Servant of God Isaac Hecker writes:

When God calls a soul to greater intimacy, God recedes as it were from the soul, making the soul feel a sense of loss and uneasiness. To overcome this, the soul produces a fresh strength and produces a new fervor to move in the way of God’s commandments.

If we could see ourselves as God sees us, with our sins and lack of gratitude, it would be a difficult sight. How good and careful is God in tempering his light to our capacity.

Accept, O Lord, the simple gratitude of a poor heart for the infinite love and care you have ever and still show towards us. Forgive my transgressions and hide not my sins from me, that I may from my sorrow blot them out of your sight.

Commentary by Father Paul Robichaud, CSP

Many people were very surprised to learn that Blessed Teresa of Calcutta experienced dark nights of the soul as she was considered a living saint. The presumption being that saints experience the joy of God’s presence not darkness or emptiness. In the beginning of his message today, Father Hecker, who experienced a similar sense of darkness in his later life, explains the connection. As Hecker says for a soul to draw closer to God, God sometimes recedes from us.

What can we offer God for all God offers to us? Simple gratitude is Hecker’s answer. If we live with “an attitude of gratitude” nothing will be left out of our prayer. This is important for God is oftentimes carrying us through the more difficult moments of our lives and we are sadly unaware. Simple gratitude makes us aware that we are not alone – even though we may think we are. It makes us thankful for every day’s blessings. It stops us for taking the many good things in our life for granted

The next time you pray add Father Hecker’s prayer into your own (the third paragraph) and see if an attitude of gratitude doesn’t change the way you approach your day.

Father Paul Robichaud, CSP, is the historian of the Paulist Fathers and postulator of the Cause of Father Hecker. His office is located at the Hecker Center in Washington, D.C.

If you have asked Father Hecker to pray for you or another person who is ill and you believe something miraculous has happened, please phone Father Robichaud at 202-269-2519 or write to [email protected] and tell him your story.