God only knows why, but I read every line of Saint John of the Cross before even being received into the Catholic Church all those years ago. Knowing my temperament and knowing what horrible mental back-flips I could have made myself do, I’m very glad that God somehow took me this road. I could have done so much harm to myself.

Saint John really was a wise man, an “architect”, when he said that

directors should not impose meditation on persons in this state [of contemplation], nor should they oblige them to make acts or strive for satisfaction and fervor. Such activity would place an obstacle in the path of the principal agent who, as I say, is God, who secretly and quietly inserts in the soul loving wisdom and knowledge, without specified acts… (Living Flame, St 3, #33)

Without knowing this, I would have been bound to want to please God by my efforts, by my discursive meditation, by my thoughts, by some work. That’s me. Those are my ridiculous errors. But here comes someone with order in his mind and his heart: “Contemplation is the trump card. If God plays it on you, don’t resist. Do your work another time. Be thankful for now. That is the proper order that belongs in any prayer life.”

Similarly, Saint Francis de Sales says,

If, while saying vocal prayers, your heart feels drawn to mental prayer, do not resist it, but calmly let your mind fall into that channel, without troubling because you have not finished your appointed vocal prayers. The mental prayer you have substituted for them is more acceptable to God, and more profitable to your soul.

I guess he is the Doctor of Charity for a reason, and John is the Mystical Doctor for a reason. Thank God!