By Father Gabriel of St Mary Magdalene, O.C.D.

Even without the presence of other causes, it is possible to pass from a state of sensible spiritual fervor to one of absolute aridity. This happens by the direct work of God which makes it impossible for the soul to pray with the help of the mind alone, or to practice acts of sensible love as we did before. The fact is that, whereas meditation or affection with God was formerly made with ease and comfort, the soul finds it impossible to connect even two ideas. Thoughts or reading which once moved the soul now leave it indifferent, the heart remains cold and hard as a stone.

Even though watching over itself carefully in order to be faithful in mortification and generosity; even though intensifying its preparation for prayer, and fervently beseeching the Lord for help, it no longer succeeds in wringing one drop of devotion from its heart.

Then the poor soul in darkness worries and is afraid, thinking that the Lord has abandoned it, perhaps because of some fault or other. What she does not realize is that this kind of aridity conceals a great grace: the grace of purification and of progress in the ways of prayer. In fact, by means of aridity, the Lord intends to free it from selfish feelings and to raise it to the purer, firmer level of the will.

When it was experiencing so much comfort in prayer and feelings the Soul, unknown to itself, it was becoming somewhat attached to these sensible consolations. Hence it loved and sought prayer not purely for God Himself, but also a little for itself.

Now, deprived of all attraction for prayer, the soul will henceforth learn to apply itself to it solely to give pleasure to the Lord. Furthermore, finding no help in beautiful thoughts and sweet emotions, it will learn to walk by strength of will alone, exercising itself in acts of faith and love which, it is true, are wholly arid, but are all the more meritorious because they are more voluntary. In this way, its love for God will become purer, because it is more disinterested; and stronger, because it is more voluntary.

Unto Humility

Through aridity, the soul also makes progress in humility. The inability to meditate, to fix its attention, to awaken good sentiments in its heart, all these convince the soul more and more of its nothingness. This state makes it realize, without effort or reasoning, that, apart from God’s help, it can really do nothing.

Thus, little by little, that high opinion of self, that feeling of confidence in its own strength, which had more or less secretly insinuated itself into the soul when all was easy and pleasant in prayer, now vanishes.

At the same time, seeing how poor and wretched it is in the presence of God, there is born in the soul a feeling of more profound respect and greater reverence before the infinite majesty of God.

When it could speak heart to heart with Him in prayer, the soul may have forgotten.somewhat the infinite distance which always separates God, the infinite One, from His creature.

It is true that God wants us to act toward
Him with great confidence and He invites us in thousands of ways. But it is very precious, this feeling of greater reverence which gradually ripens in the soul through the experience of its own nothingness, and which always, even in moments of the greatest loving intimacy, permit it to approach God with true humility of heart.

Offering This Nothingness

If, therefore, during the time of prayer we can do nothing but humble ourselves before God, by recognizing our own nothingness and showing Him our impotence, our incapacity, yes, even offering God this very nothingness in adoration of His infinite being we will have made very good use of suffering greatly from distractions.

We will often then feel as though we have done nothing during prayer. But let us not be disturbed, because as St. Peter of Alcantara says:

“He who does the little he can, does much before God.”

It is not difficult to persevere in prayer when we find consolation in it, but there is great merit in doing so when sensible devotion is reduced to a minimum.

Yet it is precisely then that prayer
becomes more meritorious and humility is increased, as well as patience and perseverance.

Prayer

“O Lord, blessed be Your Name forever, because You willed me to suffer this tribulation. I cannot escape it, so I have recourse to You, that You may help me to profit by it. O Lord, I am deeply afflicted, my heart can find no rest, and it suffers much on account of this hard trial.

What am I say to You, O beloved Father? I am in anguish. Lord, save me! This happens to me in order to glorify You by my very suffering and humiliation, but later, You will deliver me.

May it please You to deliver me, O Lord, Give me once more the grace of patience! Help me, Lord, and I shall fear nothing, even if the burden is heavy.

And now, what shall I say in all these misfortunes?

Lord, Your will be done. I well deserve the tribulation which is crushing me. I must bear it. May I do so patiently, until storm is past and calm re-established…

O Lord, make my darkness serve to enlighten souls.”

— from Divine Intimacy

+ Do not permit the darkness to frighten me