Dark night or depression?
January 22, 2012 by Sister Carmen Laudis OCD
Filed under Aridity or Dryness, Carmelite Spirituality, Difficulties, Prayer, Q and A
Q: Dear Sister Carmen, I am struggling with prayer – it is very dry and I feel very alone but I have not given up. I believe I am in the dark night but I am also melancholy by temperament. How can I discern what I am experiencing? I don’t have access to a spiritual director because of my remote location. Am I depressed or in the dark night or both? I know you can’t know everything... Read More
Consolation and Desolation… What does it really mean?
November 7, 2011 by Fr. John Bartunek, LC
Filed under Consolation/Desolation, Q and A
Q: Dear Father John, I know you wrote before about consolation and desolation in the spiritual life. But I have a follow-up question. When we experience some kind of desolation, how do we know where it’s coming from? I mean, how do we know whether it’s really from God or not? A: This is a great question – and an important one, for Christians in today’s society. Consolation and Desolation:... Read More
Sayings of Light and Love #14
May 27, 2011 by Dan Burke
Filed under John of the Cross, Suffering
God values in you the inclination to dryness and suffering for love of him more than all the consolations, spiritual visions, and meditations you could possibly have. Saint John of the Cross More ”Sayings of Light and Love” ? About Dan BurkeDan is the founder of Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction and author of the award winning book, Navigating the Interior Life - Spiritual Direction... Read More
Dryness in Prayer – Part III – God’s Part in the Struggle
May 18, 2009 by Fr. John Bartunek, LC
Filed under Aridity or Dryness, Meditation, Prayer, Q and A
Q: Dear Father John, I have been praying (mental prayer) for a long time. But lately I seem to be experiencing dryness in my prayer – I just don’t seem to get as much out of it as I used to. Is this the “dark night of the soul”? If not, what’s going on, and what should I do? Lack of consolation in prayer (also known as dryness) may be a result of un-confessed... Read More
Dryness in Prayer – Part II – Our Part in the Struggle
May 4, 2009 by Fr. John Bartunek, LC
Filed under Aridity or Dryness, Meditations, Prayer, Q and A, The Better Part
Q: Dear Father John, I have been praying (mental prayer) for a long time. But lately I seem to be experiencing dryness in my prayer – I just don’t seem to get as much out of it as I used to. Is this the “dark night of the soul”? If not, what’s going on, and what should I do? Dryness in prayer is the contrary of consolation (the sense of satisfaction that God... Read More
Prayer of St. Augustine on Aridity
April 28, 2009 by Dan Burke
Filed under Aridity or Dryness, Meditations, Prayer, Prayers of Saints, Saints and Blesseds
“Lord, my God, You who are holy, look and see my affliction! Have pity on the child whom You have engendered in sorrow and do not consider my sins, lest you forget Your power over them. What father will not liberate his son? And what son has not been chastised by his father’s compassionate rod? O Father and Lord, although I am a sinner, I am nonetheless Your child, because You have... Read More
Dryness in Prayer – Part I – What is going on?
April 27, 2009 by Fr. John Bartunek, LC
Filed under Aridity or Dryness, Prayer, Q and A
Q: Dear Father John, I have been praying (mental prayer) for a long time. But lately I seem to be experiencing dryness in my prayer – I just don’t seem to get as much out of it as I used to. Is it the “dark night of the soul”? If not, what’s going on, and what should I do? A: The Catechism (#2731) mentions dryness as one of the most common obstacles to prayer. ... Read More
![Fidelis Schabet [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons copy 2](http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Fidelis-Schabet-Public-domain-via-Wikimedia-Commons-copy-2-70x70.jpg)
