Ave Maria!— August’s Theme: Spiritual Aridity
1- “The aridity of spirit in which you are immersed and lost in is a most painful trial, but most sweet for the fruit that comes to the soul from it [the aridity]. It is ordained by God to extinguish in you that casualness of devotion, which does not sanctify the soul but could prove to be damaging to it. It is also ordained by God to make the soul acquire true devotion, which consists in a prompt will to do that which pertains to the service of God, without any personal satisfaction whatsoever. In short: to do the good because it is good in itself and gives glory and pleasure to God.”
2- “The soul placed in spiritual aridity must not at all lose courage; it must not omit anything it is accustomed to practice during the time of spiritual consolations. Rather, it must try to multiply its practices of devotion, to be always more vigilant over oneself.”
3- “Do not fear about your soul because it is not at all true that you have lost the way. The way that you trod will lead you straight to heaven; and this all the more sure in as much as it is God Himself Who leads you by the hand. Do not be disturbed by the aridity and spiritual desolations; rather, console yourself in the upper part of your soul, and remember that which Our Lord has said: ‘blessed are the poor in spirit; blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice sake’”.
