When Tempted

When you are tempted to sin but refuse to give in to the temptation, you deserve a reward, according to Saint Padre Pio. One day one of his spiritual children, Mario Tentori, was afflicted with a violent temptation. Mario prayed to God and thought about Padre Pio who always prays for and cares about and looks after his spiritual children. As a result, Mario restrained from sinning. When he went to Confession a few days later to Padre Pio, the first thing Mario related to Padre Pio was about the difficult moment when he was near to offending God. Padre Pio, rather than chastizing him, as Mario had expected, said to Mario, "But you didn't do it!" Our Saint Pio knew that Mario was the scrupulous type, so he went on to explain that a rejected temptation is NOT a sin but is a reason for reward. (page 231, Testimonies, by Father Marcellino IasenzaNiro)

So keep "fighting the good fight," my dear friend, and don't be so hard on yourself. You're on the right path, so never fear; Jesus is with you every step of the way, accompanied by His Mother and Saint Padre Pio and your dear sweet faithful Holy Guardian Angel.

I love you.