This is a quote taken from "The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius":
The enemy also behaves like a false lover who wishes to remain hidden and does not want to be revealed. For when this deceitful man pays court, with evil intent, to the daughter of some good father or the wife of a good husband, he wants his words and suggestions to be kept secret. He is greatly displeased if the girl reveals to her father, or the wife to her husband, his deceitful words and depraved intentions, for he then clearly sees that his plans cannot succeed. In like manner, when the enemy of our human nature tempts a just soul with his wiles and deceits, he wishes and desires that they be received and kept in secret. When they are revealed to a confessor or some other spiritual person who understands his deceits and evil designs, the enemy is greatly displeased for he knows that he cannot succeed in his evil design once his obvious deceits have been discovered." (Rules for Discernment of Spirits, First Week, # 13)
Last night, my wife and I were having one of our regular spiritual discussions. Sometimes we sit to have our quiet time of prayer, next to each other, and we end up spending an hour chatting about the spiritual life or some aspect of life. I was pondering aloud to her about the lack of knowledge of "mortification" in the modern church. It is such a foreign concept to modern Catholics; it was such a foreign concept to me until my spiritual director raised it in one of our discussions.
What brings all this up? Well, I have been reading "The True Spouse of Jesus Christ" by St. Alphonsus De Ligouri. In this work he lays out the details for religious sisters (in particular) in living out their vocation. However, this work is an insight into the way to live the spiritual life as it was seen in that day. In this 700+ page work, the saint lays out detailed guidelines for every aspect of the religious sister's vocation. As stated on the back cover, "As for the practice of Christian virtues the work will be found highly useful even for seculars." I have found in this book and amazing amount of detail, quotes and examples from the saints, and a challenge to my perspective on the life of grace.
Among other things, St. Alphonsus discusses, at length, the topic of "interior mortification". Another way to speak of this is "to conquer self-will". He uses such strong language as "combatting self-will", "beat down" the passions, , "do violence to our self-will". These militaristic terms help us to understand the need we have in this battle over our souls. One cannot simply just "want" to be holy and to obtain virtue, but one must "work" and strive after it with a courage and focus, much like a skilled soldier.
STEP #! - Conquering our worst vice.
St. Alphonsus states that we must first begin with our most habitual vice or passion and work to uproot it. "Whoever subdues his predominant passion will easily conquer all other evil inclinations." (pg 137) So we ask ourselves, what is the sin that I always seem to have to confess to the priest? Is it lust, is it lying, is it anger...whatever it is, we must begin with a firm purpose of amendment, that is, we must decide today that we will indeed conquer it through God's grace (which is never lacking). Maybe we begin by seeking spiritual direction, a good book on the subject, or an accountability partner. We must understand that we simply will not be able to combat this vice without help. May God give us the strength and courage to seek His will and work toward His ends and all times! Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, ora pro nobis!
