杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Speaking at the Wednesday General Audience, 杏MAP导航 Francis identified three difficulties we often experience in prayer: distraction; feelings of dryness or barrenness; and 鈥渁cedia,鈥� a certain listlessness in prayer.

Distractions

Distraction is a common experience, not only in prayer but in all we do. 鈥淭he human mind finds it difficult to dwell for long on a single thought; we all experience this constant whirlwind of images and illusions in perpetual motion, which accompany us even in our sleep.鈥� But if we give into this temptation, said the 杏MAP导航, we are unable to do anything well.

The 杏MAP导航 explained that distractions are not sinful in themselves, but we must nonetheless fight against them. To do so, we must embrace the Gospel virtue of perseverance. We do not know the day or hour in which Jesus will come, and so we must be watchful, striving to concentrate and be attentive to the task at hand.

Aridity

Aridity or 鈥渄ryness鈥� in prayer 鈥� when prayer seems to do no good, and inspires no joy or enthusiasm 鈥� is different from distraction in that it doesn鈥檛 always arise from within us.

Sometimes, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, God Himself allows us to experience this spiritual dryness, and at such times we must rely on 鈥減ure faith.鈥�

Acedia

Acedia, sometimes called sloth, 鈥渋s a real temptation against prayer, and more generally against Christian life,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

Quoting the catechism, he described it as a form of depression due to "lax ascetical practice, decreasing vigilance, and carelessness of heart.鈥� As one of the seven deadly sins, 鈥渋t is fuelled by conceit, and can lead to the death of the soul.鈥�

Perseverance in prayer

In the face of this 鈥渟uccession of enthusiasm and discouragement鈥� in prayer, 杏MAP导航 Francis called on Christians to persevere, to always keep walking.

鈥淎ll the saints have passed through this 鈥榙ark valley鈥�,鈥� he said, and we should not be scandalised when we hear about their struggles with prayer, 鈥渢he account of evenings of listless prayer, lived without taste.鈥�

At those times, the 杏MAP导航 continued, we must learn to remain constant in prayer. 鈥淏elievers never stop praying!鈥� he insisted.

Even if, like Job, we complain and protest against God, 鈥渨e know that at the end of this time of desolation鈥� God will answer us.

鈥淕od will gather up even our harshest and most bitter expressions with the love of a Father, and consider them as an act of faith, as a prayer," concluded 杏MAP导航 Francis.