If Only We Could See

Painting: Andrea Pozzo, Guardian Angel

Victory!

Use the Bridge

If You Would Keep Yourself Pure

Painting: Georges de la Tour, The Cheat with the Ace of Hearts

The Bridge Over Temptations

 

'Prayer is

the bridge over temptations,

and the death of sadness,

and the token of future glory.'

St.John Climacus

Painting: Thaulow Franskt

A Very Common Temptation

'We should never 
postpone a good work, 
no matter 
how small it may be, 
with the thought 
of doing something greater. 
It is a very common temptation 
of the enemy to be 
always placing before us
the perfection 
of things to come, 
causing us to 
make little of the present.'

St. Ignatius Loyola 







Painting: Charles Courtney Curran, in US public domain due to age




 

Needs No Further Reflection

'If you should happen to do or say 
something that is not well received 
by everyone, do not for this reason stop 
to reflect on and examine 
your every word and action, 
for undoubtedly it is self-love 
which makes us seek to know 
whether or not what we say 
or do is approved.  
Simplicity leaves the outcome of 
its actions to Providence, 
to which it completely entrusts itself, 
without looking to the right or to the left.'

St. Francis de Sales






Painting:  Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Narcissus

Don't Spend Time with Temptations

"Lately I was near the beehives, and some of the bees flew onto my face.  I wanted to raise my hand and brush them off.  'No,'  a peasant said to me.  'Don't be afraid and don't touch them. They won't sting you at all unless you touch them.'  I trusted him, and not one stung me.  Trust me:  don't fear these temptations; don't touch them, and they won't hurt you.  Pass on and don't spend time with them."  (St. Francis de Sales)

Public domain photo from Wikimedia Commons

Temptation

'Each of our impulses,
when it takes control,
becomes the master
and we the slave.
Like a tyrant it seizes
the citadel of the soul,
and by means of its underlings
plays havoc with its subjects,
using our own thoughts
as the servants
of its good pleasure.'

St. Gregory of Nyssa

'And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.  Amen.'

Painting:  Rippl, Sorrow; in US public domain due to age

Against These Feeble Assaults

'Little temptations to anger, suspicion, jealousy, envy, flirtation, vanity, frivolity, duplicity, affectation, deceit, unchaste thoughts - these are the trials that even the most devout and resolute must constantly face.  Therefore, Philothea, we have to prepare ourselves for this battle with great care and diligence.  Be sure that, for all our victories over these little enemies, as many precious stones will be set in the crown of glory which God prepares for us in heaven.  Because of this, I repeat, while being ready to fight against great temptations when they come, we must defend ourselves well and diligently against these little and feeble assaults.'  (St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life)

Painting:  Womanhood, 1925, Thomas Edwin Mostyn

That We May Bring Our Vessel Safe to Shore

'My God and King... cast a gracious eye
upon those of us who are in our dangerous voyage still.
Remember, succour us in our distress;
think of those who lie exposed to the rough storms of troubles and temptations!
Strengthen our weakness in Your strength,
that valiantly we may do Your will in this spiritual battle.
Help us against our own negligence, our cowardice;
defend us from the treachery of our unfaithful hearts.
We are exceedingly frail,
and indisposed to every virtuous and gallant undertaking.
Grant, O Lord, that we may bring our vessel safe to shore,
into our desired haven.'      St. Augustine

St. Augustine, pray for us!

Marin-Marie illustration in public domain due to age

something fishy

Temptation.  The very word makes me remember that lies are more believable when they're built on a foundation of half-truths.  With this in mind, I'd like to spend a moment with minnows....

It is true that a minnow is a fine meal for a bass.  A tasty gulp of dinner that would satisfy the fish's appetite and nourish and refresh him.  That is the truth.   But some minnows warrant closer inspection. Perhaps a bit of discernment... for as we know, sometimes there's a hook buried deep inside.

Can you imagine the underwater conversations if fish were rational beings able to engage in such chatter?

   "...Look, Oscar!  Dinner!  Last one there is a rotten bass.....!"
   "... I dunno, Gil.  That minnow looks to me like it's swimming a little funny.  See how it's moving just a tiny bit sideways?  I think maybe we'd better watch this one awhile longer.."
   "Nonsense!  Everybody and his Aunt Bessie knows I am THE expert on minnows.  Trust me, this one is the real deal." 
   "Oh, it's real, all right.  I just feel a sense of caution.  I think this bears some watching, that's all.  I know you're hungry and yes, that bit of swimming protein does look mighty tempting.  Just please don't be too hasty.  Remember when Bruce went for that giant minnow and was never heard from again...?",
   "Gosh, I had no idea you were so uptight!  It's just a minnow, for Pete's sake!   And a tasty looking one at that.  Trust, me, it's no big deal.  You stay hungry if you want to.  As for me, here I go...!  Last one there is a rotten ba............."    


"The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes...." (Genesis 3:6)


(photo © Nancy Shuman)