Christ’s LOVE behind suffering...if you want to experience LOVE of Christ.
2. Christ’s PLAN in suffering...if you want to experience feelings of HOPE.
3. EFFECTS of his Sufferings...if you want to experience feelings of JOY.
4. Christ’s desire to inspire in me self-contempt...if you want to experience SORROW.

In other words, there are different ASPECTS of Christ’s crucifixion that we can ponder depending on what SENTIMENTS or FEELINGS we desire to personally experience.

Episode 81 -- Spiritual Combat c51.1 -- Meditating on Crucifixion to Gain Personal Experience

Did the previous method of meditating on Christ’s sufferings exhaust what we can gain from meditating and contemplating his sufferings?

Having taken us through a whole series of methods for making a 30-60 minute meditation, Fr. Scupoli returns to where he started: meditating on Christ’s sufferings. We saw in chapter 46 that we can meditate on the SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, for example, in order to acquire the virtue of PATIENCE. But in this episode’s reading, Fr. Scupoli shows us that such subjects of meditation have many more graces to offer us. The consideration of the passion of Christ gives rise to many proper sentiments/affections.

Last episode, we read about the need to meditate on the graces God has bestowed on the angels and saints. We can devote different days to different angels and saints. But everyday, we need to speak to Mary, our guardian angel, and our particular favourite saints. Moreover, Fr. Scupoli insists that we also must speak to St Joseph everyday!

1. Ask the eternal Father, his Son, and the Virgin Mary to be under the protection of St Joseph.
2. Ask St Joseph to be received under his care.