On the Four Temptations of the Enemy in the Hour of Death.—The First Temptation—Against Faith, and the Means of Overcoming It

There are four chief and most dangerous temptations to which our enemies, the demons, usually subject us in the hour of death: 1) assaults against faith, 2) despair, 3) vainglory, and 4) the various guises in which the demons clothe themselves and which they present to the departing.

As to the first: when the malicious enemy begins to sow thoughts of unbelief in you, or, appearing visibly, speaks against the faith, do not enter into dispute with him, but stir up within yourself faith in whatever he attacks, and say to him with holy indignation: “Away from my sight, Satan, father of lies. I have no wish even to hear you; with my whole soul I have always believed and do believe in all that my mother, the holy Church, believes. And this is enough for me.” And by no means admit thoughts of unbelief, and stand firm, according to the word of Scripture: ”If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place” (Eccles. 10:4).

Recognize more keenly and hold fast to this recognition: this is nothing but a trick of the devil, who is attempting to confuse you in your final hour. If you cannot stand firm in mind, stand bravely in desire and feeling; do not allow them to incline toward what is being suggested, even if it is covered over with citations of Scripture produced by the soul-destroying enemy, for whatever he may quote to you from Scripture is directed entirely toward your destruction through crooked interpretation and distortion of the truth of God’s words.

If this malicious serpent asks you: “And what does the Church teach?” — do not answer, and pay no heed to his words, despising him; but knowing that he is nothing but falsehood and cunning and has begun to speak with you only in order to catch you in your words, plunge into the contemplation of faith within your believing heart.

However, if you feel yourself strong in faith and firm in thought and you wish to put the enemy to shame, answer him that the holy Church believes in the one truth. If he asks again what truth that is, tell him: the truth in which he himself believes—namely, that Christ the Lord has struck him on the head through the cross and crushed his power. Then fix the gaze of your mind upon the contemplation of the Lord crucified for us, and pray to him: “My God, my Creator and Redeemer! Hasten to my help, and do not allow me to be shaken, even in the least, from the truth of your holy faith; but grant that, as I was born by your goodness into this truth, so remaining in it, I may bring my mortal life to its close, to the glory of your name.”