August 3

The Three Concupiscences

Preparation. - We cannot unite ourselves to Jesus, as the saints have done, without combating within us, after their example, the three concupiscences of the world. Wherefore we shall see, first, how the saints conquered them, and secondly, how we also may overcome them. We shall then strive to renew in us the spirit of our baptism, which consists in renouncing pride, wealth and pleasures, the three concupiscences indicated by St. John. “The concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2. 16).

I. The Saints Conquered The Three Concupiscences

One day St. Dominic perceived our Lord raised on a bright throne, holding three lances in His hand, as if about to pierce all men therewith and punish the whole world. At the same time, he beheld the Blessed Virgin casting herself at His feet, imploring His mercy for mankind. And as the irritated divine Judge complained of the crimes inundating the world, Mary presented to Him two of her servants, Dominic and Francis, assuring Him, that, by their means, a happy change would be effected in men’s souls; whereat Jesus, being wholly appeased, let the lances fall from His hands.

In this vision the three lances represent the three scourges with which the Sovereign Judge intended to strike the guilty world, to punish it for its excessive pride and love of riches and pleasures. These three concupiscences which heap up so many ruins in the world of souls, were combated by all the saints, among whom were Sts. Dominic and Francis, but how? Was it by sparing themselves? No, but by practicing in a heroic degree humility, poverty and chastity. And, in fact, were not the saints heroic in the love of humiliations and insults, who sought them more eagerly than worldlings seek dignities? Were they not heroic in their voluntary poverty, by wishing to live only from day to day, relying on Providence alone, without keeping any thing in store? And who can refrain from admiring their frightful penances and uninterrupted austerities, to preserve their innocence unsullied, as a lily is preserved by surrounding it with thorns?

Does this conduct of the saints astonish us? But they are much more astonished to see our security amid so many enemies bent upon our ruin. They, notwithstanding their humble, poor and mortified life, dreaded the judgements of God, and their own frailty. We, on the contrary, whilst flattering our pride, our vanity, our effeminacy, our sensuality, live without anxiety, always self-satisfied. On whose side are faith, common sense and truth to be found? On whose side should we seek hope, security, the peace of a good conscience, especially at the hour of death? Is it not on the side of those who, like the saints, fear the Lord?

O my God, Thou hast said that only he that feareth Thee, can rest secure in his last moments. Grant me the grace to devote myself to my salvation and sanctification with the constant fear of being eternally lost. “With him that feareth the Lord, it will be well in the latter end” (Eccli. 1. 13).

II. How We Should Conquer Our Evil Propensities

The three concupiscences in the world wage an internal war in each of us. Our nature, having been vitiated by original sin, we all remain inclined to pride, to the love of riches and pleasures, the one more, the other less, but each one sufficiently to be obliged to seek a remedy for these evils in their opposite virtues. Wherefore our Redeemer, wishing to cure us, says to us all: “Unless you be converted and become like little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mat. 18. 3). “You cannot serve two masters, God and Mammon” (Mat. 6. 24). “Enter by the narrow gate, for broad is the gate and spacious the way leading to perdition; and many there are that enter it” (Mat. 7. 13).

These words indicate the most effective remedies for our perverse inclinations, viz: humility, detachment and self-denial or mortification. We shall, indeed, overcome by these means the desires that expose our souls to ruin. Wherefore, let us examine, first, if we combat our pride, our inclination to vanity, to the seeking of the esteem and attention of the world and of whatever flatters our self-love; secondly, whether we are detached from the earth, “content with food and raiment,” without coveting the sumptuous residences and high-living of the wealthy and worldly-minded; and thirdly, if we strive to mortify our senses, our sight, hearing, taste, and especially, our curiosity to see, hear and know every thing, which is so dangerous to chastity, and so hurtful to recollection and the interior liberty of the children of God.

O Jesus, I renew the vows of my baptism by renouncing, in order to please Thee, in three concupiscences of the world and their consequent faults. Grant that I may always act according to the spirit of humility, detachment and self-denial, with which Thou wert constantly animated during Thy mortal life, and of which Thou givest me the example in Thy Eucharistic life.