Mother Angelica on Suffering and Burnout

by Mother Angelica

Our Intellect, reasoning on a human level, keeps telling us that sanctity is not for us. It is obviously for those who have fortitude to accomplish great deeds and possess great talents and gifts. As if to add fuel to the fire, our Wills begin to vacillate and are confused as to the course to take. Our ability to accomplish anything on a spiritual level is difficult. A “do nothing” attitude grips our souls, and lukewarmness tries to wrap its arms around us. It is near impossible for the soul to see how any good could come from this state of mind. But if the soul perseveres in its prayers and acts of virtue in spite of how it feels, it will soon begin to realize that its purification is good, and freedom of spirit will be its reward. Even though distractions plague its prayer time, the soul calmly returns to its seeking of the Lord as soon as those distractions are noticed. The danger here is for the soul to seek consolations by deliberate distractions. Meditative reading is put aside, and the soul spends the whole time of prayer reading a book that gives it consolation but little fervor. The shortening of prayer time is a real danger, for the fear of “wasting” time takes hold of the soul. It seeks more action, and soon the good works that bring consolation replace prayer time and the soul falls prey to great danger. It is important to persevere in praying, even in lengthening the time of prayer, for the purification of dryness far outweighs the few consolations the soul de...