Seduction, Beauty, Charm
If beauty is attractive, we must be careful of the seduction of the world, which can turn us away from our path to Heaven.
In "The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me"
Grace and splendor
- Would you have preferred not to exist? Did not this earthly day deserve to be lived for its own sake; good though poor and naked, and made harsh by your wickedness, to know and admire the infinite beauty that the hand of God has spread throughout the universe?[1]
Deceptive lures
- The seduction of the world: Be strong and wise. Do not let yourselves be deceived by lying words, by traps, by seductions. Remember what Deuteronomy says: "Traps confuse the eyes of the wise and pervert the words of the righteous [Deuteronomy 16:19]".
Now be careful, watch so as not to be caught by lies and not to serve the Enemies, even unconsciously. Know how to keep yourselves free like the Birds who prefer frugal food and a branch to rest on, rather than golden cages where food is abundant and where there is a comfortable nest, but where the caprice of men keeps them prisoners. (...)
They will try to seduce you, perhaps they already have, by taking each of you at your weak point, for the servants of Evil are cunning, being instructed by the Evil One. Do not believe their words: they are not sincere. (...) On the contrary, you must distrust their Actions and pray for them that they may become good.
I do so. I pray for you, that you may not be deceived by this new war, and for them, that they may cease plotting conspiracies against the Son of Man and offending God his Father. And you, follow my example. Pray much to the Holy Spirit, that He may give you light to see clearly and be pure if you want to have Him as a friend.[2]
In other works of Maria Valtorta
The Notebooks of 1944
- Catechesis of January 2 : Beauty itself is a weapon in the hand of Satan, and he does not neglect to imprint his seductive nature on his instruments. Thus he draws them to his abysses and there he can reach their Heart by inoculating the triple sin [...] When Satan wants to seize a prey, he presents the Woman, for the conquest of whom money and honors are necessary. Once he has caught her, he denies her money, honors, and the Woman, leaving only despair and death.[3]