Salesian Literature

Chapter 9:  Dryness which may be experienced in meditation

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It may happen, Philothea, that you find no liking for meditation nor any consolation in it.  I plead with you, do not be upset in the least.  Sometimes open the door to vocal prayers:  tell the Lord about your unhappy condition, acknowledge your unworthiness, ask him for his help, kiss his picture if you have it, speak to him these words of Jacob: I will not let you go, Lord, unless you bless me (Gen. 32:26); or those of the woman of Canaan: Yes Lord, I am a dog, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table (Mt. 15:27).

 

On other occasions, get hold of a book and read it attentively until your spirit awakens and is better disposed.  Sometimes arouse your heart by some attitude and gesture of exterior devotion: prostrate yourself on the ground, cross your hands upon hour breast, kiss a crucifix; for this, it is understood that you are in some private place.

 

Even if after all this you receive no comfort, do not be worried, no matter how great your dryness.  Continue to remain before God in a devout attitude.  So many courtiers go a hundred times a year into the audience hall of the prince, without hope of speaking to him but only to be seen by him and to fulfil their duty.  We should come to holy prayer in these same way, my dear Philothea, purely and simply to fulfil our duty and as an expression of our faithfulness.

 

If the divine Majesty is pleased to speak to us and carry on a conversation with us, by his holy inspirations and interior consolations, it will surely be for us a great honour and a most delightful pleasure.  But if it does not please him to do us such a favour, leaving us there without speaking to us, as if he had not seen us and as if we were not in his presence, we must not go away for this reason. On the contrary, we must remain there, before this Supreme Goodness, with a disposition that is devout and calm.

 

Then, he will most certainly be pleased with our patience and observe our devoted attention and perseverance.  So, another time, when we come before him again, he will show favour to us and converse with us by his consolations, making us experience the delight of holy prayer.  But when he does not do so, let us be happy, Philothea, that it is a very great honour indeed to be near him and to be seen by him.

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