How Do We Emerge from Periods of Spiritual Dryness, Desolation and Darkness? This is Part-1 of a Series to Guide You Through This Common Spiritual Trial.
Wonderful article here. Thanks for reminding us that these things are normal and that darkness is for our strengthening. Now, for the protestant here, I'm whole-heartedly convinced that I've missed out when it comes to the saints and the Mother of God. Do you know of a resource that is something of a "beginners guide" to Mary? I know it's not all head knowledge and must too be experienced but I would like to read some more about it.
Hi Derek! Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the article. I have three books on Mary that I can recommend. I think you should start with Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Brant Pitre. It's not where I would recommend Catholics start, but it'd definitely be on the reading list. The book gives a good Biblical foundation where other books take for granted that the reader has some requisite knowledge that you may not have. Another book, which propelled my love for the Blessed Mother, is The World's First Love by Fulton Sheen. That's where I'd recommend Catholics start. Another great one is Hail Holy Queen by Scott Hahn. He is a former protestant minister and he's also very good at providing biblical foundation to his theology. Maybe make that your 2nd book.
At the very least the books will provide context for why Catholics regard Mary so highly, why it's very much part of Christian tradition, and why a love of Mary really is a love of Jesus (not a love that ends at Mary, which would be idolatry). Let me know if I can be of any further help to you! God bless you my friend. Jesus Christ is Lord!!!!!
This is well timed. Going through...stuff?...lately and I've fallen away from my Rosary. I don't know why it feels like a big deal to pick it back up. Our Lady has kept me in good shape through everything else, there's no reason she couldn't help me through this.
I've been coming across a lot of people going through the dark. I hope this helps a bit. The subsequent posts to this series will dive a little deeper into what I call "the darkness".
If your rosary has become torture then maybe change your strategy for a little while. Pray one or two decades per session, taking time to meditate well on the decades/mysteries you're praying, rather than just blindly going through all five.
God bless and guide you, brother. Thanks for taking the time to read my articles!
I've implemented your house of prayer and have been keeping that with great effect. I have little reminders on my phone and my mission has been to pray as soon as I hear them, whatever I may be doing.
-When I wake up, I pray the Our Father and 3 "Immaculate Heart of Mary" (Green Scapular) prayers for 3 specific intentions.
- Noon, I pray St. Michael
- 3pm, I pray the Angelus
- 7pm, I pray a Glory Be and the Fatima Offering "for love of you, for the conversion of sinners, for reparation for sins against the immaculate heart of mary"
-Before I sleep, "Angel of God".
They are simple, short, and give good structure to my day. Rosary will need to be a more deliberate effort but I think you're right--changing it up, not forcing it. I am sure when I try to give an Inch, Our Lady will take a mile.
I look forward to your subsequent posts in this series! Thank you!
Excellent article. When I’ve been going through the mill, the answer I was given by my dad, was to ‘just keep going’. Keep going to church, keep going to my knees in pray and keep going to God. 🙏
Wonderful article here. Thanks for reminding us that these things are normal and that darkness is for our strengthening. Now, for the protestant here, I'm whole-heartedly convinced that I've missed out when it comes to the saints and the Mother of God. Do you know of a resource that is something of a "beginners guide" to Mary? I know it's not all head knowledge and must too be experienced but I would like to read some more about it.
Hi Derek! Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the article. I have three books on Mary that I can recommend. I think you should start with Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Brant Pitre. It's not where I would recommend Catholics start, but it'd definitely be on the reading list. The book gives a good Biblical foundation where other books take for granted that the reader has some requisite knowledge that you may not have. Another book, which propelled my love for the Blessed Mother, is The World's First Love by Fulton Sheen. That's where I'd recommend Catholics start. Another great one is Hail Holy Queen by Scott Hahn. He is a former protestant minister and he's also very good at providing biblical foundation to his theology. Maybe make that your 2nd book.
At the very least the books will provide context for why Catholics regard Mary so highly, why it's very much part of Christian tradition, and why a love of Mary really is a love of Jesus (not a love that ends at Mary, which would be idolatry). Let me know if I can be of any further help to you! God bless you my friend. Jesus Christ is Lord!!!!!
Thank you so much for the advice. Very much looking forward to growing in my understanding. Praise be to God!
This is well timed. Going through...stuff?...lately and I've fallen away from my Rosary. I don't know why it feels like a big deal to pick it back up. Our Lady has kept me in good shape through everything else, there's no reason she couldn't help me through this.
I've been coming across a lot of people going through the dark. I hope this helps a bit. The subsequent posts to this series will dive a little deeper into what I call "the darkness".
If your rosary has become torture then maybe change your strategy for a little while. Pray one or two decades per session, taking time to meditate well on the decades/mysteries you're praying, rather than just blindly going through all five.
God bless and guide you, brother. Thanks for taking the time to read my articles!
I've implemented your house of prayer and have been keeping that with great effect. I have little reminders on my phone and my mission has been to pray as soon as I hear them, whatever I may be doing.
-When I wake up, I pray the Our Father and 3 "Immaculate Heart of Mary" (Green Scapular) prayers for 3 specific intentions.
- Noon, I pray St. Michael
- 3pm, I pray the Angelus
- 7pm, I pray a Glory Be and the Fatima Offering "for love of you, for the conversion of sinners, for reparation for sins against the immaculate heart of mary"
-Before I sleep, "Angel of God".
They are simple, short, and give good structure to my day. Rosary will need to be a more deliberate effort but I think you're right--changing it up, not forcing it. I am sure when I try to give an Inch, Our Lady will take a mile.
I look forward to your subsequent posts in this series! Thank you!
Excellent article. When I’ve been going through the mill, the answer I was given by my dad, was to ‘just keep going’. Keep going to church, keep going to my knees in pray and keep going to God. 🙏