Manifold is the struggle with thoughts that conquer or are defeated, said the Fathers. First there is a "preposition," then a "combination," then a "addition," then a "captivity," and finally a "passion."

A "pretext" is a simple temptation which, like a picture, arises, penetrates into the heart and reveals itself to the mind.

"Combination," as they say, is the acceptance, with or without passion, of temptation from an enemy who is secretly present, in other words, a conversation with him; In this case, we do not push the thought away and allow it to enter our consciousness and be discussed. And this, they say, is already a sin.

"Addition," they say, is the sinful sympathy of the soul with the temptation that appears or its picture; At the same time, whoever accepts temptations or pictures coming from the enemy, occupies his thoughts with them and begins little by little to incline towards the temptation offered.

"Captivity" is when a thought involuntarily and forcibly takes possession of our heart, settles in it, and destroys our good disposition.

"Passion," as they say, is when sin becomes our custom. For the most part, this happens because we treat many people boldly, follow our own will in the worst sense. Passion

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is subject either to repentance or to oven flour. One must repent and pray in order to be freed from all passion. For every passion is subject to eternal torment, not because it has been subjected to reproach by it, but because of impenitence.

From Word 2

About our struggle with the above-mentioned additions;

about victory in it through the remembrance of God and the guarding of the heart, that is,

through prayer and mental silence, and how to act

in these ways; here also about the gifts

The Fathers said about this struggle: in order to defeat the enemy, we must resist the insidious temptation, as far as our strength allows. A crown will be given to the overcomers, and torment will be prepared for those who avoid repentance. A reasonable and good struggle, say the Fathers, is when temptation begins, that is, as soon as a pretext appears, immediately bow one's head and pray unceasingly, for whoever opposes the pretext will cut off the head of everything that follows with it.