Dark Night of the Soul for Non-Saints?

[Hipster_Doofus]

Like many of you, I’ve been following the news of Mother Teresa’s lengthy dark night of the soul, but I’ve been wondering–is this something that usually occurs with people at a high plane of spiritual development, or can it occur to the average, struggling church-goer, who’s probably in a state of mortal sin 80% of the time?

And how do you distinguish between the dark night and depression and/or grief?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Excerpts from the book Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. (section 153 on aridity):

"At the beginning of a more intense spiritual life the soul usually enjoys a sensible fervor which makes spiriual exercises easy and agreeable … However, this state does not ordinarily last long, and there comes a time when the soul is deprived of all sensible consolation. This suppression of sensible devotion is the state of aridity, which may have various causes.

"Sometimes it is the result of infidelity on the part of those who little by little have become lax, allowing themselves many slight satisfactions and pleasures and giving in to their curiosity, selfishness, or pride … If they only realized what benefits they were losing by such conduct, they would be ready for any kind of sacrifice rather than yield to these weaknesses … The unfaithful one who has fallen back into mediocrity cannot protest to the Lord in prayer that it loves Him and desires to advance in His love … Hence such a soul inevitably falls into aridity. In this condition the only remedy is to return to its first fervor … Our Lord loves so much to forgive!

"On the other hand, aridity sometimes arises from physical or moral causes which are entirely independent of ourselves: indisposition, illness, fatigue, or depression … It is a trial which may last a long time, but one in which we must, with good reason, see the hand of God which disposes everything for our good, and realize that He cannot fail to give us the grace necessary to proft by our suffering …

“If, in spite of everything, the soul does not succeed in moving its heart, let it love God by the will alone. This requires a great effort, but by it this faculty is strengthened. Almost withot realizing it, the soul is made capable of a more active, generous love. This love will be deprived of feeling, it is true, but we must remember that the substance of love does ot consist in feeling, but in willing to give pleasure, at any cost, to the person loved …”

The short answer to your question: in a saintly person, it is probably God’s way of purifying our love, so that we love Him for Himself, not for the feelings it produces. In a sinful person, we can safely assume that darkness or aridity is a result of our sinfulness.

 

[InLight247]

Good explanation, PhilotheaZ!

In other words, aridity or dryness of prayer life could have 3 possible causes:

• Slackness or sinfulness
• Severe life trials or hardships
• God’s way of purifying

And the Dark Night Saint John talks about belongs to the third one.

 

[TOP]

Does everyone who believes in God go through a “dark night” to some degree? Tim

 

[InLight247]

Does everyone who believes in God go through a “dark night” to some degree? Tim

Tim, I don’t know if my point of view makes sense, but my tentative answer to your question is “No”.

“Dark Night” means dark as the night, no light (presence of God) received at all.
In order to feel the pain of Dark Night, one has to first intensively long for God.

People who believe in God but live in grave sins probably care not about God that much; therefore, they may not feel the pain due to the absence of God, at least not consciously.

People who believe in God but always stay lukewarm are not likely to experience such pain either. God in their lives is not that critical anyway.

People who go through severe trials may feel deserted by God and experience the pain like the Dark Night. But not everyone go through severe trials in life. And everyone responds to hardship differently. Some may cling to God tighter instead of alienating from Him.

People who thirst for God, who have deep relationship with God, who have experienced great consolations, may or may not be granted the Dark Night. Each person has ups and downs in his prayer lives. But would everyone’s “down” ever be severe as the Dark Night?

I think God guides each of us uniquely. Everything is up to His purpose.

 

[TOP]

Tim, I don’t know if my point of view makes sense, but my tentative answer to your question is “No”.

“Dark Night” means dark as the night, no light (presence of God) received at all.
In order to feel the pain of Dark Night, one has to first intensively long for God.

People who believe in God but live in grave sins probably care not about God that much; therefore, they may not feel the pain due to the absence of God, at least not consciously.

People who believe in God but always stay lukewarm are not likely to experience such pain either. God in their lives is not that critical anyway.

People who go through severe trials may feel deserted by God and experience the pain like the Dark Night. But not everyone go through severe trials in life. And everyone responds to hardship differently. Some may cling to God tighter instead of alienating from Him.

People who thirst for God, who have deep relationship with God, who have experienced great consolations, may or may not be granted the Dark Night. Each person has ups and downs in his prayer lives. But would everyone’s “down” ever be severe as the Dark Night?

I think God guides each of us uniquely. Everything is up to His purpose.

Thanks for the answer. Tim