Lectio et Oratio

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.

Episode 28 -- Spiritual Combat c18 --Curbing Sudden Passions

How do we curb, hold back, sudden impulses of our passions?

In the Prologue of Spiritual Combat Revisited by Fr Jonathan Robinson (1929-2020), he gives wonderful descriptions of our fallen human condition:

• deep divisions in our nature

  • we are pulled to what is good

  • we lean to what is evil.

• Spiritual combat = organized effort

  • to overcome these divisions

  • to bring our lives into line with our faith in Christ

• Asceticism = spiritual combat = STRUGGLE to reorder our desires towards Christ

  • cut away sinful aspects of self

  • avoid temptations

  • positive improvements towards perfection

What is the goal of asceticism? Growing in the love of God.

How? By removing what keeps us from loving Him and making an effort to do what we must do to love Him.

Episode 27 -- Spiritual Combat c17 -- Method in Fighting Passions

What is the method to be followed in fighting our Passions and Vices?

Last episode we read about a little morning exercise. When we wake up, Fr Scupoli wants us to turn our minds immediately to our Lord. Such a greeting can be formal or informal. One holy older lady likes to sit up and look out the window and say, “Good Morning, Jesus.” St Philip would kiss the floor and ask Jesus to stay with him that day. Such practices open the window of our soul.

After we greet the Lord, then what?

1. Consider yourself on a field of battle.
2. Imagine the enemy before you: a particular vice (bad habit) or disordered passion
3. Picture Jesus at your right, your invincible Leader + BVM, St Joseph, angels and saints
4. At your left is Lucifer, satan, the devil with his minions.
5. Picture your guardian angel encouraging you to fight. Hold on! Be courageous. If your enemy starts to get the upper hand, call out to Christ and the Saints! You will win!

Will we fight today against our main spiritual enemy?

What kinds of things is our Captain telling us?

• Our weakness should not discourage us. He is with us!
• Remember the four weapons: distrust of self, trust in God, prayer, right use of the faculties of the soul
• PREDOMINANT PASSION -- the inclination we most struggle with and the one we want to conquer
• Do we know our most common foe, our predominant passion? What is our great weakness?
• In Light of HIS love and mercy, we can accept the truth about ourselves.

In this episode, we will be reading a very short chapter about the right order of attacking our faults. Yes, we should start with a predominant fault, but we have to aware of other enemies from time to time.

Episode 26 -- Spiritual Combat c16 -- Early Morning Soldier

What should I do when I first wake up in the morning?

In our last episode, we read about various objections that are raised to the spiritual combat by our misguided self-love. We tell ourselves that we are too weak to struggle against sin? We forget that God is all-powerful. We tell ourselves that our spiritual enemies are too many. We forget that the saints and angels outnumber the demons. We tell ourselves that we are not able to follow the Lord so faithfully. We forget that many others, weaker than ourselves, have done so! We tell ourselves that this fight is too long and will last one’s whole life. We forget that we have no other choice. What else is there to do but fight? If we do not fight against ourselves, we will spiritually die.

Let us not forget that the Lord is the one who fights for us! He is at our side. He will conquer our spiritual enemies as long as we do not quit the field of battle!

In this episode, we will be reading about a wonderful spiritual practice for the first moments of our day.

Episode 25 -- Spiritual Combat c15 -- Skillfully Fight Your Enemies

How can I courageously and skillfully fight against my true spiritual enemies?

In our last episode, we finished reading chapter 14 of The Spiritual Combat. Fr Scupoli spoke from his own experience of being unjustly accused of a great sin. He was even stripped of practicing his priesthood for many years.

When we are unjustly accused or unfairly hurt, Fr Scupoli gives five things to consider. Here is a summary of what he says to help us accept what has happened.

1. Was this whole situation actually my fault?
2. Have I done things in the past that were not punished and now is my chance to make up for them?
3. If I have done nothing wrong ever, God is leading me along the narrow path to heaven.
4. I am in union with Christ and the Saints who all suffered unjustly.
5. God’s will somehow has Providentially allowed this terrible event so as to bring forth some great good.

Episode 24 -- Spiritual Combat c14.2 -- Reacting to Unjust Accusations

What happens when our anger at being falsely and unjustly accused seems to overpower our will?

In our last episode, we read about what to do when you feel like your will (rational appetite for the good) is being overpowered by the force of the lower appetite.

Recall: APPETITE = human power of accepting/desiring/wanting

Movements of the Higher APPETITE = ACTS of the WILL

Movements of the Lower APPETITE = Passions or emotions

With your will, you may not want, for example, to check your email on your phone.

But something else is pushing you...just check it...something new may be there…

We do not want to check it because we know (with understanding) it is not necessary and will keep us up. But there is this lower compulsion, this urge, a PASSION, that is attacking your will.

What happens if it is so strong that the WILL feels overpowered?

Fr Scupoli tells us to pray! He assures us that as long as the WILL does not consent there is no sin. God always gives some way of escaping.

In this episode, we will look at the example of being unjustly accused. Our anger and sadness can seem to overpower our will. What should we do? This example will have other applications.

Episode 23 -- Spiritual Combat c14.1 -- When the Will Seems Overpowered

What happens when our passions are so strong that the will to do what is right seems almost overpowered?

In our last episode, we finished the somewhat long and somewhat confusing chapter 13.

The main point of the chapter is this: Christian perfection requires repeated acts of will in conformity with God’s will.

The main problem: the spirit (higher part of our soul) is willing, but the flesh (the lower part) is weak. Our lower part of the soul (emotions or passions or sensuality) give us great trouble. We feel tempted. We feel distaste, annoyance, repulsion.

What to do? The chapter makes the following suggestions that can be summarized:

1. Resist disordered passions, release resistance to give another resistance, resist 3rd time when tempted, make acts of opposite virtues.
2. Trial of patience offers a good example of what he is talking about.
3. Impatience has a root: fear of being disrepected and not applauded
4. The need for frequent opposite internal acts of accepting this sadness, this evil.
5. External acts also matter! Kindnesses, etc.
6. Do not neglect little actions in this fight nor small sins.
7. Try to deny yourself at times even in good things to build up strength.
8. Self-training, self-denial, is NECESSARY for holiness!

What is an example of an interior act of will?

• “I accept this thing/person, Lord, as from you.”
• “I want what you want, Lord.”

So is the spiritual battle all up to me?

No! We need huge doses of divine HELP, that is, the GRACE of GOD. Our acts of will, our resistance to temptations, are RESPONSES to God’s grace. He initiates. We COOPERATE with his help.

In this episode, we will read about what to do when the will (our power to choose good or evil) feels overpowered by the lower feelings. How should we think about these terrible situations when resistance seems hopeless?

Episode 22 -- Spiritual Combat c13.3 -- External Acts for Growing in Virtue

What kind of external practices should I do with those who upset me?

Unless we get the roots when pulling up weeds, what happens? The weed returns. It may be a long time later. But it will return. Why do we suddenly show impatience after a long time of being patient?

Fr Scupoli distinguishes between being impatient and the root of this spiritual weed.

Impatience = giving way to disordered impulses of anger

Deep Root of Impatience = “dread of contempt and a fondness for the applause of men” (43).

• Contempt = disdain, disrespect
• Dread = great fear

If we want to uproot all impatience, Fr Scupoli says that we eventually must grow accustomed to being disrespected. We have to develop a desire for being disdained and thought little of by others. Such an interior state is not achieved in four days! But slowly, over time, with lots of spiritual weed-killer (grace) and human effort!

How do we do this? Part of the answer is repetition! We must make frequent internal acts of patience. In other words, we have to hold back repeatedly our anger and repeatedly accept being sad. By repetition, a good habit, a virtue develops.

—> But remember that Fr Scupoli is giving advice to those seeking Christian perfection. His advice is not intended as universal advice to all people in every difficult situation. He is not talking to people undergoing severe trauma or abuse. He is not telling us to enable others in their abusive behaviour. Such situations require patience, but are more complex than the situation Fr Scupoli is describing.

In this episode, we will read about more advice Fr Scupoli gives for developing the virtue of patience and other forms of self-control.

Episode 21 -- Spiritual Combat c13.2 -- Moving Beyond the Contempt of Others

How do I get at the root of my impatience?

In our last episode, we saw some important distinctions:

We continue with chapter 13 of The Spiritual Combat. Fr Scupoli told us about four things we must do in training our emotions, our sensuality, our passions.

1. Resist those that oppose reason, God’s will, our true happiness. For example, feelings of impatience.
2. Sometimes, to gain greater strength, allow those strong emotions, feelings of impatience, to arise again in order to give them a greater defeat.
3. Be ready for another attack by the devil. Resist with new strength.
4. Frequently makes interior acts opposed to that vice of impatience. Tell God how you want to be patient under this sadness like Our Lady of Sorrows.

REMEMBER — you do not treat emotions connected to chastity, sexuality, romantic love, in the same way! These you do not intentionally allow to arise. We will read about dealing with temptations of lust later on!

In this episode, we continue his treatment of the emotions and their training with examples from Scupoli’s book.