Counter-Punching Temptation
Volume XXVII, Number 15
July 25th, 2023
Beloved readers, thank you for opening this Message and including me in your day. I believe Our Lady sent you here.
I have five "quick" items, lots of quotes, our group prayer, and end with a surprisingly fun way to deal with those annoying daily temptations.
1: First Things FirstYou can be a saint—the kind of saint who could be canonized. You can be the type of saint in whom people see the love and light of God shining through your eyes. Never give up.
2: See with Your EyesGinny Thomas, wife of Cyrene supersub Steve, told me she is putting the final touches on a short professional documentary chronicling the final triumphant day of Operation True Cross. She says it is quite emotional.
You'll be able to watch it in my next Message.
3: Everyone Deserves a 2nd ChanceThousands of you missed my last message, which provided life-changing information on how and why a simple daily spiritual practice called the Three Angelus Cure, recommended by an exorcist, will free you from demonic influence and deeply-rooted sin.
Remember our innovative directory of Catholic Young Adult Groups? It now covers the entire United States and Canada, including over 1,100 active groups—and is expanding worldwide.
If you're in your twenties or thirties, check it out. If you have children or grandchildren, tell them about it.
For a variety of reasons, our orders slow down a little bit during summertime here at the Mary Foundation.
These guys and gals make sure our extensive inventory is ready to ship. They lovingly pack and personally sign every letter in every box rapidly delivered to your doorstep.
Many of you are not aware of the variety of our unique, effective, and ridiculously affordable "tools for evangelization." They are gifts that are always welcomed by your family, friends, and parish.
Anthony, Xavier, Clete, Victoria, and Patrick would relish the challenge of dealing with an avalanche of orders tomorrow.
I warmly invite you to say a prayer, look through our materials, and consider placing an order—even for just one item for $1 (with free shipping).
Order with your heart, for the sake of the souls who will receive these gifts.
Lots of Quotes
On no account give way to sadness, the enemy of devotion."
- Saint Francis de Sales
"What saint has ever won his crown without first contending for it?"
- Saint Jerome
"Inconstancy of mind, and small confidence in God, is the beginning of all evil temptations."
- Thomas a Kempis
"We should enjoy spiritual things but only use corporeal things."
- Saint Francis de Sales
"Rational natures are poised between alternatives. God moves the human spirit to good; nevertheless it could resist. It is God's doing, then, that a man prepares himself to receive grace. If he lacks grace, then the cause of the failure lies in him, not in God."
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
"Good is never done except at the expense of those who do it. Truth is never enforced except at the sacrifice of its proponents."
- Saint John Henry Newman
"Every saint is a looking-glass of God."
- John Ayscough
"Earth's saints are those who to the last
Cling to beauty's broken mast."
- Henry Robinson
"To not go along the way of God is to go back."
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
Praying with Each Other
Bring to mind something or someone who needs help. Let's begin, tens of thousands of us together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...
Remember,
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence we fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, our Mother.
To thee do we come, before thee we stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not our petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer us.
Amen.
Bud's Bonus Idea
Counter-Punching Temptation
Temptations to commit venial or mortal sins are typically habitual and can sometimes occur many times a day. Chances are, you've already been tempted more than once today.
One way to break a sinful habit is to use your temptations as an opportunity to form a good habit while simultaneously taking delight in making evils spirits all over the world pay a steep price.
Over the past two years, when I become aware of a temptation, one thing that I enjoy is immediately offering a single Divine Mercy Prayer for:• A priest I know personally,
• All the priests who have heard my Confessions,
• And the priest in the world who needs the most help.
If you don't already know the prayer, here it is:
Eternal Father,
I offer you the body and blood,
soul and divinity,
of your dearly beloved son,
Our Lord, Jesus Christ,
in atonement for our sins
and those of the whole world.
Note that you will be praying for atonement for sins of the whole world in union with Christ Crucified, every time you are tempted.
The evil one hates priests, and seeks to harm them above all others. I read somewhere years ago that there are three demons assigned to oppress priests for every one demon assigned to laymen.
We Win Either WayMake the devil pay. Stick with this practice until it becomes a habit—for months, or even years, if needed. Whether or not the temptations stop altogether, become infrequent, or even increase, Jesus—and his beloved priests—triumph.
Imagine "future you" a year from now. He or she will thank you for the hundreds or thousands of counter-punches you'll get in.
Of course, you can also offer your counter-punch prayer for a loved one or a friend—but never forget to include priests. It's a good habit. The more temptations you endure, the more priests you help every day.
It's spiritual jiu-jitsu: using your opponent's efforts against him.
The Divine Mercy prayer is ideal for a number of reasons. First, it is of heavenly origin, composed by God, who infused it into Saint Faustina's soul in 1935.
It is also Eucharistic atonement for sin, featuring the formulation "body, blood, soul, and divinity" for the Real Presence from the Council of Trent.
Still Reading?
Are you still with me? Aww, thanks. Don't forget to refresh my young crew with an avalanche of surprise summertime orders.
Keep praying the Daily Prayers to Save America every day with me and tens of thousands.
Stay frosty.
The divine intervention is coming.
With Saint Charbel,
Bud Macfarlane
Founder
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