"Holy Purity is granted by God when it is asked for with humility."
"'Purity?' they ask. And they smile. They are the ones who go on to marriage with worn-out bodies and disillusioned souls."
"There is need for a crusade of manliness and purity to counteract and nullify the savage work of those who think man is a beast. And that crusade is your work."
"Many live like angels in the middle of the world. You, … why not you?"
"When you decide firmly to lead a clean life, chastity will not be a burden on you: it will be a crown of triumph."
"Don't be such as coward as to be 'brave.' Flee! [temptation]"
"When you have sought the company of a sensual satisfaction, what loneliness afterward!"
"To defend his purity, Saint Francis of Assisi rolled in the snow, Saint Benedict threw himself into a thornbush, Saint Bernard plunged into an icy pond . . . You . . . what have you done?"
"Don't say, 'That's the way I am—its my character.' It's your lack of character. Esto vir!—Be a man!"
"As soon as you willfully allow a dialogue with temptation to begin, the soul is robbed of peace, just as consent to impurity destroys grace."
"Temptation is necessary to make us realize that we are nothing in ourselves."
"'Purity?' they ask. And they smile. They are the ones who go on to marriage with worn-out bodies and disillusioned souls."
"There is need for a crusade of manliness and purity to counteract and nullify the savage work of those who think man is a beast. And that crusade is your work."
"Many live like angels in the middle of the world. You, … why not you?"
"When you decide firmly to lead a clean life, chastity will not be a burden on you: it will be a crown of triumph."
"Don't be such as coward as to be 'brave.' Flee! [temptation]"
"When you have sought the company of a sensual satisfaction, what loneliness afterward!"
"To defend his purity, Saint Francis of Assisi rolled in the snow, Saint Benedict threw himself into a thornbush, Saint Bernard plunged into an icy pond . . . You . . . what have you done?"
"Don't say, 'That's the way I am—its my character.' It's your lack of character. Esto vir!—Be a man!"
"As soon as you willfully allow a dialogue with temptation to begin, the soul is robbed of peace, just as consent to impurity destroys grace."
"Temptation is necessary to make us realize that we are nothing in ourselves."
3 comments:
Brilliant - thanks Fr.
Very good. It's fascinating how the Saints all draw from the sure wells of the same Christian ascetical tradition; St Philip Neri said - "in the warfare of the flesh, only cowards gain the victory; that is, those who flee"
I am struggling with this issue. These comments are wonderful help--and they call me to prayer. Gene Burke--
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