Volume III, Treatise VII, Chapter IV

That We Ought not Neglect to Discover Our Temptations to Our Ghostly Father Under Pretence that We Already Know the Remedies He Will Counsel Us to Make Use of

Bor some one may say, I have so often heard of remedies against temptations, and I have read so many spiritual books on the subject, that I already know every answer which can be given me by the superior or ghostly father; what need then have I to address myself to him? Let us take care not to be carried away with this temptation; and the more knowledge we conceive ourselves to have, the more should we be on our guard in this matter. St. Dorotheus was very much tormented with this temptation, but he knew how to deliver himself from it. He says that when he went to discover his temptation to his superior, this thought presently came to his mind, why should you lose so much time to no purpose? You may be assured he will give you such and such an answer, and tell you nothing but what you know already; why then go to importune him? Then I was moved to anger against the temptation, continues he, and also against myself, and said—‘ Wo be to thee, Satan! Wo be to thy wit and judgment: wo be to thy prudence and knowledge” —Doroth., Serm. viii. And without hearkening any longer to the temptation, I went presently to give an account to my superior of all that passed within me. When I came to him he answered the very same things that I before thought of, and I felt something within me which said to me with some disquiet and trouble: Aye, did I not tell you what answer he would give, and that it was not at all necessary to goto him? But I presently answered: Now I am assured that what I before thought of was good, and that it came from God, which I had to doubt of when I was alone, and when it came only from myself. It was thus he freed himself from the temptation, never failing to address himself to his superior; and we ought to do the very same, without trusting to our own judgment, because it is certain that no one is a good judge in his own cause. But if this be true when we are not attacked by any temptation, what will it be when temptation hinders us from forming a right judgment of things, and even shuts our eyes according to the words of the prophet, “My iniquities have seized upon me, and [ am able to see nothing’ (Psalms 39:13) One knows not then what is most convenient for him, or, if he knows, he is not in a condition to profit thereby, and to put it in practice, because the temptation disquiets and even blinds him, whereas one word that the superior shall say to him will work a greater effect upon him than all he can say to himself.

St. Austin relates on this head a passage which is somewhat singular and pleasant. He says that a certain man finding himself oppressed by a distemper, sent for a physician who gave him a remedy that presently cured him. The same distemper attacking him some days after, he would needs use the same remedy which had done him so much good before, and having remembered the recipe, he did not send for the doctor. The remedy, however, gave him no ease, whereat being very much surprised, he sent for the physician, told him what had happened, and asked him the reason why the remedy which he gave him did him so much good the first time, and the second did him none at all, It was, answered the physician, smiling, because I did not give it to you myself. Now let us apply this to our subject. The spiritual remedy that you have heard of, and that you know very well, will do you no good, because it is not your spiritual physician that gives it you. The remedy given by the hand of the physician who observes times and circumstances, has a better effect than when it is taken in another manner or by one’s own prescription. It is the same with the remedies relating to the ecoul. The water of the river Damas was very good, and perhaps better than that of Jordan; yet it was not the water of Damas, but that of Jordan that cured Naaman of his leprosy, when Eliseus commanded him to wash himself therein. The assistance of God is joined to what your superior directs and to the remedies he gives, because the superior holds the place of God; and thus a simple and easy remedy which the superior shall give, will do you more good than all others you shall make use of.

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