The greatest misfortune for a Christian is not to be tempted. Saint Gregory says that if you have no temptations the devil is your friend, your guide and your shepherd. If he now allows you a life of peace, he will at the end of your life drag you into hell. If we are not tempted then we must consider ourselves abandoned by God.
Temptation is necessary. It helps us persevere in humility and distrust of ourselves. Temptation obliges us to take refuge in God alone. In fact, temptation is one of the sure signs that we are on the path to heaven, no matter how humiliating the temptation may be. Saint Augustine says that everything we do without overcoming temptation is of very little value. We cannot become discouraged. We should rather thank God and fight the good fight because we have already won the victory in Jesus Christ.
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