I was discussing the idea of the dark night of the soul with a fellow Carmelite the other day. This has become almost a cliché today – perhaps because of the great modern popularity of St John of the Cross. I know that for him it has a fairly specific meaning, but I do find the expression helpful in a general sense – applied to those periods of confusion and suffering which threaten not just my welfare but my actual faith itself. Some years ago I launched out on a risky course professionally against the advice of others, believing it to be a call of God. Eventually I fell on my face and found myself mired in unemployment. This made me feel as though God was wasting my life – indeed it felt like he was playing games with my life. I wanted to use my gifts for Him, but I couldn’t find a way to do so. I understood the ‘normal’ crosses of illness, divorce, impoverishment but I couldn’t understand this kind of abandonment by God – which is what it felt like. Looking back, I see that there were graces in it, above all because it was one of the reasons that I found Carmel. I know I may have to face other dark nights, but now I understand that I must persevere in faithful trust however dark it is.
Intercessions:
Brian Davis - cancer
Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela), Agnes – cancer
Siena, Elara – sick children
Rosemarie – seriously ill
Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated
David - housebound
Sophia – blind infant
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