In a world so profane in which sin reigns, I have the need to be a man of prayer. The word of God already alerts us: Watch and pray that you may not fall into temptation.

No it is not possible to live a holy and chaste life without the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. Human strength alone is not enough, it is necessary for supernatural strength to tread the road in the will of God and not fall into the seduction of the enemy.

No one is free from temptations and suggestions of the demon. He is going to enter into the openings of our life, and going to infiltrate into our weaknesses. He is pushing us into venial after venial sin until it becomes mortal, we fall into a spiritual blindness that transforms itself into a slavery difficult to overcome, the consequence is spiritual sin with the imminent risk of losing eternal salvation.

This is very serious. I know my weaknesses and limits, I know that the demon is waiting in ambush for an opportunity to devour me. Therefore, I should be strengthened in the grace of God through prayer, for alone I cannot overcome my weaknesses.

In our days of being men and women of God, a fertile and deep prayer life is an indispensible necessity. Watch and pray that you do not fall into temptation.

Strong Embrace

Ademir Costa

translated from Portuguese

from February 2013

This is part of a series this week of Deacon Candidate Ademir Costa’s previous writings on his blog Diário de um Consagrado Diary of a Consecrated Man. Deacon Candidate Costa and his seven classmates will become transitional deacons on his way to priesthood, on Sunday.