Christ in the Wilderness Painting by Briton Riviere
HAIKU
SINLESS HE FACED THEM
TO OFFER ABUNDANT GRACES
TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION
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ARTFUL WRITING
Overcome by a tide of temptations, Saint Catherine of Siena cried out:
“My Lord, where were you when my heart was being tormented by so many temptations?”
The Lord replied:
“I was in your heart.”
Not satisfied, Catherine added:
“How can I believe that you were living in my heart, when it was full of unclean and devilish thoughts?”
The Lord answered:
“Those thoughts and temptations: did they gladden your heart or sadden it? Did they bring you pleasure or displeasure?
Catherine responded:
“Great pain and great displeasure.”
The Lord finished:
“Who was it who made you feel displeasure, if not I who was hiding in the center of your heart? (Excerpt from the Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena)
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…facing temptation welcomes grace, and praying for strength gives power to overcome temptation…my go to word facing temptation is “Jesus.” What is yours?…
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