Two steps forward, one step backwards

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TK421

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Spiritual growth seems to be an uphill progression where I have frequent setbacks. How do I make quicker & more effective gains in my spirituality?

Sometimes the word ‘spirituality’ is used without understanding its meaning, even in a forum that is named after it. So, for the purposes of this thread, I am using it as it is understood in Catholic tradition: the fitness program that a person follows in order to increase in virtue.
 
What kind of progress do you want to make, if your looking to really gain alof of knowledge I recommend reading about the saints because their advice is incredible and what they tell you through what you read you remember later on stuff like don’t worry and attatchmenf amd the sort, if you feel like going to mass more you can do that , and confess venial sins more, gain a really good understanding of your faults so much that you’ll hate them and cleanse them, other than that I don’t recommend trying to do too much by yourself you will either burn yourself out like I do, and you have to let god do the work and let grace work itself, ask for things in prayer and when they come recognize
Them and be amazed at it but my advice is don’t worry too luv don’t burn yourself out mother Theresa said to priests once to
Stop reading and grab a broom and clean
 
St Mother Teresa is very quickly becoming one of my favorite if not my favorite saint in terms of how powerfully she speak to me. I have a book of daily meditations which include short quotations from her in speech or writing. It’s called “Thirsting for God”. Sometimes they hit me like a sludge hammer, in a good way.

For spiritual progress: Well, in everything, of course. I’m not sure if you can isolate it into categories.
 
Perhaps looking at it like that is what’s impeding you. The spiritual life is not about making quicker and more effective gains. It is about holiness and union with the Lord. We mustn’t set goals for the spiritual life or place conditions on it, and still less must we compare ourselves to others or even to our former selves. What matters is acceptance of what the Lord gives us in the present moment and embracing him here and now. Focus on living today well, not on where you were or where you’d like to be. The life of prayer is a gift from God.

-Fr ACEGC
 
I would like to recommend a book by Ralph Martin called “The fulfillment of all desire”. It divides spiritual life into three stages: purgative, illuminative and unitive, based on the teachings of a number of saints. I have heard about it from a member here, and am very keen to pass on the info.
 
edward_george said:
Perhaps looking at it like that is what’s impeding you. The spiritual life is not about making quicker and more effective gains. It is about holiness and union with the Lord. We mustn’t set goals for the spiritual life or place conditions on it, and still less must we compare ourselves to others or even to our former selves. What matters is acceptance of what the Lord gives us in the present moment and embracing him here and now. Focus on living today well, not on where you were or where you’d like to be. The life of prayer is a gift from God.

-Fr ACEGC
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Beautifully stated, yes!
 
We tend to like a linear progression of things and desire the same in the spiritual life.

It doesn’t work that way.

First off, it is through the transforming grace given to us by Jesus Christ which feeds us and helps us to grow.

St Teresa of Avila wrote the “Interior Castle,” and describe the many mansions God has us go into as we grow closer to Him.

My OCD spiritual director warned that we don’t just move from one mansion to the next higher mansion until we reach union with God.

Instead, we move to one mansion with part of our being, while remaining in a lower part with other parts. This is because we have not been purged of imperfections 100% and can only move closer to God with the proportion that we have detached from those imperfections.

Again, it’s God’s grace which helps us to detach.

The humble way of looking at it, is to understand that whatever good you have, did not come from your own doing, but from God’s grace.

All we can do is be open to God.

Jim
 
TK421 said:
Spiritual growth seems to be an uphill progression where I have frequent setbacks. How do I make quicker & more effective gains in my spirituality?

Sometimes the word ‘spirituality’ is used without understanding its meaning, even in a forum that is named after it. So, for the purposes of this thread, I am using it as it is understood in Catholic tradition: the fitness program that a person follows in order to increase in virtue.
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I often pray that I may increase in virtue … I ask Mary and Jesus for help with that … I know I do better when I make sure to receive as often as possible, go to confession frequently, wear both a crucifix and a miraculous medal, and pray both the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Rosary daily … along with praying to Jesus and Mary for virtues … not just regular prayers, but actually speaking to both Mary and Jesus and explaining to them what I feel I need help with … after I do all of this, I leave the rest up to the Lord and don’t worry about it.
 
Just walk the walk. There are no shortcuts. The occasional step backwards is to be expected. We’re only human.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
We tend to like a linear progression of things and desire the same in the spiritual life.

It doesn’t work that way.

First off, it is through the transforming grace given to us by Jesus Christ which feeds us and helps us to grow.

St Teresa of Avila wrote the “Interior Castle,” and describe the many mansions God has us go into as we grow closer to Him.

My OCD spiritual director warned that we don’t just move from one mansion to the next higher mansion until we reach union with God.

Instead, we move to one mansion with part of our being, while remaining in a lower part with other parts. This is because we have not been purged of imperfections 100% and can only move closer to God with the proportion that we have detached from those imperfections.

Again, it’s God’s grace which helps us to detach.

The humble way of looking at it, is to understand that whatever good you have, did not come from your own doing, but from God’s grace.

All we can do is be open to God.

Jim
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Beautiful explanation. Similarly, my ex-spiritual director, an ICRSS canon (God bless him; wish he were still my SD), and I once had this exchange.

Me: It seems to me that I think I’m making progress in my spiritual journey, but a year later feel as if I’m exactly where I was 12 months ago.
Him: Thank goodness.
Me: :eek:

His explanation, in a nutshell: the spiritual path is not linear. Sometimes we think we’re moving forward, then doubling back, then going around in circles, then upward in a spiral, then back down again, then at a standstill. Sometimes the path seems paved and dry, providing good footing. Other times it appears to be covered with ice or oil, and we slip and slide all over the place. Sometimes it’s fairly smooth, other times the path is punctuated with numerous holes we must avoid. But it’s good that it’s this way, because while no sense of progress plunges us into despair the perception of progress potentially feeds our pride. The important thing is not where we were three months ago nor where we want to be three months in the future. What we concentrate on is where we are right now.

If you don’t have a spiritual director, OP, you may wish to consider finding one. I don’t make more or less progress when I have an SD, but I tend to gain clarity and retain focus more easily in my journey towards the Lord when the Holy Spirit works in me through someone else.

God bless!
 
I have a book recommendation for you: Introduction to the devout life by St. Francis de Sales. I think this book would be excellent for you 👍
 
I sometimes feel this way too, that I’m either stuck or moving backwards spiritually. It’s normal to feel this way and it’s good to be dry at times since it builds our spiritual muscles (endurance). I was meditating today on Luke 1: 5-7 and the grapes I picked tie in nicely with this discussion…
Luke 1
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5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
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Zechariah & Elizabeth followed God faithfully, there was not a stain of disobedience on them, and yet Elizabeth was barren. To not be blessed with children during this time in history was considered a sign of God’s disapproval of you. So both Zechariah & Elizabeth did not have the consolation of a child, yet still walked faithfully in the path of holiness…FOR DECADES. They must have been at least 50 years old, and yet were still faithful to God even though He denied them this consolation.

They each are true models of loving, faithful perseverance.

In a symbolic way, their story also shows us that no matter what we do, no matter how good and holy and obedient to our Lord that we are, any good fruit and any spiritual consolations are provided by His hand, by His gift. It is not of our own doing, but His. So when we say to ourselves: “I don’t seem to be improving”, it’s like we think “If I do this and this and this, I should be more Holy”…yet…achieving a higher level of holiness or growing in virtue is not by our hands, it is purely a gift from God.

In other words, it’s in God’s time, not ours. Our job is to always try, to persevere, to cooperate with grace, but the rewards and progress are from Him.

In the end we get to rejoice with Zechariah & Elizabeth, they were blessed with a son and he was announced to them in a glorious & special way. Then not only did Elizabeth get to rejoice in her miraculous pregnancy, but she was also blessed by the mother of our Lord racing to her side to assist her. Think about that great honor! Tradition also has it that during this initial meeting of Elizabeth and Mary, Jesus sanctified John in the womb so that although he was conceived in original sin, the stain was wiped away before he was born. Some say that is why Mary “hastened” to Elizabeth, there was a sense of urgency given to her so that John would be cleansed from that stain asap. And then more blessings followed, their son John was declared by our Lord himself “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” And he was privileged to be the one to baptise Jesus, and was martyred for the Truth. So many rich and wonderful blessings and consolations and gifts were poured on these two and their son, and yet…it was decades before it all unfolded.

So to your question:
How do I make quicker & more effective gains in my spirituality
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I would say be patient with yourself and realize that your progress is in God’s hands and not by your own muscle. It’s necessary to absorb and accept this because then we are humble when we realize all that we have, all that we are, it is all a gift from God. On our own, we can be pretty lousy. With God, all things are possible.

The second piece of advice I would give is to frequently pray to God to help you grow in virtue and holiness, and even consider adopting Zechariah & Elizabeth as spiritual mentors, they will surely help and pray for you if you ask them too.
 
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