Confessions - Book Viii - Chapter IX
St. Augustine explores the paradox of the human will's divided nature, revealing the struggle between willing and unwillingness as a fundamental spiritual infirmity.
In this devotional sermon, St. Augustine delves into the complex nature of the human will, highlighting its internal conflict and spiritual infirmity. He explains the paradox of willing and unwillingness within the soul and emphasizes the necessity of divine mercy to overcome this struggle. Augustine's reflections offer profound insight into the human condition and the ongoing battle for spiritual wholeness.
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21. How can there be such a strange anomaly? And why is it? Let thy mercy shine on me, that I may inquire and find an answer, amid the dark labyrinth of human punishment and in the darkest contritions of the sons of Adam. Whence such an anomaly? And why should it be? The mind commands the body, and the body obeys. The mind commands itself and is resisted. The mind commands the hand to be moved and there is such readiness that the command is scarcely distinguished from the obedience in act. Yet the mind is mind, and the hand is body. The mind commands the mind to will, and yet though it be itself it does not obey itself. Whence this strange anomaly and why should it be? I repeat: The will commands itself to will, and could not give the command unless it wills; yet what is commanded is not done. But actually the will does not will entirely; therefore it does not command entirely. For as far as it wills, it commands. And as far as it does not will, the thing commanded is not done. For the will commands that there be an act of will--not another, but itself. But it does not command entirely. Therefore, what is commanded does not happen; for if the will were whole and entire, it would not even command it to be, because it would already be. It is, therefore, no strange anomaly partly to will and partly to be unwilling. This is actually an infirmity of mind, which cannot wholly rise, while pressed down by habit, even though it is supported by the truth. And so there are two wills, because one of them is not whole, and what is present in this one is lacking in the other.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Anomaly of the Will
- The mind commands the body and it obeys
- The mind commands itself but faces resistance
- The will commands itself but fails to fully obey
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II. The Dual Nature of the Will
- There are two wills within a person
- One will is incomplete and lacks fullness
- This division causes spiritual infirmity
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III. The Role of Divine Mercy
- Mercy is needed to illuminate and heal the will
- Human weakness requires God's support
- Truth sustains the will despite its infirmity
Key Quotes
“The mind commands the body, and the body obeys. The mind commands itself and is resisted.” — St. Augustine
“The will commands itself to will, and could not give the command unless it wills; yet what is commanded is not done.” — St. Augustine
“It is, therefore, no strange anomaly partly to will and partly to be unwilling.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Recognize the internal conflicts within your own will and seek God's mercy for healing.
- Understand that spiritual struggle is a common human experience, not a personal failure.
- Rely on divine truth and mercy to support your efforts toward spiritual growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does St. Augustine mean by the 'anomaly' of the will?
He refers to the paradox where the will commands itself to act but does not fully obey, revealing an internal conflict.
Why does the will not fully obey itself according to Augustine?
Because the will is divided and incomplete, part willing and part unwilling, causing resistance within itself.
How does Augustine describe the relationship between mind and body?
The mind commands the body and it obeys readily, unlike the will commanding itself which faces resistance.
What role does divine mercy play in this struggle?
Divine mercy shines light on the darkness of human weakness and supports the will in its spiritual struggle.
Is this struggle unique to Augustine's time?
No, Augustine presents it as a universal human condition rooted in the nature of the will.