Alphonsus Liguori

“ Let us not trust ourselves, then, or our resolutions; for if we put confidence in these, we shall be lost; but when we are tempted of the devil, let us place it in the help of God, commending ourselves to Jesus Christ. This is especially needful when our chastity is tempted, since this temptation is the most terrible of all, and it is that by which the devil gave the most victories. We have not strength in this respect, save from God. We must, therefore, in such temptations, quickly fly to Jesus Christ, and frequently invoke His holy Name. He who so acts shall conquer ”

“ All the saints have been persecuted. Who is more holy than Jesus Christ? And the world so persecuted Him even to a bloody death upon the Cross.
There is no help for this, since the precepts of the world are wholly contrary to those of Jesus Christ. That which the world esteems, by Jesus Christ is called folly. " The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." (i Cor. iii. 19.) Whilst, on the contrary, the world calls that folly which is esteemed by Jesus Christ. " For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness." ”

“ In the morning, on rising, make the Christian acts of thanksgiving, love, offering, and good resolution with prayer to our Blessed Lord, that He would preserve us for that day from sin. After meditation, go to Holy Communion. Practise some spiritual reading during the day, and in the evening make an examination of conscience. Ask of God always the gift of holy perseverance, and especially in the time of temptations, invoking then more frequently the holy Name of Jesus as long as the temptation lasts. ”

“ Is it not enough, perchance, for us to be praised by God, by all the angels, by the saints, and by all good men? Let us leave these sinners to say what they will, and let us persevere in pleasing God, Who is so grateful and faithful to those who serve Him. ”

“ The devil acts thus; he makes the temptation appear to be dead, but when the person has descended, he then quickens the temptation, which devours him. Oh, how many miserable souls who frequented prayer, Holy Communion, and who might have been called Christians, but who, by throwing themselves into temptation, have remained the prey of hell. ”

“ He who lives badly cannot bear to see those who are living well; and why? Because their life is a continual reproach to him, and therefore he would wish that all should imitate himself, so as not to have that pain of remorse which the good life of others causes him. There is no help for this, says the Apostle, for " all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." ”

“ The more repugnance and contradiction that we experience in doing good, the greater will be our merits and God's pleasure. Let us imagine ourselves to be in the world with none others save God and ourselves. ”

“ If the devil be a powerful enemy, the world is a worse one; for if he did not make use of the world and of wicked men, who form the world, he could not obtain the victories that he does. Our Redeemer warns us, not so much to be on our guard against devils as against men. " Beware of men." (S. Matt. x. 17.) Men sin ofttimes more than devils, since the devils flee at prayer and at the invocation of the Name of Jesus; but if evil companions tempt any one to sin, and he answers by some spiritual word, they flee not, but rather the more tempt him, and deride him ”

“ The first means, is to avoid the temptations to sin, of which already mention has been made; the second, is to frequent the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. In that house which is often swept, dirt does not reign; so by confession the soul is kept pure, and it not only obtains remission of sins, but even help to resist the temptations. The Communion, then, is called Heavenly Bread, because as the body cannot live without earthly food, so the mind cannot live without heavenly food. ”

“ Let us not be ashamed of appearing as Christians, since our blessed Lord protests that "whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and My words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when He shall come in His own glory." ”

“ Remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss." (Ecclus. vii. 26.) He who keeps before his eyes the eternal truths, death, judgment, eternity, will not fall into sin. God enlightens us by meditations, " They had an eye unto Him, and were lightened." (Ps. xxxiv. 5.) In meditation, He speaks to us and causes us to understand what we ought to fly from, and what we ought to do. " I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her." (Hos. ii. 14.) Meditation, then, is that blessed furnace in which is enkindled Divine love. ”

“ Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil. ii. 12.) Wherefore? Since, if you turn and look back which God forbid and go back to your evil life, God will declare you to be excluded from heaven: " No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (S. Luke ix. 62.) Pray for the grace of the Lord, frequent the Holy Communion, make a daily meditation; blessed are you if you have progressed to do thus, and if, so doing, Jesus Christ shall find you, when He comes to judge you. ”

“ When these wicked ones scoff at us, let us commend ourselves to the Lord, and rather thank God for having given to us. that light which He has not given to those miserable ones; and let us pursue our own way. ”

“ When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out Then goeth he and taketh seven other spirits more wicked than himself ”

“ It is impossible to be surrounded with flames and not to burn." The prophet warns us that our strength is as tow in the flames. " The strong shall be as tow." (Isa. i. 3 1.) Solomon likewise says that he is a fool who would pretend to walk, upon red-hot coals and not be burned. "Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?" (Prov. vi. 28.) Such also is the fool who pretends that he can place himself in the temptations of sin without falling. ”

“ You must cast it, not near, but far from you, which is saying, that you ought to remove afar every temptation to sin. S. Francis of Assisi said, that the devil tempts spiritual persons who have given themselves to God in a different way from that in which he tempts the wicked ”

“ He explores what may be that part of it through the opening in which, it may be entered." If the soul suffer herself to be led with the sinful opportunity, the enemy truly will enter it again, and will devour it. ”

“ And certain weak minds, to escape such reproaches and derisions, miserably associate with these ministers of Satan, and return to the vomit. Be persuaded, my brother, that if you desire to live well, you will have to bear the taunts and revilings of the wicked. " He that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked." ”

“ He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Have you begun the good life? thank the Lord; but S. Bernard warns you, " The reward is promised to those beginning, it is given to those who persevere." It is not enough to run for the prize, but we must run until we obtain it ”