Coping with Spiritual Darkness: Vital Lessons from the Saints on Dryness of the Soul
Ever feel like God is silent when you need Him most?
In this episode of "The Catholic Gentleman," John Heinen, Sam Guzman, and Devin Schadt discuss the challenges of depression and spiritual desolation. The saints understood suffering well, and they shed light on their wisdom to help you tell the difference and find strength through faith!
In times of spiritual darkness, Saint John of the Cross has one of the best lessons to help us.
His "Dark Night of the Soul" teaches that God sometimes removes comforts to grow our faith, leaving us feeling empty but drawing us closer to Him.
“You just feel like you’re hanging in empty space with nothing to grasp on to, but in those moments, you have to operate on pure faith,” Guzman says.
Saint John of the Cross reminds us that God is always there, even when it feels like He isn't.
Unlike the "Dark Night of the Soul," Saint Ignatius teaches that spiritual desolation is different, and comes from bad spirits aiming to shake our relationship with God. Recognizing this can help us resist despair, knowing God is not abandoning us.
"For Ignatius, it was important that he could discern between these things and to determine how he was supposed to react, and it was from this that Saint Ignatius grew to be a spiritual warrior," Schadt explains.
Persevering through any spiritual darkness ultimately requires patience and steadfastness. Guzman says these virtues can become a profound asceticism during dark times.
“Just put one foot in front of the other and entrust yourself to God.”
Rather than giving up, continuing with even small acts of faith can help sustain us.
"Increase your prayer, don't decrease it,” Heinen implores.
Embracing this endurance, just as the saints did, helps us hold onto hope even when comfort feels distant.
The gentlemen say embracing these lessons will help you navigate your spiritual trials!