Ascent of Mt. Carmel and Dark Night

[DBT]

Thank you for the kind words, Carole, old friend

The reading from today’s Evening Prayer somehow seems appropriate:
Ephesians 3:20-21:

To God whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine – to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, world without end. Amen.

 

[DBT]

. . . seems like the dark night of sense.

And

I’ve found vocal prayer so dry and unproductive that I’ve started going to daily Mass and Adoration since praying at home is that much more dry.

Seems like you’ve got it right Immersing ourselves in the Sacraments and sitting quietly before Him in silent adoration . . . not doing but just being . . . is probably the best medicine at such a time.

Blessings to you and all . . .
Dave

 

[InLight247]

The Chinese translation of “Contemplation” is “Silent Look”.
In other words, it says: “I silently look at the Lord and the Lord silently looks at me.”
I think this translation tells a good story of contemplation, i.e. what David mentioned about “being” not “doing”.

Here are some of my thoughts:
Contemplation seeks after the union with God.
In order to reach union, two parties must get close to each other. No one have union by staying apart. In order to stay close to God, one must be right with God, be purified, and obtain His likeness. That’s what Fr. Dubay talked in his book about “only the pure could have the union with the Pure”. Working on virtues is emphasized by all the Saints. It is critical for receiving the gift of contemplation that we so desire for.

Though we are discussing contemplation mainly from St. John’s and St. Teresa’s writing, contemplation is a universal form of prayer. Other Saints also talked about contemplation, though each approach might be a little different.
By reading what other saints said, I find essentially they all point to the same direction.
For example, St. Ignatius talked about contemplation to attain love: ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jsuebersax/contempl1.htm
His spiritual practice always starts with the exercise of reflecting on sins. Ridding of sins, even venial sins and imperfection is a critical step of working on virtues that leads to the openness of attaining union with God.

St. Francis de Sales’ “Introduction to the Devout Life” also heavily emphasizes on virtues.
catholicity.com/devoutlife/

Personally, I find the following help me get close to God:

• Frequent Holy Communion
• Daily Eucharist Adoration
• Frequent Confession
• Prayers – both vocal and mental
• Practice the Presence of God
• Scripture readings
• Spiritual readings

And the Dark Night of Sense is part of the purification and working toward holiness.

While I am mindful of my progress on the journey, I try not to be too concerned about exactly where I am, or worry about when I may advance into the next mansion.

Just some thoughts to share. With you, my friends.

 

[beckycmarie]

While I am mindful of my progress on the journey, I try not to be too concerned about exactly where I am, or worry about when I may advance into the next mansion.

Just some thoughts to share. With you, my friends.

Thanks for that, InLight. It has taken me quite a bit of growth to detach from worrying about getting to the next level. For a while there I was reading everything I could get my hands on trying to figure out where I was and what to do to get to the next mansion.

I am learning though, and have found that a surefire way NOT to get to the next mansion is to resist grace. Each step of the journey is valuable. While keeping the goal in mind is good, it’s foolish to obsess about it to the point that we miss the lessons we’re supposed to be getting along the way.

 

[InLight247]

For a while there I was reading everything I could get my hands on trying to figure out where I was and what to do to get to the next mansion.

I applaud your efforts though, Becky!
Few young people at your age are so interesed in the stuff we are talking about here.

You are just doing great!

 

[DBT]

Hi Inlight and Beckycmarie -

Yes it’s good not to obsess about these things . . . but it’s also important to have some sense of the roadmap to the journey we’re all on. It’s a balancing act . . . eyes toward heaven, feet on the ground

Fr. Dubay has a wonderful summary of St. Teresa’s ideas on all this in “Fire Within.” I think it’s the chapter titled “Why Study Stages” or something like that. For those interested in Fathers’ book, it’s a good place to start.

Each step of the spiritual journey has its own set of pitfalls that far to often shipwrecks souls on deserted spiritual shores. Simply knowing what lies ahead, God willing, or what to do when something new or unexpected occurs can be a great benefit . . . especially at turbulent times like the passive night of sense currently being discussed.

It seems to me St. John’s concern at times like the passive night of sense is twofold:

1. That resisting the grace being given (in this case contemplation) compounds the suffering being experienced.

and . . .

1. That lack of understanding . . . not knowing the roadmap, if you will . . . causes far to many souls to simply give up at the first sign of trouble. And that’s a great tragedy.

Dave

 

[InLight247]

Hi Inlight and Beckycmarie -

Yes it’s good not to obsess about these things . . . but it’s also important to have some sense of the roadmap to the journey we’re all on. It’s a balancing act . . . eyes toward heaven, feet on the ground

Yes, road map and understanding of different stages are absolutely necessary. Dave, your explanation of “sleep” is really good. I have been thinking about your analogy and cannot help smile each time.

Each step of the spiritual journey has its own set of pitfalls that far to often shipwrecks souls on deserted spiritual shores. Simply knowing what lies ahead, God willing, or what to do when something new or unexpected occurs can be a great benefit . . . especially at turbulent times like the passive night of sense currently being discussed. Dave

I totally agree. I said not to overly concern about when to advance into the next mansion is because I have experienced the helplessness of my concern. No matter how eager I am, there is no way to accelerate it. All I can do is stay on the right track and leave it to God.

 

[DBT]

InLight247:

All I can do is stay on the right track and leave it to God.

 

[InLight247]

I read the following from the book of “Sevensacredpauses” by Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B. sister of St. Scholastica Monastery.

There is a difference between waiting and keeping vigil. Anxious, fretful, impatient, waiting is nothing more than waiting. Waiting with purpose, patience, hope and love is vigilant waiting. Would that all of our waiting could be a vigil – a watch in the night or in the day hours. So by all means, find a way to make your vigils sacred. Learn the art of holy waiting.

This reminds me of the waiting for a better union with God, the discussions of dark night and the eagerness of advancing into higher mansions of contemplation. If we make the journey of our transformation and union with God a holy waiting, we are actually better practicing the virtue of patience and humility. It is a surrender on our part. And, waiting in general, whatever its nature is, could be practiced into a holy waiting if so we choose.

I think relinquish waiting for anything with faith, hope and love could be a holy waiting, but it is not easy.

 

[DBT]

If we make the journey of our transformation and union with God a holy waiting, we are actually better practicing the virtue of patience and humility. It is a surrender on our part.

Just a few randomly pulled quotes from St. Teresa in her discussion of the 4th dwelling (the beginnings of infused contemplation) in “Interior Castle” that echo your thoughts. No doubt hundreds more can be found throughout her writings
Interior Castle IV:1:

It will seem that to reach these dwelling places one will have to have had to live in the others a long while…For the Lord gives when He desires, as He desires, and to whom He desires. Since these blessings belong to Him, He does no injustice to anyone.

Interior Castle IV:2:

After you have done what should be done by those in the previous dwelling places: humility! humility! By this means the Lord allows Himself to be conquered with regard to anything we want from Him.

Interior Castle IV:2:

I really believe that whoever humbles himself and is detached…will receive the favor of this water (contemplation) from the Lord.

Note the progression in her thought . . . and humility is the key

Dave.

PS. I will be out of town for the next week so I’ll have to take my leave now. Blessings and peace to all!

 

[InLight247]

Thanks, Dave, for the remind of St. Teresa’s writing.

Have a great week!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Dave thanks for those quotes from St. Teresa.

I remember at my OCDS meeting, as we were studying the Interior Castle. The message we all learned in the end was,
humility.

For myself, putting it into practice is another story.

Jim

 

[InLight247]

Talking about humility, I like to share this paragraph from St. Francis de Sales:

Of a truth, nothing so tends to humble us before the Mercy of God as the multitude of His gifts to us; just as nothing so tends to humble us before His Justice as the multitude of our misdeeds. Let us consider what He has done for us, and what we have done contrary to His Will, and as we review our sins in detail, so let us review His Grace in the same. There is no fear that a perception of what He has given you will puff you up, so long as you keep steadily in mind that whatever is good in you is not of yourself. Do mules cease to be clumsy, stinking beasts because they are used to carry the dainty treasures and perfumes of a prince?

catholicity.com/devoutlife/3-05.html

While St. Teresa explained different mansions of contemplation, I find many other Saints’ writings are also very helpful. They taught us on virtues that open us up for receiving the gift of contemplation as God wills. All good works come together for the same purpose.

Humility is the basic virtue on which all other virtues could be built on. It is part of our nature to feel good and be proud of our own good deeds or performance; however, I think, if we could mindfully remind ourselves that all good things - talents, abilities, good temperament, good appearance, enthusiasm, zeal, even love of God, are all from above, all given by God, all from His grace,if we have such recourse often and give glory to God, then we are on our way to humility.