Spiritual Dryness

[HonoraDominum]

But I mean have you ever prayed a Rosary and felt the exhaustion and dryness as you try to pray each Hail Mary?

There’s a quote from St. Therese of Lisieux that says exactly how I feel about saying the Rosary, so instead of me trying to explain, I’ll let little Therese speak for me:

However, I would not want you to believe, dear Mother, that I recite without devotion the prayers said in common in the choir or the hermitages. On the contrary, I love very much these prayers in common, for Jesus has promised to be in the midst of those who gather together in His name. I feel then that the fervor of my Sisters makes up for my lack of fervor; but when alone (I am ashamed to admit it) the recitation of the rosary is more difficult for me than the wearing of an instrument of penance. I feel I have said this so poorly! I force myself in vain to meditate on the mysteries of the rosary; I don’t succeed in fixing my mind on them. For a long time I was desolate about this lack of devotion which astonished me, for I love the Blessed Virgin so much that it should be easy for me to recite in her honor prayers which are so pleasing to her. Now I am less desolate; I think that the Queen of heaven, since she is my MOTHER, must see my good will and she is satisfied with it. Sometimes when my mind is in such aridity that it is impossible to draw forth one single thought to unite me with God, I very slowly recite an “Our Father” and then the angelic salutation "Hail Mary, full of grace, etc.]; then these prayers give me great delight; they nourish my soul much more than if I had recited them precipitately a hundred times.

The Blessed Virgin shows me she is not displeased with me, for she never fails to protect me as soon as I invoke her. If some disturbance overtakes me, some embarrassment, I turn very quickly to her and as the most tender of Mothers she always takes care of my interests. How many times, when speaking to the novices, has it happened that I invoked her and felt the benefits of her motherly protection!

 

[Living_Stats]

Honora Dominum, this has got to be the best expression of how I feel. I’ll definitely use the advice of St. Therese of Lisieux more often. Thank you so much (and Therese of Lisieux)!

 

[timotheos]

Everytime I pray now, I feel no joy. I feel like maybe I’m trying too hard to concentrate on actually connecting with God. I do not feel his presecence anymore. Any help?

OK, just last night at my Adoration hour I read from St. Faustina’s diary, notebook 1, entries 77 and 78. You wanna know desolation, read her, and her very-human reactions, even questioning the value of her vocation. Towards the end of entry 78, when she finally submits to her suffering and Jesus appears to her and says “I am always in your heart”, she writes, “One act of trust at such moments (suffering) gives greater glory to God than whole hours passed in prayer filled with consolations. Now I see that if God wants to keep a soul in darkness, no book, no confessor can bring it light.”

People like St. Faustina are now known to be the heavyweights in the Church, but at one time they felt like just ordinary Catholics questioning the great suffering they were enduring. It’s a grace that feels like anything but. Learn from her, and others like her.

(Hey, I need to take my own advice!)

 

[Apple_Fan_Boy]

I’m so relieved to know that I’m not the only one that has these thoughts.
I asked a question here a while back wanting to know how to pray.
That’s how bad it was and I guess still is for me.

I’ll say my prayers throughout the day. It just seems like there is no connection.
I pray to pray, more out of obligation than desire. For me it feels like I “need” to over “want” to… If that made any sense.

I know there is no right or wrong way to pray but the connection is so far lost that I feel that the longer I pray, the better it might be. Then I just start to ramble and repeat myself.

I still struggle but I keep on praying.

 

[baker350]

I know there is no right or wrong way to pray but the connection is so far lost that I feel that the longer I pray, the better it might be. Then I just start to ramble and repeat myself.
.

That is exactly how I feel. At Adoration I see people in deep prayer; some even appear ecstatic, while others appear completely distraught, but most everyone seems to be 100% engaged. Except me. I’m distracted by the dust on the windows, the kids I hear on the playground, the shoes on the lady in front of me. I still go, and I still pray, but I don’t feel like my prayer time is particularly productive.