127. What difficulties are frequently met with in mental prayer?
127. What difficulties are frequently met with in mental prayer?
Distractions, aridity, and illusions.
128. What is a distraction?
A distraction is a deviation of the soul from the object which ought to occupy its attention.
129. How many kinds of distractions are there?
There are two kinds of distractions: voluntary and involuntary.
130. When are distractions voluntary?
Distractions are voluntary:
1. Directly, or in themselves, when we do not endeavor to banish them as soon as we perceive them.
2. Indirectly, or in their causes, when we do not endeavor to remove the causes.
131. What are the chief causes of our distractions?
The chief causes of our distractions are:
1. Satan.
2. A want of preparation for meditation, especially of the habitual preparation.
3. The natural levity of our mind.
4. The multiplicity of our occupations.
132. Can we remove all these causes?
No, we cannot remove them wholly, but we must struggle against them and endeavor to diminish their sad effects.
133. Are there, then, unavoidable distractions?
Yes, there are distractions which are unavoidable; therefore, we should not be surprised at distractions, still less troubled or agitated; it suffices that we turn our mind back to our prayer as soon as we become aware of their presence.
134. Why does Satan endeavor to distract us during mental prayer?
In order to make us lose the profit which he too well knows we derive from this holy exercise, and, if possible, to make us abandon it entirely.
135. When are distractions involuntary?
They are involuntary:
1. When we have not caused them.
2. When we are not aware of them.
3. When, being aware of them, we do not entertain them freely.
136. Are involuntary distractions culpable?
They are neither culpable nor even injurious.
137. How must we act with regard to distractions?
From the very beginning we must make up our mind to meditate well; then, during the meditation, we must drive from our mind every distraction as soon as we perceive it.
138. What means may be employed to banish distractions?
We may:
1. Humble ourselves for these wanderings of our mind, but without becoming troubled.
2. Recall to our mind the presence of God, of the Blessed Virgin and of our Guardian Angel.
3. Gaze at an object capable of fixing our attention, like the tabernacle, a crucifix, a pious picture, etc.
4. Ask God's help by ejaculatory prayers, and calmly endeavor to take up the subject of meditation again without ever becoming discouraged.
139. And if we were obliged to pass the entire time destined for meditation in this way, would that be a reason for becoming disheartened?
Not in the least; such a meditation, which Saint Francis de Sales calls the meditation of patience, would not on that account be less excellent.
140. Why is the meditation of patience good and meritorious?
Because the sincere will to do what is required for meditation is in itself already a good meditation, and insures all the fruits thereof; besides, the greater our efforts to overcome difficulties, the greater our merits.
- taken from Catechism of Mental Prayer, by Father Joseph Simler