Struggle with aridity in prayer?

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Lifeisawesome

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What is aridity?
What are the causes?
How do you overcome it?
 
aridity is dryness, real, like the desert, where there is no apparent source of water or life, yet there is actually life teeming below the surface, not apparent to the casual observer. It is the emotional state of feeling no comfort in prayer or spiritual works, no sense of God’s presence and action in one’s life, no spiritual consolations, not even the sense of being faithful or fruitful in one’s vocation. the remedy is to keep praying, keep serving, keep performing the duties of one’s state in life.

its purpose is to break us out of this stage of spiritual development
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=336508
What more should I be doing? or what more can I do?

so that God uses this condition to work through us until we realize that He, not ourselves, is doing the work of growth in our souls.
 
I recently got out of a period of aridity in prayer, one which had lasted over 10 years.

I cannot emphasize how extremely difficult it is to live with this, especially for that long. However, it was after I had a realizition, and broke out of a pattern of thought which had been persistant in my prayers, that it finally ended. I am still not completely recovered, but I am finally on the path out.

I cannot emphasize enough how important being tenacious and persistant is in overcoming this, since based on how my prayer life has been, without fortitude in prayer I would have stopped years ago. I pray that this is an experience you never live with.

If you are always open to the Holy Ghost, than you prayer life will follow. My mistake had been seeking out God by following His commands and then praying, whereas I should have taken the Spirit into my heart and *then *lived it. When the Spirit is present, all other things follow like night follows day.

Yeah, it only took me 10 years to figure out something so simple. Go figure that.🤷
 
EnchantedEve said:
If you are always open to the Holy Ghost, than you prayer life will follow. My mistake had been seeking out God by following His commands and then praying, whereas I should have taken the Spirit into my heart and *then *lived it. When the Spirit is present, all other things follow like night follows day.

Yeah, it only took me 10 years to figure out something so simple. Go figure that.🤷
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Don’t be too hard on yourself–some people live their whole lives and never realize it.
 
puzzleannie said:
aridity is dryness, real, like the desert, where there is no apparent source of water or life, yet there is actually life teeming below the surface, not apparent to the casual observer. It is the emotional state of feeling no comfort in prayer or spiritual works, no sense of God’s presence and action in one’s life, no spiritual consolations, not even the sense of being faithful or fruitful in one’s vocation. the remedy is to keep praying, keep serving, keep performing the duties of one’s state in life.

its purpose is to break us out of this stage of spiritual development
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=336508
What more should I be doing? or what more can I do?

so that God uses this condition to work through us until we realize that He, not ourselves, is doing the work of growth in our souls.
Click to expand...
I like your definition.

My take - sword sharpening exercise:

Aridity has two primary sources:
  1. Us (i.e. sin or imperfection)
  2. God (i.e. we are ready to move into contemplation and he begins to lead us in this way)
There are exceptions to this, but these are the two normative causes and ends.
 
My dear friend

Good spiritual reading can help at these times. St Teresa of Avila would not go to prayer without good spiritual books near by in case of such a problem.

God bless you:)
John
 
I think I might be there.

Most of the time I just grit my teeth, and I’m also a little panicky in case I should go to bed and ‘forget’ certain prayers.

Comfort and peace are rare for me as is and I’ve experienced it a precious few times in prayer. The Rosary is one, and I am grateful it ‘chased away’ the worst darkness, but now I just seem to be hanging on by my eyebrows. I suppose it means I’m sinful; I don’t dispute that, but it seems my entire life is one long to-do list with no peace or enjoyment from anything.
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
I think I might be there.

Most of the time I just grit my teeth, and I’m also a little panicky in case I should go to bed and ‘forget’ certain prayers.

Comfort and peace are rare for me as is and I’ve experienced it a precious few times in prayer. The Rosary is one, and I am grateful it ‘chased away’ the worst darkness, but now I just seem to be hanging on by my eyebrows. I suppose it means I’m sinful; I don’t dispute that, but it seems my entire life is one long to-do list with no peace or enjoyment from anything.
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SK - how are you seeking to find His peace?
 
I don’t know. How do other people do it?

I read the Bible, watch EWTN, attend Mass and pray Rosaries and Divine Mercys and prayer intentions–I’ve gone to Adoration a couple of times but lately when my parish is supposed to have it, no one’s there.

I still feel like everything is a duty, and not just limited to the above.

PS: I know this sounds whiny and self-absorbed… but if I’m being candid, it’s how I experience things.
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
I don’t know. How do other people do it?

I read the Bible, watch EWTN, attend Mass and pray Rosaries and Divine Mercys and prayer intentions–I’ve gone to Adoration a couple of times but lately when my parish is supposed to have it, no one’s there.

I still feel like everything is a duty, and not just limited to the above.

PS: I know this sounds whiny and self-absorbed… but if I’m being candid, it’s how I experience things.
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How is your mental prayer?
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
:eek:

I’m not sure I even understand the question. Guess I have a long way to go.
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My dear friend ( this is not exclusively for you. Just a general comment on your query. I know you know and do some of this anyway )

Mental prayer means to just pray mentally with your mind, like meditation. The purpose is to work towards contemplation where , for a simple form, you might just look at God without effort and love Him which is contemplating Him. Contemplation requires a lot of knowledge of God you gain from reading the scriptures, good spiritual books and anything else that teaches you about God or the faith. The rosary is a great way to start - make a real effort to meditate on the mysteries. I’m assuming you don’t. Forgive me if I’m wrong. Without daily mental prayer we will fall into sin. It’s vital for the life of our souls. There is tons material we can read to give us knowledge and insight into the mysteries of the rosary. Pick up some and start meditating. The daily rosary results in heaven too. A great devotion.

God bless you:thumbsup:🙂
John
 
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