Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira

As for those who think that the New Testament opened for us a new era of a spiritual life without struggle, how they fool themselves! On the contrary, Saint Paul puts before our eyes the perspective of a ceaseless fight of man against his lower inclinations, a struggle so painful that the Apostle even compares it to the worst of martyrdoms, that is, Crucifixion:

I say then, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary one to another; so that you do not the things that you would. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, envies, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's, have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (90)

How carefully must a Christian watch over the ever fragile building of his sanctification, put to the test by all sorts of interior and exterior trials! Let us read this passage:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence may be of the power of God, and not of us. In all things we suffer tribulation, but are not distressed; we are straitened, but are not destitute; we suffer persecution, but are not forsaken; we are cast down, but we perish not. Always bearing about in our body the mortification of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodies.

For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake; that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. (91)

It would be pride or naiveté to imagine that we do not encounter terrible interior reluctances:

For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I work, I understand not. For I do not that good which I will; but the evil which I hate, that I do. (92)

For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is to say, in my flesh, that which is good. For to will, is present with me; but to accomplish that which is good, I find not. For the good which I will, I do not; but the evil which I will not, that I do. (93)

I find then a law, that when I have a will to do good, evil is present with me. For I am delighted with the law of God, according to the inward man: But I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind, and captivating me in the law of sin, that is in my members. Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver from the body of this death? (94)

This combat is hard, but we do not reach glory without it: "And if sons, heirs also: heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ: yet so, if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.” (95) The works of apostolate alone, without mortification are not enough for this end:

I therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty: I so fight, not as one beating the air: But I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway. (96)

So let our interior life be one of vigilance: "Wherefore he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall." (97)

The conclusion cannot fail to be this one:

Finally, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power. Put you on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Therefore take unto you the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit; and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints: And for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the gospel. For which I am an ambassador in a chain, so that therein I may be bold to speak according as I ought. (98)

Notes:

90) Gal. 5:16-25. (Our emphasis.)

91) 2 Cor. 4:7-12. This last verse means that St. Paul died to himself in order to give spiritual life to others. The aforementioned virtue, is the virtue of preaching, that is, the virtue of apostolate.

92) Rom. 7:14-15.

93) Rom. 7:18-19.

94) Rom. 7:21-24.

95) Rom. 8:17.

96) 1 Cor. 9:26-27.

97) 1 Cor. 10:12.

98) Ephes. 6:10-20.

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