Author Topic: About Consolations (Read 1782 times)

Matthew · « **on:** May 21, 2010, 12:35:38 AM »

When you have no consolations, you serve God for Himself alone; but when you have them you're liable to serve Him out of love for yourself.

St. John Vianney (1786-1859AD) on Spiritual Consolations

Vladimir · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:48:30 AM »

Well timed quote!

Trinity · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2010, 11:30:20 AM »

Well timed because you're going without consolations. God must think you're a grown up, then. Been so long since I had a consolation, don't know what it would be like.

Alexandria · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2010, 05:39:01 PM »

Quote from: Trinity

Well timed because you're going without consolations. God must think you're a grown up, then. Been so long since I had a consolation, don't know what it would be like.

That makes two of us.

Belloc · « **Reply #4 on:** May 24, 2010, 08:31:42 AM »

Quote from: Trinity

Well timed because you're going without consolations. God must think you're a grown up, then. Been so long since I had a consolation, don't know what it would be like.

been a long time, did have 1-2 that I can recall...

Dulcamara · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2010, 11:32:12 AM »

I needed to hear that. With my "spiritual library" all packed away in boxes, my spiritual life has suffered HORRIBLY. I seem to be going now, on sheer determination and the grace of God to keep the Faith, and to keep the fight.

It's important for us to remind ourselves sometimes that it's at times when we feel absolutely nothing, when prayers come bitterly hard if they come at all, when there are no warm, fuzzy thoughts... that we have the opportunity to gain the most, and of the most worth, for God and our salvation.

It is here, I think, where TRUE love is tested... whether we simply loved ourselves and our good feelings, or whether we are willing so to love God, as to follow after Him even in complete darkness, without any consolations at all.

Right now I really needed to remind myself!

MrsZ · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2010, 07:49:16 PM »

Am I wrong in thinking of consolations as looking on the "bright side"? Are you speaking specifically as rewards for prayer and emotional connections to spiritual practices?

I often think of consolations as things like counting ones' blessings and the simple pleasures that surround most of us: nature, family, good music, wholesome enjoyments.

I'm probably using the wrong word!

God Bless,
MrsZ

Trinity · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2010, 07:08:45 PM »

I always thought of it as pleasure in spiritual practices, so that you enjoy them and want to do them as opposed to finding them tedious and trying.