A follow-up to the previous post regarding the seventh commandment:

“And immediately there came to mind the thief we all have inside ourselves and while I arranged the flowers I took the cross and with just a bit of force I removed it,” Pope Francis said.

The idea to steal a crucifix from a priest’s corpse was a temptation. The “thief we all have inside ourselves” is likely a demon tempting its prey, although it is quite possible the temptation was natural and occurred without any demonic prompting. It is certainly impossible to tell which based on a news story like this.

In any event, if something prompts you to perform an objectively evil act, such as stealing, resist! Or if the situation calls for it, flee! Temptations are to be fought or fled. Do not give in to temptations! Do not blandly accept that we all have a thief inside ourselves!

Christ came so that we might be victorious against such a tempter. He has showered graces upon us to help us in our fight against temptations. Pray that you might accept those graces and resist or flee any temptation that comes your way.

• Pope Francis
• 7th commandment
• temptation
• sin