Spiritual Desolation

This is an item that should be mentioned more but there might be some trepidation to talk about it since the very essence gets right into the heart of the Church.  We have heard about the “Dark Night of the Soul” and know there are countless mystics who have lived this void or absence of a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit within themselves.  Not that they are not in touch with God’s Spirit, but the church around them seems to be missing something deeper than much of the outward noise of words without meaning, prayer with little emphasis on thanksgiving, music without the crescendo of excitement, and preaching without real depth for the congregation.  Do I appear to digress too much about the issue at hand, or delve into a subject that might create alarm in the minds of many to whom this discussion may very well affect?

May we consider another aspect of spiritual desolation that goes beyond the “dark night of the soul” and touches many who might find their souls in jeopardy at their death.  Here we are speaking of those who by-pass Purgatory, and suddenly find themselves in a darkness from which there is no-return.  This is Hell!  A reality that does exist and the host is Satan and his cohorts who have terrorized the Earth with false and empty promises.  

St. Paul said; “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him; this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.”  (1 Cor. 2: 9).  Within this short excerpt of the True Wisdom Paul speaks of to the Corinthians regarding what is ahead for believers and the followers of Christ, we can sense a small glimpse of what awaits us; Heaven and eternal glory with God.  “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.”  (Jn. 14: 3).

Even souls that reach Purgatory are already in the State of Grace, and must go through purging and be purified before being united with God.  However, one intrinsic fact is that soul is totally aware of God and has the desire to spend eternity with Him; which will happen.

Souls that find themselves in Hell are also aware of God, and the one intrinsic fact is that they will never reach God’s immense Love and Mercy.  This desire or now absence of its reality, is the only thing that will plague them.  They did not believe and therefore are denied His Presence.  Jesus warned all of us of that.  He is not being mean, but those that heard His voice, even in our hearts, had the opportunity to accept that Divine Teaching.  

Putting this into perspective, the term eternity is beyond our comprehension, but we expect the existence won’t matter since we’ll be living it.  But, on the other hand, those in Hell may not comprehend the meaning of eternity, but will nevertheless exist within its confines, and the only real essence will be God does exist and they can never be with Him, forever, whatever that may be in their state of existence.    

Maybe we all need to become like mystics, if even for a moment, to sense what it is to be in full communion with our creator, God calling us, if even for a short time, to feel His Presence in a way we never had before and maybe never will experience in this lifetime.  But feel we will as our spirit soars into the unknown and may even feel the face of God.  

This is a challenge to each of us.  The path we must take and cherish is to allow the real life within us to begin living in a way that many saints sought, mystics dreampt of, and the Holy Spirit prompts us to become.