The Dark Night of the Soul

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