bearing blog: Introduction to the Devout Life, 4-7: Remedies for temptations to grave sin.

This is part of a continuing series. An index of all posts on St. Francis de Sales' work Introduction to the Devout Life is here. A post outlining part 4 of the book is here.

Chapter 7 of the "troubleshooting guide" of St. Francis's handbook -- that is, of Part 4 -- is entitled "Remedies for Great Temptations." By "great temptations" he means temptation to particularly grave, serious, or dangerous sin -- the "greatness" doesn't have to do with how strong the urge or how difficult to resist, but rather, with the seriousness of the sin. Later, I'll write about Chapters 8 and 9, where St. Francis discusses temptation to less serious sin.

It seems straightforward to suggest that Francis means to separately treat mortal sin (in chapter 7) and venial sin (in chapters 8-9), and yet in this translation the terms are not there, it is merely "great" and "small." I suspect a different sort of classification is in order, which may become clear as we read.

Before going on, let us guard against the mistake of thinking that the "serious sin" bit isn't something we're personally imperiled by. It might be instructive for each of us to spend a moment considering what really grave sins she might really feel a temptation to -- not necessarily on a regular basis, not necessarily a besetting temptation, but some imaginable and realistic circumstance of temptation to commit some really grave sin against God or neighbor. I know I can think of a few for myself; one I am willing to admit is "deliberately missing Mass without sufficient reason," and believe me, there are plenty more where that came from. Of course, if you suffer from a besetting temptation to any serious sin, that will do. Put yourself mentally in that place where you know you would be tempted, and stay there for a moment.

Having a realistic picture of temptation to serious sin in mind, and an awareness that you and I are both at risk from it, let's go on and hear what Francis has to say about "great temptations."

As soon as you find yourself tempted, follow the example of children who when they see a wolf or a bear at large run at once to their parents' arms or at least call out to them for help and assistance; in other words, fly to the arms of God and implore his mercy and his aid, for this is the remedy recommended by our Lord when he says: Pray, that you may not enter into temptation (Mt 26:41).

If you find that the temptation still continues, or even grows stronger, hasten in spirit to embrace the Cross as if you saw Christ Crucified before your eyes: protest that you will never yield, ask him to help you, beg him to strengthen your resistance, and continue to do so as long as the temptation lasts. While doing so, never look at the temptation itself but only at our Lord; otherwise, if the temptation is a strong one, it may cause you discouragement. Divert your mind from it by every good and lawful means you can; let them so occupy your heart as to drive out the evil suggestions arising from the temptation.

So the first thing to do is ask God to take the temptation away. If that doesn't work, focus on Christ and the Cross. Francis adds that we can also try to distract ourselves from it in other ways besides praying and contemplating God ("divert your mind... by every good and lawful means you can"). I guess he knows that most of us can only think about God for so long.

We should also take them to the confessional:

The best remedy against temptations, whether they are great or small, is to open our hearts to our confessor, making all these suggestions, temptations and feelings known to him, for silence is the first condition the devil makes with a soul he wishes to seduce... God, on the contrary, requires above all that we should make them known to... our confessors.

The act of speaking even "unspeakable" temptations -- and we have a great gift in the privacy of the confessional here -- I am convinced, gives us a natural strength and confidence that we can resist them. Once spoken, they are robbed of some of their power over us. Add to this the grace of the Sacrament, which transcends the natural, and the ability to overcome temptation is placed well within our reach.

If, having done all this, the temptation still obstinately persists in troubling us and making us anxious there is nothing to do but remain obstinate ourselves

"F*&k you, temptation."

in our refusal to consent, for as a girl cannot be married so long as she says 'no,' so the soul, no matter how harassed, can never be harmed so long as it refuses consent.

Basically, Francis is reminding us that no matter how strongly we are tempted, the final decision to stay out of trouble is really ours. Great temptation may mitigate our guilt, but it is no excuse; and that means that we always retain one tiny spark of free choice.

What all this requires, of course is enough self-awareness to know when temptation is happening, AND enough knowledge to recognize serious sin when we see it.

A final tip from St. Francis is not to waste our attention on this kind of thing. He employs an excellent analogy:

Never argue with the enemy; give him no answer save that of our Lord: Away with thee, Satan; it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and serve none but him (Mt 4:10).

A pure wife should answer not a word to one who makes an impure proposal to her, nor even look him in the face, but leave him at once, turning her heart towards her husband and renewing her promise of fidelity to him.

In the same way, a devout soul when assailed by some temptation should waste no time in replying or arguing but simply turn at once towards Jesus Christ her Spouse, renewing her protestation of fidelity and her desire to be entirely his for ever.

As soon as we realize that we're experiencing "temptation to a grave sin," our reaction needs to be quick and merciless -- like a woman who realizes that, yes, she's not imagining it, that weirdo acquaintance of her husband is in fact hitting on her. I rather think that a little dose of contempt and a willingness to laugh at the soon-to-be-foiled attempt might help. Lo-ser.