What should I do when Satan attacks me with thoughts of self righteousness?

Requested and Answered by Shenouda on 20-Jul-2005 05:09

What should I do when Satan attacks me with thoughts of self righteousness?

There are two basic methods of fighting thoughts of self righteousness, and they are:
a) For a person to remember his sins, and
b)to recall the highest stages reached by the saints


Recalling one’s sins will make a person humble, contrite and ashamed, because even a single sin can cause him to perish. Likewise, bringing to mind the highest stages which the saints attained in each form of virtues will make a person realize how insignificant he is if he should compare himself to that level.

We must attribute to God’s grace any virtue or good thing which we may have done, and must remember that self righteousness will make Gods grace forsake us and leave us to fall.

This would soon make us aware of our weakness and we should return to a humble position.

Therefore, you must remember to be afraid of falling whenever you submit to thoughts of self righteousness because ‘pride precedes the fall’.

This Q&A was found on Archangel Michael & St Bishoy Coptic Orthodox Church : http://www.stbishoy.org.au/modules/smartfaq/faq.php?faqid=24