The best protocol I know of is the teaching of the '8 Thoughts' by the Desert Fathers (the precursor to the better known list of 7 Deadly Sins), which involves learning how to progressively recognize and purify the mind, heart, and body of 8 increasingly subtle patterns of sin:
1. Gluttony
2.Lust
3.Avarice/Greed
4.Anger
5.Dejection
6.Acedia
7.Vainglory
8.Pride
You start with the most coarse - the relationship with food, and train in discipline in this realm. When ready, you move to discipline in the realm of sexual energies and chastity, then possessions, then the emotional afflictions (anger and dejection), then finally the spiritual afflictions (acedia, vainglory, and finally the granddaddy of them all, pride). Traditionally, this is always done with the support and guidance of a spiritual father who was skilled in spiritual combat and could guide others.
John Cassian and Evagrius are the ancient teachers of this art, and we still have access to their writings.
I'd never seen this approach but I love the systematic breakdown and overcoming of each of the 8 thoughts. Do you have any specific books or resources from John Cassian or Evagrius that you'd recommend?
For Evagrius, it's a short work called The Praktikos - I like the translation by Fr. John Eudes Bamberger.
For John Cassian, his two major works are the Institutes and the Conferences - both document his time traveling in the Egyptian desert and the insights of the monks. I forget which one specifically goes over each of the 8 thoughts, but they're both very good.
Sr. Mary Margaret Funk, OSB, also has two contemporary books on the 8 thoughts and the desert tradition, Thoughts Matter and Humility Matters. Both books go over the 8 thoughts one by one and might be a more accessible starting point for some folks than the 4th/5th century texts of Evagrius and Cassian.
I recommend to not rely on your on strenght but on God's. Even if we as Christians (and especially as men) have to be strong and resitant to sin, the devil is not fair, he is a cheater by nature. So the only protection we have is Jesus. I also recommend all, I can talk by experience, to consecrate your life to Mary. She leads everyone to her Son and is the help of all Christians. There is a youtube channel called gabiafterhours, he led a consecration to Mary path and ,trust me, it changed my life for the better. God bless you all, thank you for this content 🙏
Great comment brother. So true. We sometimes, as men, want to do it on our own but relying on God for strength is definitely the wise thing to do. Also love what you said about consecrating your life to Mary, and will check out the YouTube channel. God bless you too king!
Tactic. I joined a men’s (only) leadership development and fitness group 6 years ago. It’s been a game changer on many levels. 5:30am, always outdoors, free and peer led. Great first decision of the day to get heart pumping and in communion with other like minded men. It’s a (free) movement called www.f3nation.com. Check it out.
Anger is sin according to Eph 4:31 and Col 3:8. I recommend not to use things or patterns from our previous life before we were saved.
Sin can only be overcome as you described it, through prayer and Bible study, the holy spirit will eventually strenghten the flesh to be able to say NO to sin.
The best protocol I know of is the teaching of the '8 Thoughts' by the Desert Fathers (the precursor to the better known list of 7 Deadly Sins), which involves learning how to progressively recognize and purify the mind, heart, and body of 8 increasingly subtle patterns of sin:
1. Gluttony
2.Lust
3.Avarice/Greed
4.Anger
5.Dejection
6.Acedia
7.Vainglory
8.Pride
You start with the most coarse - the relationship with food, and train in discipline in this realm. When ready, you move to discipline in the realm of sexual energies and chastity, then possessions, then the emotional afflictions (anger and dejection), then finally the spiritual afflictions (acedia, vainglory, and finally the granddaddy of them all, pride). Traditionally, this is always done with the support and guidance of a spiritual father who was skilled in spiritual combat and could guide others.
John Cassian and Evagrius are the ancient teachers of this art, and we still have access to their writings.
I'd never seen this approach but I love the systematic breakdown and overcoming of each of the 8 thoughts. Do you have any specific books or resources from John Cassian or Evagrius that you'd recommend?
For Evagrius, it's a short work called The Praktikos - I like the translation by Fr. John Eudes Bamberger.
For John Cassian, his two major works are the Institutes and the Conferences - both document his time traveling in the Egyptian desert and the insights of the monks. I forget which one specifically goes over each of the 8 thoughts, but they're both very good.
Sr. Mary Margaret Funk, OSB, also has two contemporary books on the 8 thoughts and the desert tradition, Thoughts Matter and Humility Matters. Both books go over the 8 thoughts one by one and might be a more accessible starting point for some folks than the 4th/5th century texts of Evagrius and Cassian.
Dang I wish you could save comments. This is a wonderful approach to defeating sin
I recommend to not rely on your on strenght but on God's. Even if we as Christians (and especially as men) have to be strong and resitant to sin, the devil is not fair, he is a cheater by nature. So the only protection we have is Jesus. I also recommend all, I can talk by experience, to consecrate your life to Mary. She leads everyone to her Son and is the help of all Christians. There is a youtube channel called gabiafterhours, he led a consecration to Mary path and ,trust me, it changed my life for the better. God bless you all, thank you for this content 🙏
Great comment brother. So true. We sometimes, as men, want to do it on our own but relying on God for strength is definitely the wise thing to do. Also love what you said about consecrating your life to Mary, and will check out the YouTube channel. God bless you too king!
Good and insightful read! One of those rare pieces I’ll try to reread from time to time.
Glad to hear it brother! God bless
Good stuff.
Glad you liked it brother. God bless 🥂⚔️
Tactic. I joined a men’s (only) leadership development and fitness group 6 years ago. It’s been a game changer on many levels. 5:30am, always outdoors, free and peer led. Great first decision of the day to get heart pumping and in communion with other like minded men. It’s a (free) movement called www.f3nation.com. Check it out.
This is an amazing resource brother, thank you very much for sharing. I see it's going to be available in Spain soon, can't wait!
Sounds like a very good description of working out one's salvation.
You adviced to get angry to defeat sin ?
Anger is sin according to Eph 4:31 and Col 3:8. I recommend not to use things or patterns from our previous life before we were saved.
Sin can only be overcome as you described it, through prayer and Bible study, the holy spirit will eventually strenghten the flesh to be able to say NO to sin.