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When you’re in the presence of Divine Solace, it’s no big deal to turn your back on human solace. But it’s a big deal to have no solace whatsoever, either human or divine. A bigger deal still is willingly to sustain exile of heart for the honor of God.
When you face off against yourself—you’re easily suckered into human consolations. But the true lover of Christ and unswerving pursuivant of virtues is succored by Divine Consolations. That’s to say, he doesn’t fall for the sticky, sugary kind, nor does he seek to wallow in the sleek, cool sweetness.
When God gives spiritual consolation, accept it with good grace. Just know that it’s His doing, not yours. Don’t blow your horn, don’t prance about, don’t carry on like a clown. Just be all the more humble for the gift.
(Thomas ‘a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, 9. The Loss of Solace, trans. William Griffin)
‘A Kempis speaks of the “exile of the heart,” which we are to “willingly … sustain.” We are not to seek refuge in human consolation, though these, ‘A Kempis writes elsewhere, can give a measure of comfort.
The contemplative Practice leads us to grow more into equanimity. Human nature tends to relish consolation and bemoan desolation. We grow in the Prayerful Life to be thankful in either the angst of aridity or the pleasure of soothing solace.
Basically, the stuff of consolation and desolation is one energy. Consolation is not good in contrast to desolation, and desolation is not bad in contrast with consolation. Consolation and desolation are natural feeling states.
How we relate to the energy of consolation-desolation is key to spiritual well being. If we are in consolation, we are not to make a big deal of it. If we are in desolation, we are not to make a big deal of it. Consolation and desolation, aridity and humidity, the felt-sense of Love and the felt-absence of Love are part of the convergence of energies essential to spiritual growth and wholeness.
So, what are we to do when in consolation or desolation? Certainly, we need to be aware that desolation might signify that we are out of the Will of the Divine. If so, we need to realign our lives with the Spirit. However, generally, we are called upon to understand the naturalness of the states of consolation and desolation. When in consolation, be faithful to your Spiritual Practices. When in desolation, be faithful to your Spiritual Practices. In Griffin's rendition of ‘A Kempis’ Latin, remain an “unswerving pursuivant of virtues.”
Spiritual Exercise
1. What is consolation? What is desolation? Describe the feelings of each.
2. What is equanimity? Its role in the Prayerful Life?
3. What does it mean to be an “unswerving pursuivant of virtues”?
4. What is the difference between being “moralistic” and being “virtuous”?
5. ‘A Kempis writes of Advenient Grace. Look up “advenient” in a dictionary? What does it mean? How does it relate to equanimity?
Prayer
Oh Grace, lead me on. Amen.
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