Spiritual Dryness.. sadness.. and the approach of Christmas

  • Thread starter Thread starter MarieVeronica
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

MarieVeronica

Guest
Hello dear forum. I would be very grateful, for the sharing of your experiences on the subject of spiritual dryness (especially hard, for some during the Christmas season).

My family is currently split up (we’re all in different states; and some are not on speaking terms) through a series of unplanned events. I’m alone with the care of my elderly mother (who suffers from Alzheimer’s), and with Christmas approaching, I’m feeling depressed… and spiritually dry. I’m finding it very difficult to pray and the closer we get to Christmas… the sadder I become.

I have learned from watching EWTN, and reading the writings of Mother Angelica… that spiritual dryness is a Gift, from God. Because He is teaching us to rely totally on Him, and thereby brings us closer to Him. In a way, He is trusting us… with the trial of spiritual dryness. But during the trial, it often doesn’t seem that way. Of course, we’ve all read or heard about the fact that Blessed Teresa of Calcutta suffered from spiritual dryness for years.

I suspect that it is a fairly common thing… but maybe, not talked about too often? I think we probably all go through this… to some degree. And so, I’d appreciate the sharing of your experiences… your prayers… and any words of wisdom you can offer.

God bless all, and thank you in advance.:angel1:
 
I have been in one of those states for a couple months now. Very hard to pray, and hard even to focus on reading scripture. No feeling of connection with or presence of God.

Having gone through and come out from it before though, what I have found is that I have to just be faithful and pray and read anyway. A large part of that prayer is simply “I know it is I that has moved rather than You, and I simply trust that if I continue to look that You will show Yourself at the appropriate time.” If often feels completely false and insincere. :o

To be fair, even within marriage I have found these periods of dryness. And in that I found that continuing to say the words, even when they didn’t feel true, eventually brings me back to where I’m supposed to be. And it is likely that just continuing to say the words helps to make sure that you aren’t straying away in the meantime, into a place that is harder to return from.

I pray for you whatever degree of peace you can find, and it may be precious little. But I do know that He has a plan and that our benefit is always part of it, however He might be working it out.
 
Hi,

Sorry you have been down and have dryness. I can relate to this and especially this holiday. I no longer have my dad who passed last year Dec.17, and one of my daughters will not be comng down for Christmas.

What I have found is to look at the cross and think about Jesus and his passion. I also get much peace with saying the Divine Chaplet of Mercy and meditating on each thing that Jesus went through during his passion.

I take one day at a time, live in the present and try to thank God for another day to do the best I can for him.

Pray when you don’t feel like praying, you will get through the dryness, persevere.

You are not alone, you have God and others like yourself who understand what you are going through.

Sending prayers and love your way.
 
Dear friends… thank you so much. I can’t tell you how consoling your words were. Your words will help me to persevere. God bless you. 🙂
 
I have had several dry spells during the course of my life. One thing I have learned is that it always passes, sooner or later. Just hang in there and keep on praying, attending Mass, and reading spiritual material, and trust that God is still there with you even when you are not feeling His presence. I know it’s hard when it seems as if you are just going through the motions, especially at Christmastime, but just keep your eyes on the Cross. You might want to read St. John of the Cross’ “Dark Night of the Soul,” too. God bless you. And welcome to the forums!
 
I have gone through these periods, too. I’m sure many of us have.

I was speaking to my priest about an especially dry time a couple of years ago. I shared with him that I continued to try to pray, especially the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, but I didn’t feel any connection to God, or any joy or peace after praying.

Father told me that God especially appreciates our prayers during these dry times, because we are doing it completely out of love and faithfullness, and not because of any benefit we feel from the prayer.

Think of this time as a special, fruitful time of prayer for you and for others, even though you may not “feel” like it. Offer your dryness for your family. Do you say a morning offering prayer? Father also told me that when we do this, we are offering our whole day as a prayer, all the we do, think, say, feel, etc.

Here’s the one I use:

Dear Lord Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary I offer you my day: my work, my rest, my prayers, my joys and my sufferings, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered throughout the world today, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the world, for Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for the intentions of my friends and family, especially for (special intentions here), for all poor souls in purgatory and for those who have most need of Your mercy and grace.
 
MarieVeronica said:
I suspect that it is a fairly common thing… but maybe, not talked about too often? I think we probably all go through this… to some degree. And so, I’d appreciate the sharing of your experiences… your prayers… and any words of wisdom you can offer.

God bless all, and thank you in advance.:angel1:
Click to expand...
This happens in AA a lot, and we have two sayings that sometimes seem like contradictions…

“Fake it 'till you make it”

“Act as if”

In other words, keep trudgeing the road of happy destiny, even if the happinness seems to be absent at the moment:o
 
I don’t know if anyone else posted this, since I’m just skimming, so forgive me if it’s a repeat:

Consider the 5th Joyful Mystery- the Loss of the Child Jesus. For three days, Our Lady and good St. Joseph lost the Child Jesus. When they found Him, what did He say? Don’t you know that I was doing my Father’s work?

This always helps me. Even when Jesus is hidden from us, He is doing His Father’s work. So though we might be rushing around like Our Lady and St. Joseph, distressed to no end at the loss of Jesus, He’s still there, unseen, doing what needs to be done.

Merry Christmas.
FMS
 
Feedmysheep said:
Consider the 5th Joyful Mystery- the Loss of the Child Jesus. For three days, Our Lady and good St. Joseph lost the Child Jesus. When they found Him, what did He say? Don’t you know that I was doing my Father’s work?
Click to expand...
Wow, nobody ever told me that before. I will remember it when I run into those dry spells. Thanks for sharing, and have a blessed Christmas!
 
Howdy!

I can definitely relate to periods of spiritual dryness! Oftentimes I become very frustrated with myself and with God when my prayer life falls to the wayside or when I just don’t want to volunteer at the church anymore.

Looking back at the periods that I have encountered, I realized that through each of them I have grown in some way… it was all imperceptible to me at the time, but now I realize how much I have learned through each of these experiences!

I believe that the thing which helps me to persevere through the hard times stems from my years spent with high school youth group. You see, we were taught never to be complacent with our prayer life or our relationship with God. There is always so much room to grow in our relationship with the Trinity!

In times of spirituaI dryness, I remember all the ways in which God has blessed me and remained faithful to me, and I trust that things will get better.

During one of my most recent spiritual droughts, I was attempting to pray following Mass one day, when I stared up at the crucifix behind the altar. It seemed that no matter what I did, I couldn’t focus on my prayer, so after staring at the crucifix for a bit, I closed my eyes to concentrate on my prayer.

…And what did I see but the image of Christ on the cross! The after-image remained burning in my vision, and though I could not clearly see Him there (for my eyes were in fact closed), God showed me then that although I may not see or feel Him at times, He remains ever-present to us and ever-faithful in His promises to us! Through this simple occurrence, God reminded me of His great love!

Hope that helps! I’m praying for you! May God bless you in this most joyous of seasons!
 
Dear forum members… Thank you, all… so much for your responses to this post. They have helped, tremendously.

And I’d like to thank “Feedmysheep” especially. Your answer was so profound. I had never thought of your example (the 5th Joyous Mystery). It was so true, what you said… that Our Lady and St. Joseph must have felt such sadness, such emptiness, such “dryness” at the loss of Jesus.

That is what this forum is all about… we are all here, to help each other on the journey. And I am truly grateful to God… for your insights. I can hear His words, in so much that I read here. God bless all of you… and I wish each one of you a very Blessed and Merry Christmas… and a Happy New Year.:angel1:
 
quote: MarieVeronica
My family is currently split up (we’re all in different states; and some are not on speaking terms) through a series of unplanned events. I’m alone with the care of my elderly mother (who suffers from Alzheimer’s), and with Christmas approaching, I’m feeling depressed… and spiritually dry. I’m finding it very difficult to pray and the closer we get to Christmas… the sadder I become.
Click to expand...
I did not see your thread until a few moments ago,
MarieVeronica. That you are caring for your mother
at home and doing this by yourself is heroic love.

My mother is near the advanced stage of Altzhiemers,
and I had dinner with Mom at noon, today.
She has severe osteoporosis, and so I can no longer
lift her from her wheelchair, to help her into my car.
My father had schizophrenia, and now Mom has Atlzheimers.
In a frank moment, I asked God if He was trying to drive me around the bend.

Yet with both of my parents, there were and are
many who provided and provide care. You are
caring for your mother at home. God bless and
care for you, MarieVeronica. I do know that sometimes
Christmas may seem more like Good Friday.
Please know that you have my prayers. Each of us
will have his/her own Easter Sunday one day, when Christ
will greet us saying “Come, ye blessed of My Kingdom.
I was helpless and you cared for Me. Enter the joy
of My Kingdom.”
I do find that when overwhelmed with sadness and grief
I do not even try to say anything. I just see myself sitting
on the ground and leaning against His cross. Then I don’t
have to say anything because He knows. For then
He cares for me, as you care for your mother. Sometimes
just leaning against the cross with a heart that is so empty
brings comfort of mind, heart and soul. For He surely
understands.

reen

.
 
Just keep praying and puring your heart out to God. Tell him about how you are feeling and how you hurt. Just try to walk with him even when it is difficult. You’ll get there.

Lord please Bless MarieVeronica and her family. Fill her heart with your love.

Amen
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top