Illusions

149. What are illusions?

Illusions are false ideas which Satan endeavors to plant in our mind in order to make us eventually abandon meditation.

150. Mention some illusions.

1. To believe that mental prayer is too difficult, and that we shall never succeed in performing it well.

2. To believe that it is useless to apply ourselves to mental prayer, since we do not make any progress in virtue anyhow.

3. To judge of the value of our meditation by the consolations or good sentiments we experience.

151. Show the falsity of the first illusion.

Mental prayer, as has already been said and proved, is always possible and even easy for those who are animated with a good will.

152. Show the falsity of the second illusion.

Meditation performed with a good will is necessarily attended by progress in virtue, though the progress may not be perceptible from day to day.

153. In order to make plain the falsity of the third illusion, state by what we should judge of the value of our meditations.

We should judge the value of our meditations especially by the firm determination of our will to reform our lives, to be less selfish, to be more charitable, more submissive to God's holy will, more obedient, more pure, and more humble.

154. What benefits accrue to us from the difficulties of meditation?

The difficulties of meditation contribute to maintain us in humility, insure our progress in solid virtue, prevent remissness and illusions, and increase our merits.

- taken from Catechism of Mental Prayer, by Father Joseph Simler