Mysticism and Milk

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[BIBLEDRB]1 Corinthians 3:2[/BIBLEDRB]

I’ve been realizing, through much frustration, over the past few days that there’s an issue in the Church. It’s Christians who haven’t moved past the need for religious milk. Now hear me out, because I may seem to some to be overreaching my own level of authority here, but many Christians are stuck on a very comfortable and sentimental level of faith. They don’t seem to understand that righteousness takes a lot of effort and pain and thus have a more moralistic understanding of righteousness. Many of us probably have noticed that the homilies at our parishes are aimed at this lowest common denominator, and that they alternate between (as I said) consolations and exhortations to better morals. That is why I quoted the passage above - these people are those stuck on the milk of the Faith.

[BIBLEDRB]Hebrews 5:14[/BIBLEDRB]

How does mysticism come into play in this situation? Quite simply put, the mystical path is the way of all Christians on the path of righteousness. All progress in righteousness is mystical, whether overtly supernatural or not it is supernatural. Mystical theology shows us the what exactly the problem is and how to fix it. Christians who need milk are stuck in what is called the “Purgative Way” of the path to righteousness.

The purgative way is the way, or state, of those who are beginners, that is, those who have obtained justification, but have not their passions and evil inclinations in such a state of subjugation that they can easily overcome temptations, and who, in order to preserve and exercise charity and the other virtues have to keep up a continual warfare within themselves. It is so called because the chief concern of the soul in this state is to resist and to overcome the passions by nourishing, strengthening, and cherishing the virtue of charity. This can and ought to be done not only by keeping the Commandments, but by foreseeing the occasions in which the precepts oblige, so as to be ready by a prompt and well disposed will to resist and avoid any sins opposed to them. This state, although, in one sense, it is imperfect, in another sense may be called a state of perfection, because the soul remains united to God by grace and charity so long as it is free from the stain of mortal sin. Purity of soul may be said to be the proper end of the purgative way, and the forms of prayer suitable for this way or state are meditations on sin and its consequences, and on death, judgment, hell, and heaven. The acts which aid toward uprooting the remnants and habits of former sins, and preventing one from ever returning to them, are corporal austerities, mortification of the appetite, abnegation of one’s own will, and conformity to the will of God. In a word, the distinctive notes of this state are war against those temptations which entice the soul to sin by the attraction of pleasures of the senses and the natural shrinking from pain; and repugnance to acts known to be contrary to the will of God. The characteristic virtue of this state is humility, by which the soul is made sensible of its own weakness and its dependence upon the succours of the grace of God.

What mystical writers describe as the active and passive purifications of the spiritual life may be brought under, and arranged according to, their three states of perfection, though not confined to any one of them. The active purification consists of all the holy efforts, mortifications, labors, and sufferings by which the soul, aided by the grace of God endeavors to reform the mind, heart, and the sensitive appetite. This is the characteristic work of the purgative way. The passive purifications are the means which God employs to purify the soul from its stains and vices, and to prepare it for the exceptional graces of the supernatural life. In the works of St. John of the Cross these purifications are called nights, and he divides them into two classes, the night of the senses and the night of the spirits. In the state of beginners the soul is often favored by God with what are called “sensible consolations” because they have their beginning and are felt chiefly in the senses or sensible faculties. They consist in sensible devotion and a feeling of fervour arising from the consideration of God’s goodness vividly represented to the mind and heart; or, from external aids, such as the ceremonies of the Church. These consolations are often withdrawn, and a state of desolation ensues, and then the passive purification of the senses begins.

In this phase faith is more about basic right and wrong, and also as we see it is more about feelings. If we want to advance these Christians into a higher way of life we must ween them of their need for simple morality - not laying the same foundation again and again - and we must break them of their need for sentiment and comfort. We must get them to understand, according to this, that if they want to make progress toward the fullness of righteousness they must necessarily endure dryness, suffering, and ultimately detachment. They must learn penance and self-denial and unlearn the comfortable and “happy shiny” vision of Christian life that they have. We must avoid feeding into such a conception. This is why many of us are concerned about banality and sentimentality in the saying of the Mass, whether we’ve succeeded in placing these exact words to our thoughts or not. In the long run, homilies about consolations and morality combined with sentimental and theologically weak music at Mass - a lack of a sense of the sacred and vertically transcendent - will hold many Christians back from their full potential. Christianity will transform into a weak, comfortable, communal faith instead of the life-changing power it was supposed to be.

 

[Maristella]

If we want to advance these Christians into a higher way of life

Isn’t it the Holy Spirit’s job, and not ours, to “advance” others in their spiritual growth? I think it’d be more productive to be concerned with our own spiritual growth, and not focus so much on others, especially if we are doing so in a way that makes us think we are spiritually superior to them.

It might also be a good idea to read up on spiritual pride, lest we fall into this trap.

Spiritual pride is not a lesser obstacle. Speaking of beginners, St. John of the Cross remarks:

When beginners become aware of their own fervor and diligence in their spiritual works and devotional exercises, this prosperity of theirs gives rise to secret pride - though holy things tend of their own nature to humility - because of their imperfections; and the issue is that they conceive a certain satisfaction in the contemplation of their works and of themselves. From the same source, too, proceeds that empty eagerness which they display in speaking of the spiritual life before others, and sometimes as teachers rather than learners.** They condemn others in their heart when they see that they are not devout in their way. Sometimes also they say it in words, showing themselves herein to be like the Pharisee, who in the act of prayer boasted of his own works and despised the publican (Luke 18: I I f.). . .. They see the mote in the eye of their brother, but not the beam which is in their own.**

christianperfection.info/tta40.php

 

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Pray for me that I might break this… I’m miserable and angry all the time, constantly using pride like a shield. St. John described me to a T

I’m frickin’ scared of being judged as a bad person for being an atypical personality and use pride to defend my heart.

 

[Maristella]

You have my prayers. If you haven’t already done so, you might look for a spiritual director who can help guide you through these difficulties. God bless.

 

[Trishie]

There are reasons why you feel miserable and angry, and defensive.
You are hurting, and it’s not unusual to find some way to defend yourself, especially when you may be judging yourself as much a worrying about others judging you.
I don’t see a "bad’ person in that, but a person who is struggling and has hurts, and probably self-esteem issues, and not too sure of being loved and loveable perhaps.
I have to say, I’d not judge you and I’m sure many wouldn’t. We’d much rather help, if there is any way, to encourage you to find healing in your heart, and to meet with reassurance and welcome.

I once wrote the following:

Jesus, help me to share Your compassion, respect and delight in those who seem (to themselves or others) to reflect Your face poorly.

Please grant me the gift of conveying to each person, the beautiful, glimpsed vision of self, as You love him or her, a fallible human with entwined faults and virtues.

One sometimes glimpses another’s discouraged self-judgement, for she fears that Your plan of salvation builds upon some unlikely ‘ideal self’. She perhaps hopes that to others, only the good is evident. She fears that were others to sense the extent of her unworthiness, they may reject her—as indeed she fears You may.

Jesus, please extend Your hand to her through us who see her efforts and who have faith in the secret, unique miracle of her. Let her know that You love her as she is, and that You plan her holiness around her actual self and situation.

You fulfil Your dream of her and serve others through her flawed personality with its abilities, gifts and virtues, along with its faults and scars. Assure her that her efforts to live the Gospel are more precious because of her temptations, mistakes, and flaws, so that she is encouraged to faith and self-acceptance.

Father please let me see and share Your beautiful, unique, creative vision of my sister (of each brother and sister) regardless of ‘apparent’ flaws. In my warm acceptance of her, grant her (to each person) that restoring, blossoming fruitfulness of love—which the image of her cherished and accepted as she really is—produces in the most barren and bleak heart.

My sister, “Do not be afraid, you will not be put to shame.” [Isaiah 54:4]

“She”, or “he” , 'brother" “sister”, your profile doesn’t make clear…either way…

So many of us may go through stuff like you explain, and you don’t need to feel bad about yourself, or that any of us will.
Hopefully you’ll find a way through the stuff that bothers you so much.
My prayers for you.
best wishes, Trishie