Chapter X. Of Temptations to Spiritual Pride

I HAVE spoken to you in the preceding chapter of the temptations which the devil is wont to present to us by means of the greatness, riches, and delights of the world; but I now will speak of the temptations of spiritual pride, self-complacency, and vain-glory, which are so much the more dangerous and terrible as they are the less obvious, and the more opposed to God.

Oh! how many brave soldiers and great servants of God, after many many years of victory, have been overthrown by this pride, and have become servants of Lucifer!

The escape from this tremendous fall and subtle snare is by fearing at all times, and by doing good works with fear and trembling, lest through some hidden worm of self-love and pride they be contaminated and rendered offensive to God. Therefore, in the doing of them, whilst humbling ourselves, always strive to do them better, as though hitherto we had never done any thing well. But if we think that we have done all things well (which we ought never to think), we ought still to say with our whole heart, "We are unprofitable servants."

Above all, we must frequently have recourse to Christ, that He may deliver us from all pride, and teach us and help us to become lowly in heart; and often seek the help of the most lowly Mother of God, praying that she might obtain for us true humility, which is the foundation of all virtues, and which causes them to grow and accompanies them, so that they be not lost, but increased and preserved.

Having already spoken at length on the subject of humility in the "Spiritual Combat," I will not now say more upon it.