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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Speaking in the chapel of the Vatican guesthouse, St. Martha's House, where the pope resides, he told a small audience that just as Jesus Christ was tempted in the desert by Satan, so too is every person in today's world tempted by the Devil.
"The Devil tempted Jesus many times and Jesus experienced temptation and persecution throughout his lifetime," said the Pope, as reported by Vatican Radio. "And He warned that whoever wants to follow Jesus must be aware of this reality."
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He steadfastly warned Christians to avoid "gossiping" as this is one of the temptations used by the devil to corrupt good people.
Life is a constant battle against evil due to the presence of the devil, Pope Francis said, admitting that even he "has been tempted to gossip'" about others.
"We too are the target of attacks by the devil because the spirit of Evil does not want our holiness," he said.
"We have a temptation that grows: it grows and infects others. For example, let's look at gossip: I'm a bit envious of this or that person and at first I'm just envious inside and I need to share it and go to another person and say: 'But have you seen that person?' ... and this gossip tries to grow and infects another and another ... This is the way gossip works and all of us have been tempted to gossip.
"Maybe not one of you, if you're a saint, but I too have been tempted to gossip! It's a daily temptation. And it begins in this way, discreetly, like a trickle of water. It grows by infecting others and in the end it justifies itself."
Pope Francis brushed aside the fact that some consider him old-fashioned for speaking about the devil.
"But look out because the devil is present! The devil is here ... even in the 21st century! And we mustn't be naïve, right? We must learn from the Gospel how to fight against Satan."
The pope added that devil does not want people to follow Christ, so he tempts them, and this is not old-fashioned rhetoric because "the Devil is here, even in the 21st century" and we must learn "how to fight against Satan."
"We are all tempted because the law of our spiritual life, our Christian life, is a struggle, a struggle," Pope Francis said. "That's because the Prince of this world, Satan, doesn't want our holiness, he doesn't want us to follow Christ."
"The Devil tempted Jesus many times and Jesus experienced temptation and persecution throughout his lifetime," said the Pope, as reported by Vatican Radio. "And He warned that whoever wants to follow Jesus must be aware of this reality."
Check out our fine selection of Bibles -- by going here!
He steadfastly warned Christians to avoid "gossiping" as this is one of the temptations used by the devil to corrupt good people.
Life is a constant battle against evil due to the presence of the devil, Pope Francis said, admitting that even he "has been tempted to gossip'" about others.
"We too are the target of attacks by the devil because the spirit of Evil does not want our holiness," he said.
"We have a temptation that grows: it grows and infects others. For example, let's look at gossip: I'm a bit envious of this or that person and at first I'm just envious inside and I need to share it and go to another person and say: 'But have you seen that person?' ... and this gossip tries to grow and infects another and another ... This is the way gossip works and all of us have been tempted to gossip.
"Maybe not one of you, if you're a saint, but I too have been tempted to gossip! It's a daily temptation. And it begins in this way, discreetly, like a trickle of water. It grows by infecting others and in the end it justifies itself."
Pope Francis brushed aside the fact that some consider him old-fashioned for speaking about the devil.
"But look out because the devil is present! The devil is here ... even in the 21st century! And we mustn't be naïve, right? We must learn from the Gospel how to fight against Satan."
The pope added that devil does not want people to follow Christ, so he tempts them, and this is not old-fashioned rhetoric because "the Devil is here, even in the 21st century" and we must learn "how to fight against Satan."
"We are all tempted because the law of our spiritual life, our Christian life, is a struggle, a struggle," Pope Francis said. "That's because the Prince of this world, Satan, doesn't want our holiness, he doesn't want us to follow Christ."
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Pope Francis calls for your 'Prayer and Action'
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Pope Francis Prayer Intentions for March 2014
Respect for Women: That all cultures may respect the rights and dignity of women.
Vocations: That many young people may accept the Lord’s invitation to consecrate their lives to proclaiming the Gospel.
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