EUGENIO BORG
1886-1967
Extracts from a Speech delivered by the First Superior General Eugenio Borg on 6 December 1962
AN EXHORTATION FOR THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
I am going to speak to you about the spiritual life since this entails both work and suffering. However, the suffering which one has to go through will be, at the same time, a source of joy and happiness.
The awareness that you are suffering for God, is enough to give you peace of heart since the grace to suffer for God is indeed a great grace.
The saints illustrated this clearly. "Either suffering or death," claimed St Teresa of Avila. Why does she say this? Because if I am not ready to suffer, what is the purpose of my earthly life? In such a case, dying is preferable.
The saints truly thirsted for suffering, just like the thirst of Jesus Christ on the cross. The thirst which our Lord Jesus Christ experienced was surely for the salvation of souls. He also experienced a natural thirst since the huge amount of blood which he had shed certainly caused him to be thirsty, but this natural thirst was accompanied by a thirst for the salvation of souls . . .
Never lose heart. Don’t ever give up in times of suffering, sacrifice or temptation. Be courageous since the spiritual life entails suffering but also joy, since whoever loves God experiences spiritual consolation which increases in direct proportion to the amount of suffering which one goes through.
Be courageous. You are still young. As you grow older, my beloved brothers, and as you mature in your spiritual life and in your faithfulness to God, you will be confronted by the devil. Why does this happen? Since you were faithful to God and you emerged victorious in a number of temptations, you are insulting him! He is such a powerful and clever being and you, a weak creature, defeat and oppress him. Such an insult instigates him to get his own back and he tries furiously to make you feel sad and unhappy, and he also confuses you with a number of doubts, especially as to whether you were defeated or not during temptation.
If you find yourself in doubt as to whether you committed sin during temptation or not, don’t let your mind be confused. St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori claimed that "If, after temptation, you are doubtful as to whether you gave in to temptation or else you remained strong, don’t feel confused. Do you recall mentioning Jesus’ and Mary’s name at the time of temptation? If you did, you were certainly victorious."
Whoever you are, even if I see you performing miracles, I will also tell you that sooner or later you will be tempted by the devil. To confirm this, I will quote Thomas a Kempis who claimed, "Some will be tempted just after their conversion. Others will be tempted harshly during their dying hours, and yet some others will be tempted through
Whichever state you happen to be in, you should never, never lose heart. We should keep in mind the beauty of virtue, my beloved brothers. What is more precious than a virtuous person, and especially a chaste person?
My sons, chastity is indeed a beautiful virtue! Even if there were no Heaven or Hell, a human being should live chastely just the same! Why? Because the effects brought about by chastity are indeed heavenly, since your prayer will be characterized by a heavenly joy.
Another effect of chastity is union with God which also brings about union with God’s will. Another effect of chastity is experiencing heavenly joy in times of prayer.
Beloved brothers, the chaste person is truly enlightened about the heavenly reality and this enlightment becomes more refined when the degree of chastity increases. Brothers, I encourage you to combat, because I am perfectly aware that each one of you has his own personal struggles. The harshness of these struggles, especially where chastity is involved, increases when one advances in his spiritual life and comes to love God better. Nevertheless do not give up. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8,31) If we put all our hope in God, and God is for us, who can be victorious over us? Make heart brothers, and teach the catechism. Whoever teaches catechism cannot commit mortal sin.…
Whoever teaches catechism is indeed great in the eyes of God, as long as the instruction is carried out with the right intention and in the state of grace. Never lose heart.
Receive daily communion. Perhaps you will feel insulted when I tell you this but I do encourage you to receive daily communion and to go to confession once every week.
Do not be afraid. Receive holy communion and do not imitate those who refrain from receiving communion because their will had been tempted. Did you give your consent? Everyone is tempted, even the saints, and they were tempted harshly indeed!
Even if, God forbid, you happen to fall into mortal sin, do not lose heart. Beware not to lose heart. Humble yourself. Be aware of your weaknesses, of you unfaithfulness to God. But do not let this make you lose heart. Go to confession quickly and admit your sins sincerely and contritely, without inventing excuses. Receive absolution and keep going!
St Francis de Sales writes "A man is travelling to a far-away country. As he is climbing a hill, he slips and consequently his clothes become covered with dust. What should he do? Go back? No, otherwise he would never reach his destination. He should just remove the dust and keep travelling." If, God-forbid, you happen to fall into sin, do not get discouraged. Don’t say "I won’t remain a member of the Society" or "I will not teach catechism any longer". You won’t achieve anything if you take this decision and you will not atone for your sin.
If you have committed sin, make a true act of contrition, examine yourself carefully, observe your ingratitude towards God, become aware of your unworthiness and your lack of skill. Acknowledge that in times of victory, you conquered through God’s grace and not through your skill. Make an act of contrition, go to confession and strive to work harder to atone for your sins.
I am saying this just in case any of you might find himself in such a situation. I am aware that we are frail human beings, and each one of us can fall into sin. Although we are members of the Society of Christian Doctrine, we are certainly not infallible.
If, God forbid, you happen to fall, do as I have instructed you and glory be to God.
Lawrence Formosa
Gzira - Malta