The Warnings and Advice of St. Teresa of Avila

[Lorenzo]

St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), in the Interior Castle, offers insight to us regarding the wiles of the devil:


"If the soul invariably followed the will of God, it is clear that it would not be lost. But the devil comes with artful wiles and, under color of doing good, sets about undermining it in trivial ways, and involving it in practices which, so he gives it to understand, are not wrong; little by little he darkens its understanding, and weakens its will, and causes its self-love to increase, until in one way or another he begins to withdraw it from the Love of God and to persuade it to indulge its own wishes....there is no enclosure so strictly guarded that he cannot visit it.

And I would make one further remark-- namely, that the reason He may observe the behavior of the soul which He wishes to set up as a light to others; for, if it is going to be a failure, it is better that it should be so at the outset when it can do many souls harm."

[Lorenzo]

The Saint then gives her recommendations to the soul on how to combat against the temptations of the devil. The first recommendation is to practice humble and confident prayer to secure the help of God and His holy angels. As Tanquerey states, "Our prayer must be humble , for there is nothing that so quickly puts to flight this rebellious spirit, who, having revolted through pride, never knew the virtue of humility."

St. Teresa also recommends that our prayer for God's help must be full of confidence, since God's own glory is bound up with our triumph (Carroll, 1999, pg. 237-238).

[Lorenzo]

Secondly,  as exemplified in the previously mentioned events in the lives of the Saints, it is recommended that we use with all confidence the Sacraments and the Sacramentals of the Church.

Among the Sacramentals, as we have noted, St. Teresa suggested the frequent use of Holy Water. St. Teresa also recommends utter contempt of the devil. She reports: "So often have these accursed creatures tormented me and so little am I afraid of them, now that I see they cannot stir unless the Lord allows them to...every time we pay little heed to them, they lose much of their power and the soul gains much more control over them."

She reports that the soul who suffers temptations should also resort to the intercession of St. Michael and his own guardian angel. Above all, such a one should appeal to the Blessed Virgin, who is always anxious to comfort and assist her distressed children in times of great danger (Carroll, 1999, pg. 238).

[Lorenzo]

Reference:

Cruz, Joan Carroll. (1999). Angels & Demons. Rockford: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc.

[islander]