September 1

On Spiritual Diseases

Preparation. - Mortification, the special virtue of this month, being destined to heal our defects, we shall consider, first, that our vices are the diseases of our soul, and secondly, their remedies. We shall thereby awaken in our heart an ardent desire for our spiritual restoration, saying with David: “Lord, heal my soul, because I have sinned against Thee” (Ps. 40. 5).

I. Our Vices Are Spiritual Diseases

As there are corporal, so also there are spiritual diseases. Our sins, our vices, our perverse inclinations are horrible ulcers causing God and the angels the most profound disgust and the most lively compassion. St. John Chrysostom calls sin an abscess of the soul. St. Ambrose looks upon the passions as so many fevers, and their acts as so many paroxysms that bring on death, if not repressed. And, in fact, what is ambition, covetousness, lust, if not the fever of rising above others, of getting rich, of indulging in pleasure? Is not anger a delirium depriving us of the use of our reason? And envy, a malignant humor that secretly consumes us?

These truths should excite in us an intense longing to be cured. When there is question of our body, we neglect nothing, and undergo even extremely painful operations in the hope of getting well; why should we not do as much for our soul? Humiliation would become less bitter at the thought that it frees us from the tumor or swelling of pride; vexations and hardships would even become dear to us, were we to consider them as remedies of our sensuality and self-love, these sources of so many defects. The desire of our spiritual cure, in a word, would induce us lovingly to accept that which Providence sends us contrary to our tastes, and consequently the means best adapted to close and heal our wounds.

Let us examine, if we accept in this spirit whatever confounds our vanity, contradicts our views, and is opposed to our inclinations. Instead of taking up arms against our defects, do we not often defend them? Do we not flatter our evil propensities, instead of using energetic means to repress them? What remedy do we use for our sloth, our cowardice, our sensitiveness, the continual tendency of our heart towards vain-glory, dissipation of mind, human and this; our sanctification rests wholly on our care in doing violence to ourselves and overcoming ourselves on every occasion. “Thy progress will be proportionate to the violence thou doest to thyself,” says the Imitation.

O my God, give me the courage to recite the “Glory be to the Father,” when it will be necessary for me to practice patience and self-denial, those conditions indispensable to my spiritual cure. Often recall Thy Passion to me, that I may be strengthened by Thy example against the weakness of my fallen nature.

II. Remedies For Our Spiritual Diseases

It behooves the prudent physician to study well the state of his patient before undertaking his cure. In like manner, it behooves us to sound the depth of our wounds, before we can apply the proper remedy. Let us, then, find out our ignorance, our weakness, our corruption, our malice, with the help of faith, mental prayer and examination of conscience. As we proceed in discovering the errors of our mind, the evil propensities of our heart, let us set to work to apply the proper remedy by pious reading and meditations, and frequently repeated prayers.

Let us especially guard against discouragement, and place our confidence in God alone, recalling this saying of the Holy Ghost: “He that trusteth in the Lord, shall be healed” (Prov. 28. 25). Wherefore when we feel our helplessness for doing good, let us seek strength in the sacraments and in the adorable Sacrifice of the Mass. If our imagination runs away with us, far from God and our spiritual exercises, let us not be disturbed, but let us calmly recollect ourselves in the presence of God, relying on His mercy. In a word, whatever may be the spiritual disease that afflicts us, let us remain in peace and put our trust in God, and we shall be able to remedy it all.

To these means let us join self-denial, which induces us to watch over ourselves, to mortify our eyes, our tongue, our appetite, to repress at once concupiscence and the revolt of our passions. And let us not fear that our life will thereby be embittered; for the contrary will happen. Our spiritual health and its accompanying cheerfulness will always be proportionate to our generosity in denying ourselves and conquering our vicious inclinations.

O my God, I say to Thee with Solomon: “By wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased Thee” (Wisd. 9. 19). But wisdom teaches us to know ourselves, to trust in Thee, and to retrench in us the obstacles or inclinations, which hinder our union with Thee. Therefore, grant me through the merits of Jesus and Mary, first, the light necessary to show me my interior wounds and their remedies; secondly, confidence in prayer and in Thy assistance; and thirdly, the courage to keep my passions under due restraint, and to follow in all things the attractions of Thy grace. “By wisdom they are healed, who pleased Thee, O Lord.”