Salesian Literature
A Spirituality for Everyone
St. Francis de Sales presents a spirituality that can be practised by everyone in all walks of life
© 2017 Fr. Joseph Kunjaparambil (KP) msfs. E-mail: kpjmsfs@gmail.com Proudly created with Wix.com
INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE
Chapter 9: Remedies against small temptations
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These small temptations to vanity, suspicion, irritability, jealousy, envy, flirtation and similar follies, hover before our eyes, like flies and gnats stinging us sometimes on the cheek, and sometimes on the nose. Since it is impossible to be entirely free from their importunity, our best way of defence is not to allow ourselves to be worried. In fact, they can annoy us but never hurt us, as long as we are firmly resolved to serve God.
Despise, then, these little assaults and do not care even to think of what they suggest. Let them buzz about your ears as much as they like, fly here and there around you, as if they were flies. When they come to sting you, and you notice them settling on your heart in any way, do nothing else but simply drive them away. Do not attack them or argue with them, but make acts contrary to them, according to their nature, especially acts of the love of God. For if you believe me, you will not be obstinate in wanting to oppose the contrary virtue to the temptation which you feel because it would be, as it were, desiring to dispute with it. After having performed an act of the contrary virtue, on recognizing the real nature of the temptation, turn your heart simply to Jesus Christ crucified and in a spirit of love kiss his sacred feet.
It is the best way to overcome the enemy in temptation both small and great. For the love of God containing in itself all the perfections of all the virtues, and more excellently than the virtues themselves, is also the most perfect remedy against all vices. By accustoming yourself in all temptations to seek refuge in this common resort, you will have no need to examine or consider what temptations you had. On feeling troubled, you will find rest in this great remedy. It is so terrifying to the evil spirit, that when he sees that these temptations incite us to this divine love, he will cease to trouble us.
So much as regards these little and frequent temptations. Whoever would go into the detail of these temptations, would waste his time and attain nothing.
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