How to act during temptation, and some tricks the devil uses to ensnare the young.
On advising the young how to act during temptation, Don Bosco suggests they “avoid occasions of sin, such as evil conversations and immoral public shows,” and always try to keep themselves occupied. If the temptation persists, they should “make the Sign of the Cross, kiss some holy object,” and implore the intercession of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, whom he recommends on account of being the Church’s patron of the young, and for his heroic avoidance of occasions of sin and conquering of temptation through severe penances. He warns that the devil will certainly try to dissuade them from the pursuit of holiness by suggesting the difficulty of pursuing the “road of virtue, free from all pleasures” for some forty or fifty years, to which Bosco objects that they could all die at any moment, and that in any case, those who live for pleasures always end up more miserable than those who live to please God. He grants that constantly thinking about an eternity of punishment can be very distressing, and encourages them that this fear will be overcome by the confident hope of heaven which comes to those who put their trust God.
The Catechism deals with “temptation” in its exposition of The Lord’s Prayer; quoting Origen, it explains “there is a certain usefulness to temptation” because it reveals one’s evil inclinations, and thus allows them to be grateful to God for having been delivered from them. To this end, it says that temptation requires discernment from necessary trials, and between consent to temptation, and that, following Jesus’ example in the desert and Gethsemane, this can only be achieved through prayer.
Certainly, a critical theological principle which arises from comparing these two sources is the necessity of discernment in the spiritual life. Granted, Bosco’s treatment of temptation presumes a simple-minded audience who aren’t likely to live very long, so are best off mortifying themselves as severely as necessary to stave off temptation until they are mercifully recalled to heaven, rather than engage with temptation at all and risk hell. On the contrary, the Catechism treats temptation as a spiritual struggle which is necessary for growing in relationship with God and purifying one’s intentions, where the means to overcome is always available to those willing to engage in the battle. In other word’s, where Bosco’s solution is perpetual flight from the enemy, the Catechism teaches to learn to fight the enemy. Many Catholics today, regardless of age, are not even aware that discernment and growth are essential aspects of the Christian life; they presume that they’re essentially free to pursue their own will, so long as they don’t break any of the Church’s rules, and if they’re ever unsure of how to proceed in a certain situation, they ask a priest or their most churched friend for the answer. All Christians must appreciate that: discernment is a necessary skill for growing in their spiritual lives; that it can be taught; that it isn’t meant to be easy, but becomes easier with regular practice; and that like any skill, it requires patience and persistence to persevere in.