On the Four Battles of the Soul
Source: Google Books
The soul has to sustain four kinds of battles: outside itself, near itself, within itself, and above itself.
1. Outside itself
The battle of the soul outside itself is with the world, and it remains victorious by not loving worldly things. But it is not enough merely to feel no love for the most beautiful and delightful things; one must also hate and despise them.
Thus, a rod bent one way must be bent the opposite way if one wishes to make it straight.
2. Near itself
The second battle of the soul is with the senses of its body.
The first means of gaining victory on this side is to withdraw the senses from any illicit habit of sight, hearing, etc.
The second is to feel supreme displeasure at the objects that strike the sight or other senses. But since this method is not reliable for everyone, it is better to withdraw the senses from the objects.
However, when this is impossible, and one cannot avoid seeing things harmful to the soul, or hearing words likely to scandalize, then one must feel the greatest possible displeasure, thus preventing the soul from taking any pleasure in them.
Regarding taste, I tried three kinds of remedies.
First, I collected and dried wormwood flowers, and placed them before me on the table as if they were salt, in such a way that others would not notice. I would put the most flavorful morsels on this “salt,” and their bitterness was such that they did not flatter the appetite at all; but my tongue was torn, and I had to give it up.
Next, I made my pieces small and round, then swallowed them like pills, without tasting; but in doing so I ruined my stomach and abandoned this method.
Finally, when I happened to eat flavorful foods, I inflicted hard labor on my body and subjected it to heavy burdens. Then, when such foods were served, and I asked my body if it consented to eat, it willingly refused, preferring to abstain rather than endure the punishments I imposed.
Today I have abandoned all this, and I turn to a fourth remedy.
This remedy consists of offering all flavors to God and giving thanks to Him for them. But this method is not suitable for everyone; it is only fitting for those who live with such sobriety and temperance, whose souls are so united to God and absorbed in Him that they have no thought of gratifying appetite in eating flavorful foods, but offer everything to the Lord.
And since, among all the senses, the tongue causes the most harm to the soul, not only as an instrument of taste but also as an instrument of speech, one must use silence as a remedy, which greatly aids the soul. We have an example of this in Brother Juniper, who remained silent for six months.
3. Within itself
The third battle of the soul is within itself, and it is fought against its affections or passions, which are joy, hope, fear, and sorrow. It remains victorious in this struggle by maintaining an intimate and constant communion with God through prayer, meditation, and devotion; in this way, God communicates His omnipotence to it, and this omnipotence works a miracle within, banishing these passions.
4. Above itself
The fourth battle of the soul is above it, and it is the greatest of all; it is waged toward God Himself in this way. The soul is filled with a burning and anxious desire to remain united with Him.
It considers itself created in the image of God, contemplates His likeness within itself, knows that He desires to establish His dwelling within it, and from that moment it brings all its efforts to bear so as to admit nothing that could offend the eyes of divine majesty, to avoid anything displeasing to God, and to render itself in His sight as He desires, that is, without the slightest blemish.