Spiritual Dryness VS Spiritual Sloth

[Sir_Knight]

Another thread got me thinking about this. Not wishing to hi-jack the original thread, I decided to start a new one.

Is there a difference between “Spiritual Dryness” and “Spiritual Sloth”? How does one tell? What does one do about it?

 

[Joysong]

Spiritual dryness is a sense of repugnance or an interior lack of satisfaction when we are engaged in our customary spiritual exercises. [prayer, spiritual reading, liturgy, devotions] The person feels as if they are not being heard by God, because there is no sense of consolation or inspiration.

To distinguish the difference, one who is being tempted with spiritual sloth will abandon these exercises, except perhaps for mass, and often it is due to not finding any joy or satisfaction in performing them. Sadly, the condition will worsen, since they are no longer or seldom practicing their spiritual devotions.

The saints exhorted the devotee to continue these works in spite of insipidness and dryness to one’s spirit. Initially, God puts honey on His breast to attract the person to prayer, but the time comes when they must grow from knickers to trousers, so to speak. He weans them from the delight previously experienced through allowing periods of aridity, and it is felt by these persons that God has abandoned them. Not so.

Carole

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

Dryness is a lack of an apparent response by God while Sloth is a Laziness on the part of the prayerer in neglecting to pray.

 

[Lapsed]

I define dryness as a lack of a sense of intimacy with God. Note the term “a sense of.” Intimacy itself may not actually be lacking, but we might feel that it is.

Sloth on the other hand is a lack of effort in spiritual matters.

I would say that though dryness can certainly come without sloth, sloth will almost always lead to dryness. Overcoming sloth often leads to overcoming dryness.

I’ve heard it said by more than one person that when we least feel like praying is when we most need to pray.

 

[Jenlyn]

Carole said it so well, so I thought, if you would like further reading, I’d provide the quote and link for St. John of the Cross’s “Dark Night of the Soul” since he addresses this.

1. Also, regarding spiritual sloth, these beginners usually become weary in exercises that are more spiritual and flee from them since these exercises are contrary to sensory satisfaction. Since they are so used to finding delight in spiritual practices, they become bored when they do not find it. If they do not receive in prayer the satisfaction they crave - for after all it is fit that God withdraw this so as to try them - they do not want to return to it, or at times they either give up prayer or go to it begrudgingly. Because of their sloth, they subordinate the way of perfection (which requires denying one’s own will and satisfaction for God) to the pleasure and delight of their own will. As a result they strive to satisfy their own will rather than God’s.

The rest of the chapter can be found here:
carmelite.com/saints/john/works/dn_8.htm

 

[gardenswithkids]

Joysong:

To distinguish the difference, one who is being tempted with spiritual sloth will abandon these exercises, except perhaps for mass, and often it is due to not finding any joy or satisfaction in performing them.

I have some related questions on sloth as a cause of dryness vs.dryness from God. Is it “slothful” to change prayer practices, seeking the return of joy and satisfaction? Is it sloth if one persists in prayer but tries other styles and times for it? Should one persist through dry periods doing the “same old-same old”, or could some variety in seeking the Lord benefit one going through dryness?

I am just beginning to emerge from a “spiritual desert”, and this thread has me wondering if I put myself there or if God did?

 

[Joysong]

Dear Gardenswithkids,

I have some related questions on sloth as a cause of dryness vs.dryness from God. Is it “slothful” to change prayer practices, seeking the return of joy and satisfaction? Is it sloth if one persists in prayer but tries other styles and times for it? Should one persist through dry periods doing the “same old-same old”, or could some variety in seeking the Lord benefit one going through dryness? Definitely!

That’s an excellent question! The difference is that the person in dryness does persist with their customary spiritual exercises, even though they obtain no sensible pleasure, where the slothful abandons them when they see no benefit. When I mentioned awhile ago that the condition becomes worse for a slothful person, it is because they neglect prayer for so long a period, that it becomes increasingly difficult to return to it without a very strong determination of will.

One of the signs that God is moving the soul to another prayer form is often their feeling of repugnance and dryness when they engage in it. For instance, I remember being very disquieted with reciting my vocal prayers (those words of others that are recited from a prayer book or leaflet). When I went to confession and spoke to the priest about it, he suggested using affective prayer of the heart such as simple ejaculations, and then staying with the Lord in quiet rest for as long as the impulse lasts.

It was just what the doctor ordered! But a person has to grow into these prayer forms and come of age. A beginner would find this type of prayer very difficult. The same with our spiritual reading. If we find it to be dry and not nourishing our heart to love or growth in virtue, we need to change books, after asking the Lord to lead us through our desires. He seems to make us feel a questioning in some area, in order that we may search out references for the answer.

The only exception to all of this is that if a person has obligated himself through his vocation to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, whether or not this is “enjoyable” sensually, it should not be laid aside. Some third order people have this as part of their rule of life. Nor should mental prayer (conversation from the heart with God) be abandoned unless we want to become dry as a bone.

May God draw you ever closer to Himself,
Carole

 

[Lapsed]

gardenswithkids:

I have some related questions on sloth as a cause of dryness vs.dryness from God. Is it “slothful” to change prayer practices, seeking the return of joy and satisfaction?

No, often this is exactly where God is leading us with periods of dryness. He calls us to deepen our relationship with Him and sometimes that means changing how we relate to Him.

gardenswithkids:

Is it sloth if one persists in prayer but tries other styles and times for it? Should one persist through dry periods doing the “same old-same old”, or could some variety in seeking the Lord benefit one going through dryness?

Building spiritual strength can be a lot like building physical strength. It requires discipline, determination and effort.

Body builders reach plateaus where they stop gaining strength and bulk, and often times will begin to lose what they have built. The way most break through such plateaus is by changinf their routines. The muscles become conditioned to the usual exercises to the extent where those exercises are no longer effective. So they change their routine: workout times, what exercises they do, the amount of weight used, the number of times they do a given exercise, new exercises, diet; any number of things.

The same can apply spiritually. When our routines become just that - routine, it can be time to change them. This doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning everything! It could be simply a matter of rearranging things, or adding something simple. Or, sometimes, it might call for a whole new approach.

Of course, any practices which we have undertaken an obligation to perform must be maintained.

gardenswithkids:

I am just beginning to emerge from a “spiritual desert”, and this thread has me wondering if I put myself there or if God did?

If it brings you closer to God, I would say that God certainly had a hand it.

 

[tjmiller]

Spiritual dryness (contemplative aridity) can be a form of infused, supernatural prayer sent by God (cf. St. John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel), whereas spiritual sloth comes only from our sinful selves.

 

[Edwin1961]

My priest brother (I like to call him Fr. Bro.) told me that even when you make an effort to pray that God is pleased.

I have been going through a dryness for a number of years now, but I still pray, talk to God during my day, read my prayers, say the rosary and the Jesus Prayer, and read Scripture
.
I told my brother that when I read Scripture, it seems dry. He told me to keep reading, you may not be aware of it, but it is sinking into your brain and heart even though I may not be aware of it.

I had a spiritual conversion about just over 4 years ago, and Satan is trying to tell me that it never really happened and that it wasn’t real. A part of me is looking for another one like this as a way of knowing if God approves about the changes I’ve made in my life.

(I never received much positive feedback from my parents when I was growing up, so it is as if I’m looking toward God to give me a positive remark).

But I keep going on. Saint Paul wants us to perseve and run the race and fight the good fight.
I keep going on!

 

[Joysong]

Hi Edwin,

I told my brother that when I read Scripture, it seems dry. He told me to keep reading, you may not be aware of it, but **it is sinking into your brain and heart even though I may not be aware of it. Very true! Like a computer soaking up a data base. You never know when it will be needed, and you just need to press the button and it will come up before you. **

I had a spiritual conversion about just over 4 years ago, and Satan is trying to tell me that it never really happened and that it wasn’t real. And Satan has not been called "Accuser of the Brethren" for nothing!

Hang in there Edwin, you are doing well, and God is pleased!

Carole

 

[gardenswithkids]

Joysong:

Dear Gardenswithkids,

That’s an excellent question! The difference is that the person in dryness does persist with their customary spiritual exercises, even though they obtain no sensible pleasure, where the slothful abandons them when they see no benefit. When I mentioned awhile ago that the condition becomes worse for a slothful person, it is because they neglect prayer for so long a period, that it becomes increasingly difficult to return to it without a very strong determination of will.

**One of the signs that God is moving the soul to another prayer form is often their feeling of repugnance and dryness when they engage in it. For instance, I remember being very disquieted with reciting my vocal prayers (those words of others that are recited from a prayer book or leaflet). When I went to confession and spoke to the priest about it, he suggested using affective prayer of the heart such as simple ejaculations, and then staying with the Lord in quiet rest for as long as the impulse lasts. **

It was just what the doctor ordered! But a person has to grow into these prayer forms and come of age. A beginner would find this type of prayer very difficult. The same with our spiritual reading. If we find it to be dry and not nourishing our heart to love or growth in virtue, we need to change books, after asking the Lord to lead us through our desires. He seems to make us feel a questioning in some area, in order that we may search out references for the answer.

The only exception to all of this is that if a person has obligated himself through his vocation to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, whether or not this is “enjoyable” sensually, it should not be laid aside. Some third order people have this as part of their rule of life. Nor should mental prayer (conversation from the heart with God) be abandoned unless we want to become dry as a bone.

May God draw you ever closer to Himself,
Carole

Thank you Carole! That helps a lot!

 

[gardenswithkids]

Lapsed:

Building spiritual strength can be a lot like building physical strength. It requires discipline, determination and effort.

Body builders reach plateaus where they stop gaining strength and bulk, and often times will begin to lose what they have built. The way most break through such plateaus is by changinf their routines. The muscles become conditioned to the usual exercises to the extent where those exercises are no longer effective. So they change their routine: workout times, what exercises they do, the amount of weight used, the number of times they do a given exercise, new exercises, diet; any number of things.

The same can apply spiritually. When our routines become just that - routine, it can be time to change them. This doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning everything! It could be simply a matter of rearranging things, or adding something simple. Or, sometimes, it might call for a whole new approach.

Thank you also! The weight lifter analogy is particularly helpful.