Episode 4 -- Spiritual Combat c2.1 -- Distrust of Self

Really? What does it mean to distrust oneself?

In chapter 1 of The Spiritual Combat, Lorenzo Scupoli explains what Christian perfection is and is not. It is not a matter of external practices considered in themselves. On their own, such practices can lead to great pride and spiritual blindness.

Spiritual perfection consists in:

1. Knowing the infinite greatness and goodness of God and having a true sense of our own weakness and tendency to evil.
2. Loving God and hating ourselves (the selfish part — Romans 7)
3. Humbling ourselves not only before God, but also for His sake, before all men
4. Renouncing our own will entirely in order to follow His will.
5. Doing all for the glory of God.

Who puts these desires in our hearts? The Holy Spirit.

Who encourages us to walk this path of self-denial? Christ Jesus, the Son of God, in the Gospel. “If you want to be my disciple, pick up your cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

Who is the one who rewards us? God the Father

Who is our main enemy? Ourselves, our passions (impulses for things that are not good), our uncontrolled desires.

What is your main passion? What do you desire as you should not? Human admiration? Food? Sex? Getting back at others? Seeing others suffer? Rest and peace? Money and things? We have a passion for these things and then other actions follow to obtain them!

What are our weapons in this spiritual combat?

1. Distrust of self
2. Confidence in God
3. Proper use of our intellect, will, imagination
4. Prayer