Spiritual dryness facts for kids

Spiritual dryness is a feeling that some people experience in their spiritual life. It's like feeling a bit distant from God or not having strong spiritual feelings, especially when they are praying or trying to connect. It can feel like a spiritual challenge.

What Is Spiritual Dryness?

Sometimes, when people pray or try to feel close to God, they might feel nothing at all. This is called spiritual dryness. It's not about doing anything wrong. It's a time when you might not feel the usual comfort or connection you expect.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church talks about this feeling. It says that spiritual dryness can make prayer difficult. It might even make someone feel a bit discouraged. But it can also be a chance to grow stronger in your faith. It helps you learn to trust God even when you don't feel Him close.

Why Does It Happen?

Spiritual dryness can show if your faith is truly deep. It's like a seed that needs good soil to grow strong roots. If the roots aren't deep, the plant might struggle. In the same way, this dryness can help you rely more on God, not just on your feelings.

It's also seen as a way to make your love for God purer. When you keep trying to love and connect with God, even when it's hard, your love becomes stronger. It's like your heart becomes more eager to love Him even more.

Examples in History

Many stories in the Bible show people going through spiritual dryness. For example, in the Book of Job, Job suffers greatly and questions God, feeling distant. The Psalms also have many prayers from people feeling lost or far from God. Even prophets like Elijah had moments of feeling alone or unsure. These stories show that feeling distant from God is not new.

Experiences of Saints

Many saints, who are very holy people, have also written about spiritual dryness. They felt it too!

Saint John of the Cross

In the 1500s, a saint named Saint John of the Cross wrote about this feeling. He called it the "Dark Night of the Soul". He described it as a time when God seems hidden. It feels like your soul is in darkness. But he taught that this darkness helps to purify your soul. It prepares you for an even deeper connection with God later.

Other Saints' Experiences

Another holy person, Fr. Augustine Baker, called it the "great desolation." This means a time of deep sadness or emptiness.

Even Mother Teresa, who helped so many poor people, experienced spiritual dryness. Her diaries showed that she felt this way for most of her life. Even though she was doing amazing work for God, she often felt a lack of spiritual comfort. This shows that spiritual dryness can happen to anyone, no matter how strong their faith seems. It's a part of the spiritual journey for many.

See also

• Mystical theology
• State (theology)