The entire spiritual warfare, consequently, consists in this: the rational faculty is placed between the divine will above it and the sensitive appetite below it, and is attacked from both sides - God moving it by His grace, and the flesh by its appetites strive for victory.
It is apparent, then, that inconceivable difficulties arise when persons who during their youth have contracted vicious habits resolve to change their life, mortify their passions, and break with the world in order to devote themselves to the service of God.
The will is violently attacked by divine grace and by its own sensual appetites, and wherever it turns, it absorbs these withering attacks with the greatest difficulty.
This onslaught is not experienced by those who are settled in their way of life, whether in virtue by conforming to the will of God, or in vice by indulging their sensual desires.
(The opening to Chapter 12, "The Opposition Within Man's Twofold Nature", from The Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli)
So many people - they sit next to us in the pews, or work in the next cubicle, or live in our neighborhoods - even members of our families -they're unaware of the spiritual combat that exists. They're operating on auto-pilot, directed about by their feelings, never quite sure of the Reality but somewhat cognizant of it nonetheless. Unsettled and agitated, they presume their feelings are the full measure of their happiness - "if I feel good, then I am good". But it's not about feeling good, it's about being good - and that comes from the will.
I guess I'm one of these disaffected, lapsed Catholics.
I wish I could tell you the one good reason that I don't come back, but I can't. Only that I feel as if I don't fit anymore with whatever is going on in the Church.
I am still spiritual. I still pray. Sometimes I still call myself "Catholic", because in some strange way, I still feel Catholic.
But whenever I consider becoming again a practicing Catholic, it feels too much like I'm joining a club, or political party, or an argument. Or that I am faking piety.
(from the comments section of the NCR, in response to Rev McBrien's article Disaffected Catholics And 'Bad' Catholics)
It's none of those things - neither a club, nor an ideology, nor an argument. Being Catholic means to be in battle - with oneself. Yet so many people don't know. They don't fight the battle because they don't know. Or they avoid it because it is difficult. Or maybe some have given up, who can really tell. Many don't know because it isn't preached about. Maybe they think it's an old-fashioned Catholic sentiment. One thing I do know - it is the only battle worth fighting. It is a battle for holiness.
Charity requires we don't judge, but to show mercy. Compassion. We can't read the recesses of their souls - reserved for God alone - so we ought to err on the side of charity and presume their ignorance. For many years, I was ignorant of the battle. But no more. As difficult as it can be at times, when it seems that all the forces of Hell are conspiring to overwhelm me - I mustn't give up the fight. Because that is the time that God reveals Himself in His greatest glory and strength. God does not allow me to be tempted beyond my ability to resist - with His grace. So - I stand in the breach and, by His grace, I do not desert.
So many don't know that. They're mired in their unhappiness and lack of fulfillment because they are ignorant. Perhaps they don't consider the supernatural as a reality. Or they've given up. Or they've listened to the world, and the world has lied to them. There are those in the world who, for whatever reason or feeling, are compelled to advise others to lay down and cease battling.
(from the blog "Enlightened Catholicism". Add "http://" to "enlightenedcatholicism-colkoch.blogspot.com" if you want to go there.)
The great paradox is that their happiness and fulfillment - the true peace that only Christ can provide - would be restored if they took up arms, stood their ground, and fought. And one by one, together, as we fight our battles side by side, through mutual support and fervent prayer, we will carve out a little place on God's green earth that will be a sign of contradiction, and perhaps others will be inspired to seek the peace we have - peace in the midst of battle.
(from the comments section of the NCR, in response to Rev McBrien's article Disaffected Catholics And 'Bad' Catholics)
It's none of those things - neither a club, nor an ideology, nor an argument. Being Catholic means to be in battle - with oneself. Yet so many people don't know. They don't fight the battle because they don't know. Or they avoid it because it is difficult. Or maybe some have given up, who can really tell. Many don't know because it isn't preached about. Maybe they think it's an old-fashioned Catholic sentiment. One thing I do know - it is the only battle worth fighting. It is a battle for holiness.
Charity requires we don't judge, but to show mercy. Compassion. We can't read the recesses of their souls - reserved for God alone - so we ought to err on the side of charity and presume their ignorance. For many years, I was ignorant of the battle. But no more. As difficult as it can be at times, when it seems that all the forces of Hell are conspiring to overwhelm me - I mustn't give up the fight. Because that is the time that God reveals Himself in His greatest glory and strength. God does not allow me to be tempted beyond my ability to resist - with His grace. So - I stand in the breach and, by His grace, I do not desert.
So many don't know that. They're mired in their unhappiness and lack of fulfillment because they are ignorant. Perhaps they don't consider the supernatural as a reality. Or they've given up. Or they've listened to the world, and the world has lied to them. There are those in the world who, for whatever reason or feeling, are compelled to advise others to lay down and cease battling.
Humanity is a creature of sense perception and the most defining sense is not vision, but touch. Why else material reality if not for the expression of the sense of touch. This truth is precisely why feeling transcends thinking. It is why we must get our thinking in line with what we feel. When we feel something is right and whole, this is not just an emotional response, it is an integrated sense perceptual response felt through out the body. Though this feeling may be described by the dominant sense of how we learn when we say things like "I see what you're getting at" or "I hear what you're saying". It is still a total body sensation. Our whole body will react.
(from the blog "Enlightened Catholicism". Add "http://" to "enlightenedcatholicism-colkoch.blogspot.com" if you want to go there.)
The great paradox is that their happiness and fulfillment - the true peace that only Christ can provide - would be restored if they took up arms, stood their ground, and fought. And one by one, together, as we fight our battles side by side, through mutual support and fervent prayer, we will carve out a little place on God's green earth that will be a sign of contradiction, and perhaps others will be inspired to seek the peace we have - peace in the midst of battle.
