The Three Stages of Temptation
How to Resist Temptation by Fr. Francis J. Remler may be purchased from our online bookstore Confraternity Books (confraternitybooks.com) for the sale price of $12.95.
The Temptation Presents Itself
Evil is proposed to a person in a variety of ways. It can come through any one of the five senses, or by thoughts, memories, images, wishes, longings or desires that spring up in the soul spontaneously without our having voluntarily caused them in any way. This can happen at the most unexpected moments, in the most sacred places, or even during the most sacred actions. Sometimes they are the result of some action that is necessary, such as studying or reading, attending to the necessities of nature or the requirements of cleanliness. The important thing to remember is that if such beginnings of temptation come to us without any fault or willfulness on our part, if we have not of our own accord done anything to provoke them, then they are in no way sinful.
The Temptation Causes Pleasure
The second element of temptation is the sensation of pleasure or delectation directly caused by the first element of presentation. This pleasure cannot be separated from the presentation in such cases. Think of the analogy of tasting food. If a piece of sugar comes into contact with your tongue, you will instantly taste it. You can do nothing at that point to prevent tasting it. If you had taken the vow of never eating sugar, but quite accidentally you taste some, you don’t commit a sin. If you will is set against giving approval to the taste, so that the taste is in spite of your desire, you do not commit a sin. Be careful though, if you were to rejoice that you had the chance to enjoy this pleasure once more, even accidentally, your will would have given its consent and sin would be the result.
Our Response to the Temptation
No matter how vivid was the suggestion, no matter how strong the delectation may have been, no sin has yet been committed if the will has resisted. Now comes the test. Will you approve or reject the evil suggested to you? You cannot escape this decision. If you decide to give assent to the forbidden thing, if you are delighted with the delectation you feel, if you willfully foster the evil thought or desire, if, finally, you carry out in action what is suggested to you by temptation, you commit sin. Note that it is at the moment your will gives its approval or consent, and not before, that the sin is committed. The essence of a sin, therefore, consists, not in an outward bad action, but in the deliberate adherence of the will to what is recognized as forbidden by the divine law.