Are You Stifling the Holy Spirit?
Perhaps it’s the fault of Google or YouTube algorithms, but it seems that everywhere I go online, Doomsday is the headline.
From a secular perspective, between fear of the next pandemic (or continued fear of the last one), the looming threat of nuclear escalation courtesy of Russia’s Ukrainian invasion, or China’s off-course weather balloons surveilling the United States over the previous week, it’s easy to grow fearful of some terrible apocalypse.
And even from a Catholic perspective, depending on what websites you follow and online commentators you pay attention to, there’s even concern to be had there through questionable statements by some Church leaders or ominous topics such as the “Three Days of Darkness,” or “The Warning of Garabandal.”
In the middle of all this, it’s easy to lose focus on more important matters such as growing in the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, among many other things that we’d be well advised on which to focus our attention.
In recent episodes of Rosary Army’s Adventures in Imperfect Living podcast, we’ve talked quite a bit about overcoming fear of the world and growing in trust in God.
This week’s episode, in particular, is of great importance for those who struggle (or know someone who does) with anxiety, depression, and overall mental health issues.
Watch this week’s Adventures in Imperfect Living on YouTube right now
That’s why I’m so thankful to have recently stumbled upon a translation of St. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians that really made sense to me.
In the recent New American Bible translation, the phrase from 1 Thessalonians 5:19 reads. “Do not quench the Spirit.”
I don’t particularly like that translation, which is probably why it never stood out to me before.
The Douay-Rheims translation says, “Extinguish not the spirit.”
That’s definitely closer to what I think I’m sometimes guilty of.
But the translation that really struck me was the one I recently saw in the Liturgy of the Hours’ Office of Readings which says, “Do not stifle the Spirit.” [emphasis added]
Stifling resonates with me.
It’s a feeling of being held back, constricted, and unfairly restrained.
Am I guilty of doing that to the Holy Spirit?
Combined with that reading from St. Paul was a companion piece taken from On Spiritual Perfection by Diadochus of Photice. This author, with whom I was entirely unfamiliar until just last week, has already had a dramatic impact on my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
In part, Diadochus reminds us that we must maintain great stillness of mind, even in the midst of our struggles. By doing so, “we shall then be able to distinguish between the different types of thoughts that come to us: those that are good, those sent by God, we will treasure in our memory; those that are evil and inspired y the devil we will reject.”
As someone who has dealt with these kinds of issues for most of my life, of anxiety and depression and endlessly ruminating thoughts, I know full well that it is a constant battle to keep my eyes on Christ when my mind wants to shut down with fear and despair.
These words from Diadochus seem impossible to implement for someone like me, whose brain often goes a thousand miles an hour in a thousand different directions!
But Diadochus doesn’t leave us hanging, and this was the main topic of this week’s show (you can fast forward to the 14-minute mark to get to the crux of this discussion).
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The primary lesson Diadochus teaches us is this:
A comparison with the sea may help us. A tranquil sea allows the fisherman to gaze right to its depths. No fish can hide there and escape his sight. The stormy sea, however, becomes murky when it is agitated by the winds. The very depths that it revealed in its placidness, the sea now hides. The skills of the fisherman are useless.
Only the Holy Spirit can purify the mind: unless the strong man enters and robs the thief, the booty will not be recovered. So by every means, but especially by peace of soul, we must try to provide the Holy Spirit with a resting place. Then we shall have the light of knowledge shining within us at all times, and it will show up for what they are, all the dark and hateful temptations that come from demons, and not only will it show them up: exposure to this holy and glorious light will also greatly diminish their power.
This is why the Apostle says: Do not stifle the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of goodness: do not grieve him by your evil actions and thought, and so deprive yourself of the defense his light affords you. In his own being, which is eternal and life-giving, he is not stifled, but when his is grieved he turns away and leaves the mind in darkness, deprived of the light of knowledge.
This seafaring analogy has stuck with me for the last several days. I so desperately need the light of the Holy Spirit in my life, but have I stifled the Holy Spirit by the constant noises in my head?
If that line of thinking sounds familiar, I highly encourage you to watch or listen to this week’s program where we take a deep dive into this potential major roadblock for many that keep us from feeling the peace of the Holy Spirit.
I honestly believe this may be one of the most important discussions we’ve had on the show. I hope you’ll take the time to watch or listen, and share it with others who need this kind of encouragement today.
Readings referenced:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28
- The treatise On Spiritual Perfection by Diadochus of Photice, bishop (see below for full text)
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The full text referenced from Diadochus of Photice:
The mind has a spiritual sense which teaches us to distinguish between good and evil
The light of true knowledge makes it possible to discern without error the difference between good and evil. Then the path of justice, which leads to the sun of Justice, brings the mind into the limitless light of knowledge, since it never fails to seek the love of God with all confidence.
Therefore, we must maintain great stillness of mind, even in the midst of our struggles. We shall then be able to distinguish between the different types of thoughts that come to us: those that are good, those sent by God, we will treasure in our memory; those that are evil and inspired by the devil we will reject. A comparison with the sea may help us. A tranquil sea allows the fisherman to gaze right to its depths. No fish can hide there and escape his sight. The stormy sea, however, becomes murky when it is agitated by the winds. The very depths that it revealed in its placidness, the sea now hides. The skills of the fisherman are useless.
Only the Holy Spirit can purify the mind: unless the strong man enters and robs the thief, the booty will not be recovered. So by every means, but especially by peace of soul, we must try to provide the Holy Spirit with a resting place. Then we shall have the light of knowledge shining within us at all times, and it will show up for what they are, all the dark and hateful temptations that come from demons, and not only will it show them up: exposure to this holy and glorious light will also greatly diminish their power.
This is why the Apostle says: Do not stifle the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of goodness: do not grieve him by your evil actions and thought, and so deprive yourself of the defense his light affords you. In his own being, which is eternal and life-giving, he is not stifled, but when his is grieved he turns away and leaves the mind in darkness, deprived of the light of knowledge.
The mind is capable of tasting and distinguishing accurately whatever is presented to it. Just as when our health is good we can tell the difference between good and bad food by our bodily sense of taste and reach for what is wholesome, so when our mind is strong and free from all anxiety, it is able to taste the riches of diving consolation, and to preserve, through love, the memory of this taste. This teaches us what is best with absolute certainty. As Saint Paul says: My prayer is that your love may increase more and more in knowledge and insight, and so enable you to choose what is best.