Padraig, I have a question for you. As individuals, we have our strengths and weaknesses, and our personalities often determine what they are. Take myself, for instance, I have strong auditory skills: I love music, am a good listener, and am strongly inclined toward the humanities, not the hands-on stuff. However, I have to talk to think and, at times, will be caught mumbling to myself. In addition, I'm not very attuned to my physical surroundings, and can't find something I'm looking for even if I'm staring right at it! Now where did those blasted car keys go?! Well, for years I was embarrassed by these foibles, but as the years have passed they bother me less and less. However, it does seem as if there is nothing I personally can do to overcome them. So, does expriencing the Dark Night affect any of these imbedded, annoying personality traits? Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Hi Terry, . I am surprised but delighted to see you bak posting. I hope that yourself, Geralyn and family are happy, growing and thriving in the Lord. The Dark Night can be compared to an in depth spiritual cleansing. A bit like Purgatory -on-Earth. Or again akin to the predicted , 'Warning' (though on a much vaster ,deeper scale)were souls will be shown themselves in God's light, as they really are in the Light of the Holy Spirit , warts, bunions, boils and all. But it is not true I think that everyone experiences the Dark Night in the same depth or duration, for every soul is different. In terms of duration some folks are only in it for a year or two . Others for a much longer period. In my own case would say maybe 24 years or so. I think in answer to your question I would say the answer is both yes and no ( I wish I could be more definite) . Take for instance the father of St Therese of Liseaux, the blessed Louis Martin , a person of the highest sanctity. Now Louis of course in his latter years suffered from Alzeimhers. ..and so I think provides suffiicient evidence that holiness is no innoculation from neurological disorders. St Teresa of Avila notes, in fact that that the onset of the Dark Night an result in a whole host of crosses coming with it. So relationships suffering, being misunderstood, financial problems, ill health and so on. Crosses upon crosses. Couples with this intense distress, a feeling of being abandoned, of inner darkness, a lack of ability to pray and so on. A lot like Jonah in the bible who was tried by God through His permission to sift Jonah, 'Like wheat' Part of the trouble is I think that a lot of bad stuff is bubbling under the surface in all of us and it is only in stirring the pot during the Dark Night and so such subliminal stuff comes clearly to the surface. A lot of it to do with sins, sinful habits, hurts and wrongs in our past life. So much so indeed that people in the Dark Night can often be adjudged by others as being mentally ill of at least in need of qualified intervention. Its a bit like a doctor treating a bad back ,say. He might have to perform surgery causing extreme pain and disabilty in order to provide relief/ Making things worse in order to make them better, so to speak. Or a psychotherapist who in releasing buried hurts causes extreme pain in his client in order to bring relief to repressed emotions. I am trying to think of an analogy in answer to your question. Consider the Dark Night as an extreme Light being shone on the soul by the Holy Spirit. Now in terms of healing and even reconstruction the first place this light, 'Hits', so to speak is the soul itself. This is God's main work and His main concern .This work is mystical and here by mystical I mean a lived exploration of the Mystery of Christ. The Holy Spirit's concern here is to reorder us so that we are remade as much as possible into the image of Christ. All else flows from this; psychological, emotional and physical healing being much further down n the line so to speak. Sadly in modern writing.... Time for mass . What an interesting subject matter. I will continue this later.
I have never heard any of this before. How long can this dark night last for. Can it last years? FoundSoul.
Found Soul, yes it can last for years. St. Therese the little flower suffered for years with only slight breaks, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta they say suffered for forty years in the dark night of the soul and Mother Angelica suffered for many years with it too. But the people around them said they never would have known it from their demeanor because they always seemed to be happy, joyful people. Guess that's the difference between a saint and the rest of us. Also, with Blessed Louis Martin and his suffering, it helps to remember that he came home one day and told his family that he had offered himself up as a victim soul, breaking down in tears as he told them.
Mark Mallet had a thought provoking quote to teenagers, "Jesus came to take away your sins, not your personality". Somehow He loves us even when we are not easy to love. Even more amazing is that He wants us to love our neighbor foibles and all. If God made you more of a wrench than a hammer, just be the best wrench you can be and don't worry about having traits like a hammer.
Its a bit like the tide ooming in and knocking down sand castles. Some it does some it doesn't. God recreates us as super souls, rather than supermen
But I was talking to a very great mystic in the USA a oouple of months ago and she says God is moving mankind to a New Eden through current events. This was so insightful. But there will always be the cross, always be the cross, always the cross.
Because i have had a car stolen twice and one burnt in front of my appartment I always park up at nights in an elderly people fold's car park about 20 minutes walk from my home. So first thing every morning at around 5 am myself and the dog venture out first thing to get the car . it is usually an enjoyable walk though sometimes a little tricky with drunks and drug users coming home from night cubs in the early hours. However since she is a Japanese Akita and well capable of taking on a charging bear this little bothers the two of us. It is maybe more of a bother in heavy snow or rain. Most especially if, being forgetful I forget the car keys. I look in my pockets and realise with horror I have to walk up and down again soaked and cold to refind them. But I really find when this happens it is a time of much deeper prayer. I have to forgive myself first of and then develop peace and acceptance in accepting God's will in this matter. So what is a little mistake becomes a chance for real prayer and sacrifice. For you know it is not the really big Crosses ,which come and then go that nail us in love to the Cross but the little ones. ..and if I was not forgetful this great chance to hold God's hand a little tighter. At work too. As a means of deeper prayer and penance I work just as hard and well as I possibly can, something which is by no means natural to me. I didn't want it but this has meant I have built up this great reputation there of being a top flight worker. Sometimes when people ask why I work so hard I simply tell them the truth; that it is to honour God and often they stare at me when I do with mouth gaping; which is fun. However being forgetful I sometimes make the most horrible simple mistakes. One of the supervisors when she discovers this loves coming right down stairs and shouting all over the place in front of eve ryone about this (I think maybe beause she is a little jealous of my rep ). But this is such an exellant thing because it keeps my feet well on the ground otherwise I would e very,very hard to stick. So all in all I hope I keep this human foible, at least, for it has become such a good friend.
When I was younger I had all sorts of nicknames, Misty Christy, Spacey Gracey and Airhead of course from those who really knew me. It was my forgetfulness that brought those handles, my mind just went else where. I've learned tricks along the way to tether my attention to what's at hand and I've practiced the Litany of Humility daily to to help me with what my absentmindedness produces. Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being loved... From the desire of being extolled ... From the desire of being honored ... From the desire of being praised ... From the desire of being preferred to others... From the desire of being consulted ... From the desire of being approved ... From the fear of being humiliated ... Fromthe fear of being despised... From the fear of suffering rebukes ... From the fear of being calumniated ... From the fear of being forgotten ... From the fear of being ridiculed ... From the fear of being wronged ... From the fear of being suspected ... That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I ... That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease ... That others may be chosen and I set aside ... That others may be praised and I unnoticed ... That others may be preferred to me in everything... That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…
Padraig, Your thinking of foibles as your friends hit the nail on the head for me. Thanks! And as much as I've enjoyed praying the prayer of humility that Lee posted, I'll be able to memorize this one of yours! Va, va voom! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
