Consolation and Desolation - Revision history

Mxmsj at 09:32, 13 May 2023

2023-05-13T09:32:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:32, 13 May 2023
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	:: "That beautiful day passed just as the saddest ones do, since the most radiant of days has a tomorrow."		:: "That beautiful day passed just as the saddest ones do, since the most radiant of days has a tomorrow."

			:; St. Augustine

			:: Fear not when people tread on you. Wine you shall become. You became grape in order to be trampled. [...] If you think you will have no tribulations, you have not yet begun to be a Christian.

	== Faith and Feelings ==		== Faith and Feelings ==

Mxmsj at 07:37, 26 February 2023

2023-02-26T07:37:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:37, 26 February 2023
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	'''Consolation''' is when we feel close to God. It is easy to pray and it seems as though all of our prayers are answered. We feel like Jesus and are able to bear with insults gladly. Everyone we meet seems to be an angel in disguise and each day our faith grows by leaps and bounds. We work with zeal and take pleasures in meeting difficulties head-on.		'''Consolation''' is when we feel close to God. It is easy to pray and it seems as though all of our prayers are answered. We feel like Jesus and are able to bear with insults gladly. Everyone we meet seems to be an angel in disguise and each day our faith grows by leaps and bounds. We work with zeal and take pleasures in meeting difficulties head-on.

	'''~~Desolaton~~''' is the opposite mood. God seems to be paying no attention. We seek Him but do not find Him. Our prayers go nowhere. It is an agony to have to deal with our fellow human beings. It feels as though we are walking in darkness with leaden hearts; every step takes enormous effort.		'''Desolation''' is the opposite mood. God seems to be paying no attention. We seek Him but do not find Him. Our prayers go nowhere. It is an agony to have to deal with our fellow human beings. It feels as though we are walking in darkness with leaden hearts; every step takes enormous effort.

	Those are the times when you are near Jesus in His Agony in the Garden and in His death on the Cross. He also felt far away from His Father. He said, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" If the pure, innocent, and perfect God-man could feel this torment, we should not be surprised that we sinners do, too.		Those are the times when you are near Jesus in His Agony in the Garden and in His death on the Cross. He also felt far away from His Father. He said, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" If the pure, innocent, and perfect God-man could feel this torment, we should not be surprised that we sinners do, too.

	In times of desolation, we should:		In times of desolation, we should:

	* Keep following where Jesus leads.		* Keep following where Jesus leads.
	* Keep on doing what we are doing ("age quod agis") — we should never make or change a major decision in desolation, if at all possible. We should not resign from a job in a rage, or walk out on our families, or plunge into a new enterprise or relationship, or [[Choosing the right good\|say yes to the wrong good,]] etc.		* Keep on doing what we are doing ("age quod agis") — we should never make or change a major decision in desolation, if at all possible. We should not resign from a job in a rage, or walk out on our families, or plunge into a new enterprise or relationship, or [[Choosing the right good\|say yes to the wrong good,]] etc.
	* Act against (Latin: ''[[agere contra]]'') our feelings of abandonment by making acts of faith, hope, and love. Persistence in doing the right thing will strengthen our character. Action erodes depression.		* Act against (Latin: ''[[agere contra]]'') our feelings of abandonment by making acts of faith, hope, and love. Persistence in doing the right thing will strengthen our character. Action erodes depression.
	* Offer up our sufferings in union with the sufferings of Jesus. Suffering, in and of itself, is evil. Acceptance of suffering as an act of love for God and for our neighbor can, by God's grace and in God's time, bring good out of evil.		* Offer up our sufferings in union with the sufferings of Jesus. Suffering, in and of itself, is evil. Acceptance of suffering as an act of love for God and for our neighbor can, by God's grace and in God's time, bring good out of evil.
	* Realize that this state will not last forever. The worst case that we know of is Mother Teresa. She felt ~~the way you do~~ for ~~about~~ 50 years. So say to ~~yourself~~, "This probably won't last 50 years. And if it does, my faithfulness in suffering will make me a great saint like Blessed Teresa of Calcutta."		* Realize that this state will not last forever. The worst case that we know of is Mother Teresa. She felt desolate for almost 50 years. When we are in darkness, we should say to ourselves, "This probably won't last 50 years. And if it does, my faithfulness in suffering will make me a great saint like Blessed Teresa of Calcutta."

	:; [[Maxims\|St. Philip Neri]]		:; [[Maxims\|St. Philip Neri]]

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "--" to " — "

2022-12-10T10:04:10Z

Text replacement - "--" to " — "

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	::"In consolation, ever to be sober; in desolation, never to despair."		::"In consolation, ever to be sober; in desolation, never to despair."
	::: -- John Henry Newman, "Second Spring"		::: — John Henry Newman, "Second Spring"

	'''Consolation''' is when we feel close to God. It is easy to pray and it seems as though all of our prayers are answered. We feel like Jesus and are able to bear with insults gladly. Everyone we meet seems to be an angel in disguise and each day our faith grows by leaps and bounds. We work with zeal and take pleasures in meeting difficulties head-on.		'''Consolation''' is when we feel close to God. It is easy to pray and it seems as though all of our prayers are answered. We feel like Jesus and are able to bear with insults gladly. Everyone we meet seems to be an angel in disguise and each day our faith grows by leaps and bounds. We work with zeal and take pleasures in meeting difficulties head-on.
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	In times of desolation, we should:		In times of desolation, we should:
	* Keep following where Jesus leads.		* Keep following where Jesus leads.
	* Keep on doing what we are doing ("age quod agis")--we should never make or change a major decision in desolation, if at all possible. We should not resign from a job in a rage, or walk out on our families, or plunge into a new enterprise or relationship, or [[Choosing the right good\|say yes to the wrong good,]] etc.		* Keep on doing what we are doing ("age quod agis") — we should never make or change a major decision in desolation, if at all possible. We should not resign from a job in a rage, or walk out on our families, or plunge into a new enterprise or relationship, or [[Choosing the right good\|say yes to the wrong good,]] etc.
	* Act against (Latin: ''[[agere contra]]'') our feelings of abandonment by making acts of faith, hope, and love. Persistence in doing the right thing will strengthen our character. Action erodes depression.		* Act against (Latin: ''[[agere contra]]'') our feelings of abandonment by making acts of faith, hope, and love. Persistence in doing the right thing will strengthen our character. Action erodes depression.
	* Offer up our sufferings in union with the sufferings of Jesus. Suffering, in and of itself, is evil. Acceptance of suffering as an act of love for God and for our neighbor can, by God's grace and in God's time, bring good out of evil.		* Offer up our sufferings in union with the sufferings of Jesus. Suffering, in and of itself, is evil. Acceptance of suffering as an act of love for God and for our neighbor can, by God's grace and in God's time, bring good out of evil.

Mxmsj at 18:33, 25 August 2022

2022-08-25T18:33:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:33, 25 August 2022
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	:: "Patience is necessary for the servant of God; we must not be distressed at trouble, but wait for consolation."		:: "Patience is necessary for the servant of God; we must not be distressed at trouble, but wait for consolation."

	:; St. ~~ThÃ©rÃ¨se~~ of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, ''Story of a Soul''		:; St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, ''Story of a Soul''

	:: "That beautiful day passed just as the saddest ones do, since the most radiant of days has a tomorrow."		:: "That beautiful day passed just as the saddest ones do, since the most radiant of days has a tomorrow."
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	:; [http://usccb.org/bible/mark/15:32 Mark 15:34]		:; [http://usccb.org/bible/mark/15:32 Mark 15:34]

	:: And at three ~~oâ€™clock~~ Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"		:: And at three o;clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

	:; [http://www.usccb.org/bible/mt/27:46 Matthew 27:46]		:; [http://www.usccb.org/bible/mt/27:46 Matthew 27:46]

	:: And about three ~~oâ€™clock~~ Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"		:: And about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

	::: "Jesus cries out in the words of Ps 22:2, a psalm of lament that is the Old Testament passage most frequently drawn upon in this narrative. In Mark the verse is cited entirely in Aramaic, which Matthew partially retains but changes the invocation of God to the Hebrew Eli, possibly because that is more easily related to the statement of the following verse about ~~Jesusâ€™~~ calling for Elijah."<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/bible/mt/27:46#48027046-1 NAB footnote to Mt 27:46.]</ref>		::: "Jesus cries out in the words of Ps 22:2, a psalm of lament that is the Old Testament passage most frequently drawn upon in this narrative. In Mark the verse is cited entirely in Aramaic, which Matthew partially retains but changes the invocation of God to the Hebrew Eli, possibly because that is more easily related to the statement of the following verse about Jesus calling for Elijah."<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/bible/mt/27:46#48027046-1 NAB footnote to Mt 27:46.]</ref>

	===== Catechism =====		===== Catechism =====
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	* Teresa of Avila		* Teresa of Avila
	* ~~ThÃ©rÃ¨se~~ of the Child Jesus		* Thérèse of the Child Jesus
	* Mother Teresa of Calcutta		* Mother Teresa of Calcutta
	* John of the Cross		* John of the Cross

Mxmsj: /* Bright stars to steer by */

2021-06-01T10:31:42Z

Bright stars to steer by

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:31, 1 June 2021
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	Our task in times of desolation, then, is to remember what God has revealed to us and set our course by the light of those truths, even though, for a moment, we feel lost in darkness.		Our task in times of desolation, then, is to remember what God has revealed to us and set our course by the light of those truths, even though, for a moment, we feel lost in darkness.

			=== Scripture ===

			'''2 Cor 1:3-5'''

			:: Sia benedetto Dio,
			::: Padre del Signore nostro Gesù Cristo,
			::: Padre misericordioso e Dio di ogni consolazione,
			:::: il quale ci consola in ogni nostra tribolazione
			::::: perché possiamo anche noi consolare
			:::::: quelli che si trovano in qualsiasi genere di afflizione
			:::::: con la consolazione con cui siamo consolati noi stessi da Dio.
			:: Infatti, come abbondano le sofferenze di Cristo in noi,
			::: così, per mezzo di Cristo, abbonda anche la nostra consolazione.

	== Interpreting Desolation ==		== Interpreting Desolation ==

Mxmsj: /* Catechism */

2013-12-24T22:29:09Z

Catechism

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:29, 25 December 2013
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	===== Catechism =====		===== Catechism =====

	:; 2730		:; [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a2.htm#2730 2730]

	:: In positive terms, the battle against the possessive and dominating self requires vigilance, sobriety of heart. When Jesus insists on vigilance, he always relates it to himself, to his coming on the last day and every day: today. The bridegroom comes in the middle of the night; the light that must not be extinguished is that of faith: "'Come,' my heart says, 'seek his face!'" (Ps 27:8).		:: In positive terms, the battle against the possessive and dominating self requires vigilance, sobriety of heart. When Jesus insists on vigilance, he always relates it to himself, to his coming on the last day and every day: today. The bridegroom comes in the middle of the night; the light that must not be extinguished is that of faith: "'Come,' my heart says, 'seek his face!'" (Ps 27:8).

	:; 2731		:; [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a2.htm#2731 2731]

	:: Another difficulty, especially for those who sincerely want to pray, is dryness. Dryness belongs to contemplative prayer when the heart is separated from God, with no taste for thoughts, memories, and feelings, even spiritual ones. This is the moment of sheer faith clinging faithfully to Jesus in his agony and in his tomb. "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if dies, it bears much fruit" (Jn 12:24). If dryness is due to the lack of roots, because the word has fallen on rocky soil, the battle requires conversion (Lk 8:6,13).		:: Another difficulty, especially for those who sincerely want to pray, is dryness. Dryness belongs to contemplative prayer when the heart is separated from God, with no taste for thoughts, memories, and feelings, even spiritual ones. This is the moment of sheer faith clinging faithfully to Jesus in his agony and in his tomb. "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if dies, it bears much fruit" (Jn 12:24). If dryness is due to the lack of roots, because the word has fallen on rocky soil, the battle requires conversion (Lk 8:6,13).

	:; 2732		:; [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a2.htm#2732 2732]

	:: The most common yet most hidden temptation is our lack of faith. It expresses itself less by declared incredulity than by our actual preferences. When we begin to pray, a thousand labors or cares thought to be urgent vie for priority; once again, it is the moment of truth for the heart: what is its real love? Sometimes we turn to the Lord as a last resort, but do we really believe he is? Sometimes we enlist the Lord as an ally, but our heart remains presumptuous. In each case, our lack of faith reveals that we do not yet share in the disposition of a humble heart: "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).		:: The most common yet most hidden temptation is our lack of faith. It expresses itself less by declared incredulity than by our actual preferences. When we begin to pray, a thousand labors or cares thought to be urgent vie for priority; once again, it is the moment of truth for the heart: what is its real love? Sometimes we turn to the Lord as a last resort, but do we really believe he is? Sometimes we enlist the Lord as an ally, but our heart remains presumptuous. In each case, our lack of faith reveals that we do not yet share in the disposition of a humble heart: "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).

	:; 2733		:; [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a2.htm#2733 2733]

	:: Another temptation, to which presumption opens the gate, is acedia. The spiritual writers understand by this a form of depression due to lax ascetical practice, decreasing vigilance, carelessness of heart. "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mt 26:41). The greater the height, the harder the fall. Painful as discouragement is, it is the reverse of presumption. The humble are not surprised by their distress; it leads them to trust more, to hold fast in constancy.		:: Another temptation, to which presumption opens the gate, is acedia. The spiritual writers understand by this a form of depression due to lax ascetical practice, decreasing vigilance, carelessness of heart. "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mt 26:41). The greater the height, the harder the fall. Painful as discouragement is, it is the reverse of presumption. The humble are not surprised by their distress; it leads them to trust more, to hold fast in constancy.

Mxmsj: /* "My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?" */

2013-12-24T20:52:02Z

"My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?"

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:52, 24 December 2013
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	::: "Jesus cries out in the words of Ps 22:2, a psalm of lament that is the Old Testament passage most frequently drawn upon in this narrative. In Mark the verse is cited entirely in Aramaic, which Matthew partially retains but changes the invocation of God to the Hebrew Eli, possibly because that is more easily related to the statement of the following verse about Jesusâ€™ calling for Elijah."<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/bible/mt/27:46#48027046-1 NAB footnote to Mt 27:46.]</ref>		::: "Jesus cries out in the words of Ps 22:2, a psalm of lament that is the Old Testament passage most frequently drawn upon in this narrative. In Mark the verse is cited entirely in Aramaic, which Matthew partially retains but changes the invocation of God to the Hebrew Eli, possibly because that is more easily related to the statement of the following verse about Jesusâ€™ calling for Elijah."<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/bible/mt/27:46#48027046-1 NAB footnote to Mt 27:46.]</ref>

			===== Catechism =====

			:; 2730

			:: In positive terms, the battle against the possessive and dominating self requires vigilance, sobriety of heart. When Jesus insists on vigilance, he always relates it to himself, to his coming on the last day and every day: today. The bridegroom comes in the middle of the night; the light that must not be extinguished is that of faith: "'Come,' my heart says, 'seek his face!'" (Ps 27:8).

			:; 2731

			:: Another difficulty, especially for those who sincerely want to pray, is dryness. Dryness belongs to contemplative prayer when the heart is separated from God, with no taste for thoughts, memories, and feelings, even spiritual ones. This is the moment of sheer faith clinging faithfully to Jesus in his agony and in his tomb. "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if dies, it bears much fruit" (Jn 12:24). If dryness is due to the lack of roots, because the word has fallen on rocky soil, the battle requires conversion (Lk 8:6,13).

			:; 2732

			:: The most common yet most hidden temptation is our lack of faith. It expresses itself less by declared incredulity than by our actual preferences. When we begin to pray, a thousand labors or cares thought to be urgent vie for priority; once again, it is the moment of truth for the heart: what is its real love? Sometimes we turn to the Lord as a last resort, but do we really believe he is? Sometimes we enlist the Lord as an ally, but our heart remains presumptuous. In each case, our lack of faith reveals that we do not yet share in the disposition of a humble heart: "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).

			:; 2733

			:: Another temptation, to which presumption opens the gate, is acedia. The spiritual writers understand by this a form of depression due to lax ascetical practice, decreasing vigilance, carelessness of heart. "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mt 26:41). The greater the height, the harder the fall. Painful as discouragement is, it is the reverse of presumption. The humble are not surprised by their distress; it leads them to trust more, to hold fast in constancy.

	===== Examples of mystical union with Jesus =====		===== Examples of mystical union with Jesus =====

Mxmsj at 15:10, 19 November 2013

2013-11-19T15:10:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:10, 19 November 2013
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	:: "The fervour of spirituality is usually very great in the beginning, but afterwards, the Lord ''fingit se longius ire'', makes as though He would go farther: in such a case we must stand firm and not be disturbed, because God is then withdrawing His most holy Hand of sweetness, to see if we are strong; and then, if we resist and overcome those tribulations and temptations, the sweetness and heavenly consolations return."		:: "The fervour of spirituality is usually very great in the beginning, but afterwards, the Lord ''fingit se longius ire'', makes as though He would go farther: in such a case we must stand firm and not be disturbed, because God is then withdrawing His most holy Hand of sweetness, to see if we are strong; and then, if we resist and overcome those tribulations and temptations, the sweetness and heavenly consolations return."

			:: "Patience is necessary for the servant of God; we must not be distressed at trouble, but wait for consolation."

	:; St. ThÃ©rÃ¨se of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, ''Story of a Soul''		:; St. ThÃ©rÃ¨se of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, ''Story of a Soul''

Mxmsj at 12:49, 19 November 2013

2013-11-19T12:49:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:49, 19 November 2013
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	* Realize that this state will not last forever. The worst case that we know of is Mother Teresa. She felt the way you do for about 50 years. So say to yourself, "This probably won't last 50 years. And if it does, my faithfulness in suffering will make me a great saint like Blessed Teresa of Calcutta."		* Realize that this state will not last forever. The worst case that we know of is Mother Teresa. She felt the way you do for about 50 years. So say to yourself, "This probably won't last 50 years. And if it does, my faithfulness in suffering will make me a great saint like Blessed Teresa of Calcutta."

	; [[Maxims\|St. Philip Neri]]		:; [[Maxims\|St. Philip Neri]]

	:"When God infuses extraordinary sweetnesses into the soul, we ought to prepare for some serious tribulation or temptation."		:: "When God infuses extraordinary sweetnesses into the soul, we ought to prepare for some serious tribulation or temptation."

	: "The fervour of spirituality is usually very great in the beginning, but afterwards, the Lord ''fingit se longius ire'', makes as though He would go farther: in such a case we must stand firm and not be disturbed, because God is then withdrawing His most holy Hand of sweetness, to see if we are strong; and then, if we resist and overcome those tribulations and temptations, the sweetness and heavenly consolations return."		:: "The fervour of spirituality is usually very great in the beginning, but afterwards, the Lord ''fingit se longius ire'', makes as though He would go farther: in such a case we must stand firm and not be disturbed, because God is then withdrawing His most holy Hand of sweetness, to see if we are strong; and then, if we resist and overcome those tribulations and temptations, the sweetness and heavenly consolations return."

	:; St. ThÃ©rÃ¨se of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, ''Story of a Soul''		:; St. ThÃ©rÃ¨se of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, ''Story of a Soul''

Mxmsj at 12:49, 19 November 2013

2013-11-19T12:49:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:49, 19 November 2013
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	: "The fervour of spirituality is usually very great in the beginning, but afterwards, the Lord ''fingit se longius ire'', makes as though He would go farther: in such a case we must stand firm and not be disturbed, because God is then withdrawing His most holy Hand of sweetness, to see if we are strong; and then, if we resist and overcome those tribulations and temptations, the sweetness and heavenly consolations return."		: "The fervour of spirituality is usually very great in the beginning, but afterwards, the Lord ''fingit se longius ire'', makes as though He would go farther: in such a case we must stand firm and not be disturbed, because God is then withdrawing His most holy Hand of sweetness, to see if we are strong; and then, if we resist and overcome those tribulations and temptations, the sweetness and heavenly consolations return."

			:; St. ThÃ©rÃ¨se of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, ''Story of a Soul''

			:: "That beautiful day passed just as the saddest ones do, since the most radiant of days has a tomorrow."

	== Faith and Feelings ==		== Faith and Feelings ==