Temptations and Trials

“Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial. We progress by means of trial. No one knows himself except through trial, or receives a crown except after victory, or strives except against an enemy or temptations.”  St Augustine in his Commentary on the Psalms

“As the pilot of a vessel is tried in the storm; as the wrestler is tried in the ring, the soldier in the battle, and the hero in adversity: so is the Christian tried in temptation.” — St. Basil the Great

“The life of prayer calls for continuous battles. It is the most important and the longest effort in a life dedicated to God. …. We would much prefer a real battle, fierce and decisive. But God, as a rule, thinks otherwise. He would rather we were in a constant state of war.” — Dom Augustin Guillerand,

“I never found anyone so religious and devout as not to have sometimes a subtraction of grace, or feel a diminution of fervor. No saint was ever so highly rapt and illuminated as not to be tempted sooner or later. For he is not worthy of the high contemplation of God who has not, for God’s sake, been exercised with some tribulation.” — Thomas à Kempis

“Many of the saints tell us that these times of God-ordained ‘desolation’ or dryness are very important times of growth if we persevere through them by exercising a deeper faith, hope, and love. It is particularly important, they tell us, not to give up our spiritual practices but to remain faithful. God in His wisdom knows how long and how deeply we must be tried in order to come closer to Him, and we should patiently trust Him during the trial while persevering in our practices.”  –  Ralph Martin

“It (disappointment) occurs when the boy who has been enchanted by Stories from the Odyssey buckles down to really learning Greek. It comes when lovers have got married and begin the real task of learning to live together. In every department of life it marks the transition from dreaming aspiration to laborious doing.”  C.S. Lewis , “Screwtape Letters”

The way the Christian follows is that of imitating Christ. We can follow Him only if we help Him bear His cross. We all have experience of suffering, and suffering leads to unhappiness unless it is accepted  with a Christian outlook. The Cross is not a tragedy: it is God’s way of teaching us that through sin we can be sanctified, becoming one with Christ and winning Heaven as a reward. This is why it is so Christian to love pain: “Let us bless pain. Love pain. Sanctify pain….Glorify pain!” ([Blessed] J. Escriva, “The Way”, 208).

All of us desire to avoid any and all of life’s difficulties, whether they be family problems, financial issues, or employment challenges. Yet throughout life, problems, issues, and challenges will thrust themselves into one’s world. Generally they will be very unwelcome and , occasionally, will create deep seated anxiety or fear.  These occasions will occur for every one of us. How they are handled will determine one’s success in life.  – JTE