MyCatholicSource.com - 'Quick Help' Page: Satan's Temptations

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According to St. Ambrose...

"There are three principal weapons that the devil likes to carry in order to wound our souls. They are gluttony, arrogance and ambition."

As stated in the Catechism of Pope St. Pius X...

Q. Why do demons tempt us?

A. The demons tempt us because of the envy they bear us, which makes them desire our eternal damnation; and because of their hatred of God, whose image is reflected in us. God on the other hand permits these temptations in order that we may overcome them by His grace, and thus practice virtue and acquire merit for Heaven.

Some things that can be done...

* "Q. How can we resist the evil spirits? A. By humble prayer and by making the Sign of the Cross." (Catechism of St. John Neumann)

* "When tempted, invoke your angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your guardian angel." (St. John Bosco)

* "Offer your temptations for the conversion of sinners. When the devil sees you doing this, he is beside himself with rage and makes off, because then the temptation is turned against himself." (St. John Vianney)

* "To resist every temptation, it is sufficient to pronounce the names of Jesus and Mary; and if the temptation continues, let us continue to invoke Jesus and Mary, and the Devil shall never be able to conquer us." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)

* "To avoid temptation we should fly dangerous occasions, guard our senses, receive the sacraments frequently, and have recourse to the practice of prayer." (Catechism of Pope St. Pius X)

* "When the Devil tempts you, remember Hell - the thought of Hell will preserve you from that land of misery. I say, remember Hell, and have recourse to Jesus Christ and to most holy Mary, and they will deliver you from sin, which is the gate of Hell." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)

* "Satan, however, is overcome not by indolence, sleep, wine, revelling, or lust; but by prayer, labor, watching, fasting, continence and chastity. Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temptation...is the admonition of our Lord. They who make use of these weapons in the conflict put the enemy to flight; for the devil flees those who resist him." (Catechism of the Council of Trent)

* "When you are tempted by the enemy, the best remedy is to hasten with all speed to the Cross, and to see Christ thereon, covered with wounds, torn, disfigured, streaming with blood. Then reflect that the chief reason why he is there is to destroy sin; and so, with all devotion, beg him not to allow what is so abominable, and what he sought, with such labor to overthrow, ever to reign in our hearts." (St. Peter of Alcantara)

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"Blessed are they that are tempted! It is when the devil sees that a soul is tending towards union with God that he redoubles his efforts." (St. John Vianney)

"(In our struggle against temptations) our Lord is there quite close to us, looking on us with kindness, smiling at us and saying: 'So you do love Me!'" (St. John Vianney)

"We can always resist temptations, because no temptation can force us into sin, and because God will always help us if we ask Him." (Baltimore Catechism)

"Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him." (Jms. 1:12)

"Don't let temptations frighten you; they are the trials of the souls whom God wants to test when he sees they have the necessary strength to sustain the struggle, thus weaving the crown of glory with their own hands." (St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina)

"No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. 10:13)

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