Pope Francis: Christian life is never devoid of struggle

Screenshot

Source: Vatican News

During his General Audience on Wednesday with pilgrims in the Pope Pail VI Hall, Pope Francis continued his catechesis series on vices and virtues, focusing his reflections on spiritual combat.

Our Christian life is never "linear or devoid of struggle," he said, but rather requires "continuous combat."

He pointed to the oil with which Christians are first anointed at Baptism, saying it contains no fragrance, as if to announce that "life is a struggle."

"The anointing of the catechumens immediately makes it clear that the Christian is not spared from struggle," he said. "Our existence, like that of everyone else, must enter the arena, because life is a succession of trials and temptations."

However, temptations are really a chance to allow God's grace to work in us. As St Anthony, the first abbot, said, "Remove temptations and no one will be saved."

The Pope said that Christians who "absolve themselves" of their own sins risk living in darkness since they can no longer distinguish good from evil.

"We must all ask God for the grace to recognise ourselves as poor sinners in need of conversion, keeping in our hearts the confidence that no sin is too great for the infinite mercy of God the Father," he said.

Even Jesus, noted Pope Francis, presented Himself for Baptism despite being free from all sin, so that we might follow His example and never be afraid to ask for God's mercy. Later, when Jesus withdrew into the desert He was tempted by Satan.

"He has experienced what we too must always prepare to face," said the Pope. "Life is made of challenges, trials, crossroads, opposing visions, hidden seductions, contradictory voices."

Pope Francis invited Christians to walk the daily tightrope between opposite extremes: "Pride challenges humility; hatred contrasts charity; sadness opposes the true joy of the Spirit; the hardening of the heart rejects mercy."

By reflecting on the vices and virtues, he said, we can overcome our nihilistic culture in which the "contours between good and evil remain blurred".

At the same time, he added, our reflections on vice and virtues "reminds us that the human being, unlike any other creature, can always transcend itself, opening up to God and walking towards holiness."

"Spiritual combat," concluded Pope Francis, "leads us to closely look at those vices that chain us and to walk, with the grace of God, towards those virtues that can bloom in us, bringing the spring of the Spirit into our life."

Watch today's General Audience on Vatican Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZv8K7V-9LY