One thing is absolutely certain: you cannot pass through life, attain true piety, or reach heaven, w
One thing is absolutely certain: you cannot pass through life, attain true piety, or reach heaven, without a struggle, without, like Eve encountering temptations. But everything depends on your not acting like Eve. Let us consider the manner in which she acted when the serpent tempted her. In the first place, the extraordinary apparition of a serpent which spoke to her, instead of putting her on guard, left her heedless and thoughtless. This was her first great fault – do not imitate her! But in all your intercourse with the world especially with persons of the opposite sex, be always watchful, and mistrustful of yourself. For not without reason did Our Lord say: “Watch Ye, and pray! If as soon as the serpent began to speak to Eve, she reflected for a moment, and then said: “I will have nothing to do with thee; I desire to hold converse with God alone, and I am certain that the voice of God does not speak from thy mouth” – had she thus spoken the temptation would have been overcome. Unite, therefore, watchfulness and prayer; hold converse with God; speak to Him with filial confidence , as a child speaks to a beloved father. Eve committed a second fault by parleying with the tempter, instead of resolutely refusing to have anything to do with him. Again I say, beware of imitating her! Resist the temptation as soon as you become aware of it, and resist it with utmost determination and steadfastness. Do not pause and wait until tempters draw nearer; that is until persons begin to treat you with familiarity which may not be actually sinful, but which is nevertheless dangerous; which may expose you to grievous temptations, and still more, will assuredly do so, if not resisted with promptitude and decision. ( Catholic Girls Guide, Fr. F. X. Lasance) Instagram: @catholicwomansite facebook.com/catholicwomansite catholicwomansite.wordpress.com https://www.instagram.com/p/CdvsFv-j8SY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI= -- source link