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                                     December 7, 2025, Second Sunday of Advent:

Grades of Prayer – 8. Prayer of Conforming Union – Characteristics & Effects (2)

In last week’s reflection, we learned about the definition and meaning of Prayer of Conforming Union. Now let us look into the essential characteristics and the effects of the Prayer of Confirming Union. St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of Cross identify the following characteristics and effects of Prayer of Conforming Union. 1. The absorption of the soul in God; 2. the ecstasy. Both of these elements are necessary for true mystical ecstasy. Without the union with God in infused contemplative prayer, the ecstasy would be a natural ecstasy or trance, a falsification of mystical ecstasy caused by an evil spirit. Sts. Teresa and John of the Cross speak of two forms of divine ecstasy: first is the sweet, gentle, and delightful ecstasy, which is no way harmful to health, rather, it often improves the person’s health. Second, is the violent and painful ecstasy, in which the person experiences an intense bodily suffering. 

St. Teresa points out various types of ecstasy and the effects of ecstatic prayer. 1. The soul is gradually drawn to God. The soul becomes aware of its own misery, disdain for all created things, great desire to serve God with humility, and even strong desire martyrdom for the love of God. 2. The soul feels a greater separation from the body. It feels great sorrow of sins of the past and experiences intense desire for the salvation of souls. 3. The soul enjoys great certitude and security, and desires to occupy itself with work of the Lord. In this stage, the soul would experience bodily levitation, visions, and revelations. 4. The soul feels itself to be in the state of deep loneliness and total abandonment, and desires to seek nothing but the Creator. The soul feels as if it is suspended between heaven and earth. The soul finds no rest in any created things, as St. Augustine states; “our souls are restless until the soul rests in you’. The soul expresses its helplessness as we read in the Psalm 62, “my soul is thirsting for you my God, as the deer longs for running streams.” Some spiritual authors call this state of ecstasy, passive purgation of the soul, which is necessary before the soul can proceed to the transforming union. St. Teresa says that the only comparison of this pain is the suffering in purgatory. Lastly, St. Teresa speaks of the wound of love, which closely resembles the ecstatic impulse. It is not a question of physical pain, although it may result in severe bodily pain after the experience has passed. The interior sensation is like that of a fiery arrow shot into the soul, and the sudden impact may make the individual cry out when it happens. Yet the wound is one of such sweet delight that the soul would like it to continue. The experience itself may be of brief duration, or it may last several hours. The faculties of the soul are inactive as long as it lasts, and there is the usual drop in body temperature and slowness of pulse, but no bodily rigidity or suspended animation, though frequently the experience terminates in a true trance or a vision. 

During the second week of Advent, try not only to be faithful to your prayers and devotions, but also to permit the Holy Spirit to lead you into a deeper level of spiritual life. Try to see how God works in your life. Try to pay attention to the special moments such as gentle, delightful, or moments of stress, feeling of abandonment, or sense of pain which is caused for the greater need for God. Also, make a good examination of conscience and prepare yourself for a good Confession, May the love of God create in your heart a thirst for his love. 

       — Fr. Jesu