Salesian Literature

Chapter 12:  Sadness

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Sadness which is according to God, says St. Paul, works penance for salvation: but sadness of the world works unto death (2 Cor. 7:10).  Sadness can be good or evil depending on the different effects which it produces in us.  It is true that it produces more evil effects than good, for it produces only two good ones, namely compassion and repentance.  But there are six evil ones, namely, anxiety, sloth, anger, jealousy, envy and impatience which made the wise man say: Sadness kills many, and there is no profit in it (Sirach 30:24).  While only two good streams flow from the spring of sadness, there are six which are quite evil.

 

The enemy makes use of sadness to tempt the good.  As he tries to make the wicked rejoice in their sins so he tries to make the good sad in their good works.  Since he cannot bring about evil except by making it appear pleasant, so he cannot turn us away from good except by making it appear unpleasant.  The devil is pleased with sadness and melancholy because he himself is sad and gloomy.  He will be so eternally.  Hence he wishes everyone to be as he is.

 

Evil sadness disturbs us, leads to anxiety, arouses unreasonable fears, makes prayer distasteful, weighs down and dulls the mind, deprives us of counsel, of determination, of judgement and of courage, and saps our energy.  In short, it is like a sever winter which robs the earth of all its beauty and benumbs all living creatures.  In fact, it robs us of all consolation and makes us almost paralysed and powerless in all our faculties.

 

If ever such sadness comes upon you Philothea, make use of the following remedies. If anyone is ad, says St. James, let him pray (5:13).  Prayer is a sovereign remedy, for it lifts up our mind to God, who is our only joy and consolation.  But in praying make use of longings and words, ether interior or exterior which tend to confidence and love of God, such as: O God of mercy, O God most good, My loving Saviour, O God of my Heart, My Joy, My Hope, My dear Spouse, My Well Beloved, and so on.

 

Resist vigorously all inclinations to sadness.  Though it may seem that everything you do at this time is done coldly, sadly and half-heartedly, et do not give it up.  The enemy tries to make us weary of good works by sadness.  Seeing that we persevere, and that our good works done in spite of disgust are more meritorious, he ceases to trouble us any more.

 

Sing spiritual canticles.  By this means the devil was often forced to abandon his efforts.  For instance, Saul was beset and possessed by an evil spirit; its violence was subdued by the singing of psalms (1 Sam. 16:23).

 

It is good to occupy ourselves with exterior works as varied as possible in order to divert the mind from what causes sadness, and to purify and warm the spirit.  Sadness is in fact a passion of a cold and dry nature.

 

Make some fervent exterior acts such as kissing the crucifix, clasping it to the breast, kissing the feet and hands of the Crucified, raising your eyes and your hands to heaven, even though all this is done without relish.  Lift up your voice to God earnestly by words of love and confidence such as these: My Beloved to me, and I to him (Song. 2:16).  A bouquet of myrrh is my Beloved to me: he shall abide between my breasts (Song 1:120.  My eyes melt in tears for you, my God saying; When will you comfort me? (Ps. 119:82) Jesus, be to me a Jesus.  Live Jesus! And my soul shall live.  Who shall separate me from the love of my God (Rom. 8:35) and so on.

 

A moderate use of the discipline is good against sadness, because this voluntary exterior suffering merits interior consolation.  Feeling thee exterior pains, the mind is diverted from these that are within.  Receiving Holy Communion often is excellent since this heavenly bread strengthens the heart (Ps. 104:15) and rejoices the spirit.

 

Make known to your spiritual director and confessor, humbly and faithfully all the feelings, affections, and suggestions that flow from your sadness.  Seek the company of spiritual persons and meet them as often as you can during such times.  Finally resign yourself into the hands of God.  be ready to bear patiently this troublesome sadness as a just punishment for your vain joys.  Have no doubt at all that God, after testing you, will deliver you from this evil.

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