When we have less and less priests, it will be harder to pursue holiness, so do it now, please.
Why so often? As purgation is occurring one sees the layers of imperfections and habits of sin more clearly, and if one can get to confession, the grace of the sacrament encourages the process. I cannot emphasize weekly confession enough.
Even as a child, monthly or bi-weekly was considered satisfactory, but in the Dark Night, confession is needed to keep the reality of one's sin and salvation at hand.
It is too easy to become discouraged when faced with one's pathetic state of imperfection, but real humility means confessing those things which the Holy Spirit is revealing day after day.
St. John of the Cross compares this light in the darkness to light streaming through a dusty window. When it is grey outside, one does not notice the little motes or specks of dust. But, when the light is shining brightly, one sees all the little bits. One cannot fall into impatience with one's self, as that is spiritual pride, a deeper sin, and more serious, but common in the Dark Night.
Padre Pio said something which is applicable to the Dark Night.
He said this: "Temptation is like the soap. It seems to soil but in reality cleans." When one first hears this, it does not make sense. But the great temptations of the Dark Night, spiritual pride and sexual sins, reveal the deep of imperfection in the soul, mind, heart, senses. The temptations are blessings, the soap, which cleans the heart, mind, soul, as one sees more clearly one's weaknesses and lack of humility. Humility is self-knowledge and the knowledge that one can fall at any time into sin is a great blessing-the soap cleaning out pride.
When the appetites are cleaned, then God will reveal Himself to the pure soul, pure mind, pure heart.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 DR
This passage makes so much more sense in the Dark Night than before this experience. One begins to see that the kingdom of heaven is made up of the Presence of God and the freeing of all the virtues, gifts and fruits which God has given. Can you imagine the power unleashed in the world through the people of the Catholic Church is all reached this state of perfection-the Illuminative?The truth is that few people cooperate with suffering to get to that state.
The Kingdom of God would be seen on earth, here and now. To be continued...
