A Couple of Thoughts from Great Saints - On Obedience

You will become a saint if you have charity, if you manage to do the things which please others and do not offend God, though you find them hard to do.

- Saint Josemaria Escriva (1902-1975)

Where there is no obedience, there is no virtue; there is neither goodness nor love. And where there is no love, there is no God. Without God, we cannot reach Heaven. These virtues form a ladder; if a step is missing, we fall down.

- Saint Padre Pio (1887-1968)

Don't Let Temptation Frighten You

Saint Padre Pio wrote to one of his adopted children:

Don't let temptation frighten you. God wants to test and strengthen your soul by it and gives you the strength to overcome it at the same time. Up till now your life has been that of a child but from now on our Lord wants to treat you like an adult. However, the trials of adults are far superior to those of a child and that is why you are so upset to begin with. But the life of your soul will quickly settle down; it won't delay. Be patient a little longer and all will be well.

So let all these empty forebodings drop. Remember that it isn't the Evil One's suggestions that put you in the wrong but rather your consent to those suggestions. Our free will is the only thing capable of good and evil. But when our will is groaning under the trials inflicted on us by the Tempter and does not desire what he proposes, then not only is it not a fault but it is a virtue.

Take care not to fall into anxiety when you are struggling against these temptations because that only serves to strengthen them. You have to treat them with scorn and not worry yourself about them. Turn your thoughts to Jesus crucified, his body laid to rest in your arms, and say: “Here is my hope, the source of my joy! I bind myself to you with all my soul and will not leave you until you have set me safe.

Certain people, places, or things may be occasions of sin for us. If possible we must avoid them. But sometimes, as with people we live or work with every day, we are forced to interaction. In that case, if we are feeling anxious or fearful because we know a certain person triggers a negative, sinful, reactive response in us, we must change something in ourselves. We must stop giving these people the power to control our emotions. This is where St. Pio points us to the use of our free will and the practice of virtue.

We might ask ourselves, what virtue must I acquire in abundance in order not to fall prey to these temptations? Then we can turn to Christ and ask Him to help us. As we change ourselves, we will do a better job of resisting temptation and perhaps even shape better relationships with the problem people in our lives.

Pray Don't Worry - St. John Vianney

"God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry."
Saint John Mary Vianney, Priest

Today we remember St Jean-Baptiste Vianney, Curé of Ars (1786 - 1859).  The above is a quote that appeared in Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers that I purchased from the Spirit Daily bookstore.

St. Padre Pio has a similar quote:
“Pray, hope, and don’t worry! Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer. Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your heart. In fact, on certain occasions, you should speak to Him only with your heart.”

Where did these two saints get this wisdom?

I would suggest they found it in Scripture.

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7

Still, isn't St. John Vianney's quote a bit strong of an interpretation of Phillipians 4:6?

I don't think so.  If we are worrying, are we trusting God?  Are we seeking first the Kingdom of God above all else if we are worried?

Jesus Christ our Savior wants us not to be anxious, or to worry, but to place our needs before our Father.

He tells us:
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
Matthew 6:33

When we pray, we turn our hearts and minds to God.  In place of worry we put trust.  Jesus wants our trust.  God the Father wants our trust.  God is pleased at the faith we show when we follow the teachings of scripture and these two great saints to pray, to hope, and not to worry!

What happens when we worry, or are anxious, or take our anxieties someplace other than to him who cares about us?

Here's what I notice when I am anxious and worried and I don't turn first to God in prayer.

First, my focus is put somewhere other than God, his Kingdom, seeking first his righteousness, including being receptive to know, to accept God's will for me in the moment.

Second, my opportunity to find peace, and experience God's love and mercy is postponed until I do turn to him in prayer, in trust, in hope.

What is the benefit in delaying God's peace, love, and mercy?

For me, having experienced God's peace, love and mercy, i would say there is no benefit, only a waste of time.

Who benefits from this waste of time?  Not me.  And I would say it grieves and saddens God who gives so much to me in the Word, in the Eucharist, in the Church, in the Communion of Saints, in the Holy Spirit that came into my soul at Baptism.

There is another, the spirit of this world, the same spirit that was kicked out of heaven by St. Michael the Archangel, that is served by my worry and delay at turning to God in prayer.  Satan's agenda is to undermine and distract the saints from their one and only source of all good gifts:  Our God, glorious in the Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This is a reminder to me as well as to you the kind person reading this:

If you are worried or anxious, expect the temptation to turn inward, or turn to a Google search, or to an email, or a drink, or to the retail store.  Instead, act in faith, love, trust, and obedience to your Lord, and instead Pray!