Signs of the Transition

Three signs that the transition is genuine (not laziness): (1) You find it hard to meditate as before but still desire God, (2) You have no desire for worldly things either — it's not that you want entertainment instead of prayer, (3) You prefer to remain quietly attentive to God without particular thoughts. If all three are present, God is likely inviting you to simpler prayer. (Ep 357, 406, 494)

Catechism sources (PD) teaches:

After we have begged God's assistance, we must ask our confessor's advice in the matter, and listen attentively to what the Holy Ghost inspires him to say.

(Source: baltimore_catechism.txt)

St. Thomas Aquinas teaches:

The Jews seeing Jesus thus acting with power, and having heard Him say, Make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise, ask of Him a sign; Then answered the Jews and said to Him, What sign show You to us, seeing that You do these things? CHRYS. But were signs necessary for His putting a stop.

(Source: catena_aurea_john.txt)

Doctrinal Foundation

T4.G.011 (sententia_certa): God truly gives grace to those who pray for it. Prayer is infallibly efficacious when the conditions of perseverance, humility, and conformity to God's will are met.

• Scripture: Amen, amen I say to you: if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you.
• Aquinas: Prayer is meritorious inasmuch as it proceeds from charity, and is directed to the good of the one who prays and of others.

From the Sources

St. Thomas Aquinas (catena_aurea_john.txt):

The Jews seeing Jesus thus acting with power, and having heard Him say, Make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise, ask of Him a sign; Then answered the Jews and said to Him, What sign show You to us, seeing that You do these things? CHRYS. But were signs necessary for His putting a stop to evil practices? Was not the having such zeal for the house of God, the greatest sign of His virtue? They did not however remember the prophecy, but asked for a sign; at once irritated at the loss.

St. Thomas Aquinas (catena_aurea_john.txt):

But He refuses to give them the sign, as He did on a like occasion, when He answers, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet; only the answer is more open there than here. He however who even anticipated men’s wishes, and gave signs when He was not asked, would not have rejected here a positive request, had He not seen a crafty design in it. As it was, Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple,.

St. Teresa of Avila (book_of_foundations.txt):

On entering the choir saw the image of our Lady in.

al 5 . - . the seat of the prioress, and S. Teresa sitting at her feet.

The rebellious nuns were struck by a heavenly terror, and changed their minds : all signs and all desires of dis- obedience vanished, and the Saint was obeyed as prioress with as much readiness and affection as if she had been chosen by them of their own free will. From that da forth the nuns of the Incarnation gave no trouble to the

St. Teresa of Avila (book_of_foundations.txt):

The present writer who has had the privilege of seeing most of these convents and visiting the scenes of.

INTRODUCTION lvil

S. Teresa’s labours can bear testimony to the accuracy of the designs.

The latest edition of the works of S. Teresa in French entitled Oeuvres completes de Sainte Téréese de fésus, by the Carmelite nuns of the premier monastére de Paris, (now at Anderlecht near Brussels), 6 vols.

Additional Sources

St. John of the Cross (ascent_of_mount_carmel.txt):

Of natural and imaginary apprehensions, Their nature. They cannot be proportionate means of union. The evil results of not knowing how to detach oneself from them in time . .

CHAPTER XIII.

The signs to be observed by the spiritual man that he may know when to withdraw the understanding from imaginary forms and discursive meditations . . « : . : BRN 9 eee rer

CHAPTER XIV.

The fitness of these signs.

St. John of the Cross (ascent_of_mount_carmel.txt):

The signs to be observed by the spiritual man that he may know when to withdraw the understanding from imaginary forms and discursive meditations . . « : .

CHAPTER XIV.

The fitness of these signs. The necessity of observing them for spiritual progress . aie tite . . ee ee)

vi. CONTENTS.

PAGE CHAPTER XV.

Of the occasional necessity of meditating, and exestag the natural faculties on the part of those who begin to enter on the contempla-

St. Francis de Sales (03_catholic_controversy.txt):

This is what the ministers of the pretended church have undertaken ; this is what they boast of having done ; this has been the aim of their discourses, their designs, their writings. But what an injustice have you not committed in believing them ? How did you come to take their word so simply ? How did you so lightly give them credit ?

St. Francis de Sales (03_catholic_controversy.txt):

Moses was sent immediately by God to govern the people of Israel.

St. Ignatius of Loyola (autobiography_oconor_1900.txt):

When he arrived at Montserrat, he passed a long time in prayer, and with the consent of his confessor he made in writing a general confession of his sins. Three whole days were employed in this undertaking.

St. Ignatius of Loyola (autobiography_oconor_1900.txt):

Shortly after the temptation just spoken of, he began to experience great changes in his soul. At one time he was deprived of all consolation, so that he found no pleasure in vocal prayer, in hearing Mass, or in any spiritual exercise.

Church Fathers (Confessiones_english.txt):

So I cast about limbs and voice, making the few and feeble signs I could, like, though indeed not much like, unto what I wished; and when I was not satisfied—either not being understood, or because it would have been injurious to me—I grew indignant that my elders were not subject unto.

Church Fathers (Confessiones_english.txt):

Even then I had life and being; and as my infancy closed I was already seeking for signs by which my feelings might be made known to others. Whence could such a creature come but from Thee, O Lord? Or shall any man be skilful enough to fashion himself?

Catechism sources (PD) (baltimore_catechism.txt):

After we have begged God's assistance, we must ask our confessor's advice in the matter, and listen attentively to what the Holy Ghost inspires him to say. The signs of our vocation are, therefore, as stated: first, a strong desire, and second, an aptitude for the state to which we believe we are called. For example, a young man might be very holy, but if unable to learn, he could never be a priest.

Some of the prophets foretold to what family He would belong, and when He would be born, and when and what He would suffer, and how He would die. They also foretold signs or things that would come to pass just before the advent or coming of the Messias (Gen. 49:10); so that when the people saw these things coming to pass, they could know that the time of the Messias was at hand.