141. What is aridity?
141. What is aridity?
Aridity is a state in which the soul finds itself unable to produce the acts of meditation, on account of lack of thought and sentiment.
142. How many kinds of aridity are there?
Two: voluntary (or culpable) aridity, and involuntary aridity.
143. What are the ordinary causes of voluntary aridity?
The ordinary causes of voluntary aridity are:
1. Affection for sin.
2. Habitual dissipation of the mind.
3. Immortification of the passions, such as pride, egotism, sensuality, and lack of simplicity.
144. How must we combat voluntary aridity?
We must combat it in its very causes.
145. What must be done when we suffer from involuntary aridity?
Without permitting agitation or discouragement to lay hold of us, we must simply remember God's presence and try to make acts of faith, humility, confidence, and love, but especially acts of humble supplication, which, as we have seen, are always possible.
146. Can aridity, even when prolonged, prevent our meditation from being excellent?
Not at all; the greatest saints have gone through this painful ordeal.
147. What truths should we recall to mind while in the state of aridity?
We should remember:
1. That virtue does not consist in tender affections, but in serving God with courage.
2. That God tries by aridity more particularly those whom He loves.
3. That aridity is a source of great spiritual profit.
148. Must we, then, never give way to discouragement?
No, discouragement would be dishonorable to God and detrimental to our soul.
- taken from Catechism of Mental Prayer, by Father Joseph Simler