Choose a topic from Part 1:
1. To tempt means one of two things: (a) to make a test ortrial; thus "God tempted Abraham" (Gen. 22:1); (b) toinvite, incite, or allure someone to sin. It is in the second senseof the word that the fallen angels tempt human beings. God permitsthis assault of the demons upon men, and turns it into a humanopportunity and benefit; God gives to men all requisite aid torepulse the assaults of demons, and to advance in grace and meritby resisting temptation.
2. To the devil (who is the fallen Lucifer, now Satan)belong exclusively the plan and campaign of the demons'assaults upon mankind.
3. In one way the devil is the cause of every human sin;he tempted Adam and thus contributed to the fall which renders menprone to sin. But, in a strict sense, diabolical influence does notenter into every sin of man. Some sins come of the weakness ofhuman nature and from inordinateness of appetites which the sinnerfreely allows to prevail.
4. Angels cannot perform miracles; therefore demonscannot. But demons can do astonishing things, and can occasion realhavoc.
5. When the assault of demons is repulsed, the devil isnot rendered incapable of further attack. But it seems that hecannot return immediately to the assault, but only after the lapseof a definite time. God's mercy as well as the shrewdness ofthe tempter, seems to promise so much.
"The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God's will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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"Does our conduct correspond with our Faith?"
The Cure D'Ars
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"Every man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars."
Thomas á Kempis
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