Came across this blog, pretty good.

http://closedcafeteria.blogspot.com/2007/09/fr-cantalamessa-on-bl-mother-teresa.html

Doesn't make much sense to me, but then, who am I to say.

An interesting article that leaves me with many questions. I suppose the first question I have has to do with interpreting this "Dark Night of the Soul," found in western Christian mysticism. I frequently experience this myself, but I can't tell if it is the will of God or just my lack of faith. What do the eastern fathers of the Church have to say about this kind of experience? Is there any parallel kind of experience among the byzantine fathers and the hesachysts? Also, what about the notion of joining Jesus on the cross, thirsting as he thirsted, experiencing his "My God, My God, why hast thou forsken me?"

Please know I am just trying to understand this kind of spiritual experience that seems to happen in certain mystics of the west. I admire Mother Theresa's life of service to the poor and her emphasis on God's love. I am also humbled that she went through such struggles. But, what do these struggles really signify in the spiritual life? How do we tell the difference between the kind of struggle a Therese of Liseaux or Mother Theresa experiences, and that which is brought on by lack of faith or demonic oppression?

Joe

Joe:

Unless I miss my guess, this experience is given as a gift to those God becomes especially close to. It is the experience of Jesus on the Cross--that feeling of total abandonment that is so terrifying because of its starkness, emptiness, and loneliness. It is the eternity of distance between God and sin that we all hope we do not die in and was experienced by Christ when He assumed the totality of the sins of the whole world--all that had been, were then current, and would ever be committed. It is not that Mother herself should be seen as some super sinner but that she was gifted with the participation in Christ's suffering on a profound level--something He does not allow people to have if they would be tested beyond their strength. That Mother persevered despite and with this experience is what will make her a great saint for our emulation.

This is what I was trying to express on another thread when I said that the children of the Kingdom will understand this and those who are children of the world will never understand--see the news articles and the raging of the atheists in the media.

In Christ,

BOB

Dear Bob,

I just wanted you to know that I have been edified by your spiritually insightful posts (on this thread and the other one about Bl. Mother Theresa) on this subject, and agree with all that you have said.

God bless you, dear brother in Christ!

Alice

Bob,
Thank you. This gives me much to ponder. Your description of this experience is profound and deep. I'm still curious as to whether this is an experience unique to western mystics or whether this experience of abandonment is found in the eastern fathers.

Joe

Joe,

I would note that the saints are no strangers to demonic oppression and even in some cases possesion. These cases, like Job's afflictions should be seen as allowed by God to show forth the faith of the afflicted or for purposes we do not know. Fr. Gabriele Amorth touches on this in his books. The movie The Exorcism of Emily Rose, which is based on a true story, also illustrates this.

Mother Teresa underwent an exorcism herself in the late stages of her life. This is not to say the dark night of the soul and demonic activity are the same thing but it seems many who experience the first also experience the latter.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Fr. Benedict, on EWTN last night, had much to say about this topic. He did say that before her death, the Dark Night of the Soul did leave her and she was full of peace and joy.

Fr. Deacon, that is very true. In the sayings and lives of the desert fathers, we see that they constantly wrestled with demons. I have a question about exorcism. Exorcism is not just for possession then, but it can be for any particular need to expell demon's from one's life? And would this be something that would be needed in addition to the sacrament of unction?

Joe

Joe,

I defer to Fr. Amorth who draws a very clear (and legal)distinction between Exoricsm-the official sacramental of the Latin Church and Prayers of Deliverance.

For him an Exoricsm is the sacramental performed by a priest authorized to do so by his bishop. A Prayer of Deliverance may be said by any of the faithful.

Even though he makes this distinction he qualifies it with the faith of the prayer has much to do with it. A Prayer of Deliverance offered by an extremely faithful layperson will be more effective than an Exorcism by a deputed but less faithful priest.

Either can be used for possesion, obsession, opression, or infestation.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Joe,

The traditional way of making this discernment is through the virtue of obedience (to a spiritual director, and to legitimate ecclesiastical authority). What all the others have said here is very true. What St. Teresa of Avila and the other doctors of the mystical life always teach, and what the very letters of Mother Teresa are a testimony to in her case, is to put oneself in the hands of a good and learned spiritual director, and to follow his direction with faith.

Michael

Joe:

I think for clarification we ought not to worry about the differences in struggles between the saints. I believe that we are each given our own cross--something unique to us and designed uniquely for our own pilgrimage to bring us to the perfection Christ intneds for us. It does not matter at all if two saints have the same or a different struggle. Each was given the cross that was intended for him or her. Each persevered in carrying his or her own cross as the Lord tells us "take up your cross and follow Me." The emphasis is on the "your."

I have a little card on my mirror. Part of it goes something like this:

"The Eternal God has fashioned a cross for you and sends it to you as an act of His Infinite Love for you. He has chosen it for you for all possibilities and weighted it perfectly--made it neither too light or too heavy. He gives it to you for your benefit and for your progress in holiness."

Mine is not like yours is not like Mother Theresa's is not like St. Therese of Liseaux's is not like St. John Chrysostom's is not like . . . Portions of life may be similar in the way one has to carry his cross so that we can empathize and offer encouragement to each other, but the whole experience is a one-of-a-kind original designed as a gift to each of us.

In Christ,

BOB