Trial and Temptation
Building on the last entry, we should note that prayer is an important part of our daily lives. However, how many times do we start our day off in the wrong fashion? In the words of St. Josemaria Escriva “Conquer yourself each day from the very first moment, getting up on the dot, at a fixed time, without yielding a single minute to laziness. If, with God's help, you conquer yourself, you will be well ahead for the rest of the day. It's so discouraging to find oneself beaten at the first skirmish!” (The Way, 191). Facing each day with fervor and attempting to conquer yourself in the name of Christ is the first step of overcoming the trails and temptation you will face. Remember these words: “The non serviam of Satan has been too fruitful. Don't you feel the generous urge to express your daily desire for prayer and work with a serviam — l will serve you, I will be faithful! — which will surpass in fruitfulness that cry of revolt?” (The Way, 413, St. Josemaria Escriva).
Starting each day with prayer and dedication to God will lessen the effects of the numerous trials and temptations that we so often face during our human lives. However, this alone will not suffice to keep you at peace or help you to overcome the burdens you may so often face. To truly and more effectively move closer to God and have His grace present in your life you must also move towards His most holy and sacred sacraments, as your own abilities and dedication will only carry you so far. You must never forget that trials and temptations that you face are part of a spiritual battle and it is a battle that will not cease until your death. The ultimate goal of this battle is the preservation of your soul and eternity in the presence of our Lord. In the meantime, we are at war and frequently visiting the sacraments will allow you to truly be in God’s presence and slowly overcome your human and sinful nature and strive towards that which is divine; the imitation of Christ.
I spoke briefly about Eucharist in my last post and how Eucharistic adoration is one of the highest forms of prayer. We must always be in a state of mind when we are near the Eucharist that Christ is truly present; hence, the reception of Holy Communion is always a most wonderful way being with our Lord and bringing Him into ourselves. Reception of this sacrament carries a great responsibility, as we must always ensure that we are not in a state of mortal sin. This of course brings me to the next sacrament I wish to discuss, the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
We, as human beings, have a sinful nature. It is the nature that was given to us by the fall of our ancestors Adam and Eve; however, God in His infinite mercy has allowed us great sacrament for the forgiveness of our sins. The funny thing is that the devil tries to keep us away from it. The devil, it has been said, gives us great courage to sin and removes our guilt, but quite ingeniously he returns that guilt to us when we wish to approach our Lord and confess our sins for forgiveness. I know when I first returned to the faith, it was that guilt that sometimes kept me from the confessional or some other rationalist excuse, but as long as we carry these sins upon us and don’t confess them we will continue to fall into more sin and darkness. Hence, our trials and temptations will increase and we will continue to fall. It is only when we have made the choice for God and begin to make our journey back to Him, when we answer with that serviam, that things start to change.
When this change first starts, it can be quite difficult. Often times, people are met with great adversity, but as one gives themselves to prayer, frequents the sacraments, and seeks God’s will the dimensions of the trials and temptations change and it becomes easier to overcome, unfortunately they never completely go away. However, the more the relationship develops with God the stronger the resolve will become to turn away from sin and overcome adversity. Nevertheless, when those moments come in the quiet of our soul, those horrible trials that throw our mind into disarray we must turn to prayer.
Starting each day with prayer and dedication to God will lessen the effects of the numerous trials and temptations that we so often face during our human lives. However, this alone will not suffice to keep you at peace or help you to overcome the burdens you may so often face. To truly and more effectively move closer to God and have His grace present in your life you must also move towards His most holy and sacred sacraments, as your own abilities and dedication will only carry you so far. You must never forget that trials and temptations that you face are part of a spiritual battle and it is a battle that will not cease until your death. The ultimate goal of this battle is the preservation of your soul and eternity in the presence of our Lord. In the meantime, we are at war and frequently visiting the sacraments will allow you to truly be in God’s presence and slowly overcome your human and sinful nature and strive towards that which is divine; the imitation of Christ.
I spoke briefly about Eucharist in my last post and how Eucharistic adoration is one of the highest forms of prayer. We must always be in a state of mind when we are near the Eucharist that Christ is truly present; hence, the reception of Holy Communion is always a most wonderful way being with our Lord and bringing Him into ourselves. Reception of this sacrament carries a great responsibility, as we must always ensure that we are not in a state of mortal sin. This of course brings me to the next sacrament I wish to discuss, the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
We, as human beings, have a sinful nature. It is the nature that was given to us by the fall of our ancestors Adam and Eve; however, God in His infinite mercy has allowed us great sacrament for the forgiveness of our sins. The funny thing is that the devil tries to keep us away from it. The devil, it has been said, gives us great courage to sin and removes our guilt, but quite ingeniously he returns that guilt to us when we wish to approach our Lord and confess our sins for forgiveness. I know when I first returned to the faith, it was that guilt that sometimes kept me from the confessional or some other rationalist excuse, but as long as we carry these sins upon us and don’t confess them we will continue to fall into more sin and darkness. Hence, our trials and temptations will increase and we will continue to fall. It is only when we have made the choice for God and begin to make our journey back to Him, when we answer with that serviam, that things start to change.
When this change first starts, it can be quite difficult. Often times, people are met with great adversity, but as one gives themselves to prayer, frequents the sacraments, and seeks God’s will the dimensions of the trials and temptations change and it becomes easier to overcome, unfortunately they never completely go away. However, the more the relationship develops with God the stronger the resolve will become to turn away from sin and overcome adversity. Nevertheless, when those moments come in the quiet of our soul, those horrible trials that throw our mind into disarray we must turn to prayer.
Remeber, no sin is ever too great to be forgiven as God's love is infinite and His mercy knows no bounds. Nevertheless, we too have a responsibility. I would like to close with words of St. Paul: "Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize. So run that you may obtain. And every one that striveth for the mastery refraineth himself from all things. And they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown: but we an incorruptible one." (1 Corinthians 9:24 - 25)
I will try to add more prayers to blog as time continues. I will also try to add some prayers of more traditional language and some in Latin if people are interested.
Dominus Vobiscum.
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