On the death to self-love (4th week of Lent)
Our father Saint Francis de Sales teaches us that we have to wage a life-long battle against selfishness. It isn’t easy to die to our self. But it is possible and necessary:
“Self-love dies only when our body dies, so we must, while we live in this land of exile, continue to counterattack its assaults on our senses and its underhanded tactics. It is enough if we firmly withstand, giving no wilful or deliberate consent… When we feel within ourselves the first movements of self-love or of other passions, let us prostrate ourselves immediately before the heart of God and tell Him, in a spirit of confidence and humility, “Lord have mercy on me because I am a very weak creature.” Then let us tranquilly rest in peace and put ourselves at God’s disposal. (Letters 1675).
The Lord Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, will save it.” (Luke 9:24).