Introduction
In
a previous post I discussed the "unavoidable mystical dimension
of christianity" (click here).
Here I would like to speak about the mystical dimension, but as an
instinct. I am not alluding to the natural instinct or desire that
every human being has to seek God, the divine, but the supernatural
desire, i.e. the desire that is the result of a Call from Jesus and a
Grace given by God to a specific person, at a specific time in his or
her life, and done in a specific way. This, as will be seen, is not
an innate instinct but a new grafted instinct that will pervade the
very depths of our being and permeate our very lives.
St
Paul endorses this when he invites us to be led by the Holy Spirit
(Ga 5:25; Romans 8:14). He goes on to mention that in the new
spiritual life thus engendered and given by Jesus, there are at the
core of our being (our heart) impulses or movements generated by the
Holy Spirit. These are akin to a new supernatural instinct grafted
onto us. In addition to this, I would like to explore the
"instinctual" aspect of it. Do we become like robots? Does
being led, moved by the Holy Spirit, turn us into spiritual
“puppets”. How is our freedom affected? In which sense would we
call it “instinct”?
Important
Note: This post's subject is very rich and covers a great variety
of connected subjects. Therefore, herein, whenever it is needed, I
will allude to previous posts in order to offer the reader every
possibility to deepen the subject of his choice.
What
is the meaning of "mystical"?
“Mystical”
means hidden. By extension it has been applied to all the
manifestations of a developed spiritual life, which in turn implies
direct connection with God, visions and supernatural phenomena. Very
often it is viewed essentially as being closely linked to the
discovery and exploration of God's world, its graces and growth of
intimacy with God.
With
this in mind we should distinguish clearly between what is the core
of mysticism, open to everyone, and what is not the core (levitation,
stigmata, physical visions,...), given only to some. In order, then,
to understand the difference between peripheral phenomena (mystical
phenomena) and the core reality, and in order to learn discernment
for this please read here.
St
Therese of the Child Jesus who is the perfect embodiment of a
supremely mystical life (a spiritual life) that gives no evidence of
any extraordinary and peripheral graces.
Is
it a natural instinct or a spiritual gift?
St
John of the Cross states that the human being desires God in two
ways: naturally and supernaturally, i.e. under the influence of a
grace given by God. What interests us is the latter because it is
this grace that is invited to grow and to help us reach Union with
Christ - the Sacred Threshold of the Kingdom.
What
is the "mystical instinct"?
How
can the "mystical instinct" be defined? Going back to the
Fathers of the Church we find that they developed a spiritual
doctrine stating that once the spiritual journey is embarked upon,
under the action of the Holy Spirit, inner spiritual senses do
develop in us; new capacities/senses that are spiritual are gifted to
us - pure effects of the grace of God - developing in us a new range
of senses that will allow us to find our bearings in God's world. We
can then see God, hear Him, etc... If for the sake of an entirely
theoretical explanation, we unite these new senses, blending them
together, we can say that this amalgam resembles a new theological
"instinct" that guides us toward God, helps us to sense
Him, follow Him and serve Him - and thereby allows the new man in us
to grow. It goes without saying that these senses, and this instinct,
are directly fed by the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Love.
These three alone connect us directly to God.
This
instinct, it must be remembered, has been given to us in a seminal
form during baptism, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit which,
together with our collaboration, causes it to grow. This goes to show
that the mystical instinct is far from being a purely animalistic
instinct, but proves rather that the new organism, embodying this new
sense, is now developing. From this we can now imply that it
undergoes different phases of growth.
Furthermore,
this mystical quality - through the action of the theological acts -
connects us with God who has been leading us in the first place. It
can be compared to the inter-connection of the eyes, hands, feet,
heart and will. With the ensuing growth, the more the new man has the
upper hand, the more the Holy Spirit's impulses are sensed (see
Romans 8).
Is
being guided by our "mystical instinct" going against
reason?
Going
against reason is never the case. St John of the Cross in fact
emphatically states: come to terms with reason, common sense should
guide us as well in deep spiritual life. But, it must be avowed that
the mystical instinct is sometimes beyond reason: it comes from God
and goes back to Him.
However,
the solid base to which we must paradoxically often return is reason.
The grace of God will often help us fulfil our daily duties. Is that
against reason? No, on the contrary. We are all subject to the
universal time-frame of seven days per week and twenty-four hours
per day, with no additions possible... our day is universally ordered
into times for sleeping, eating, resting, entertainment, prayer,
work,... Providentially, rather, this new instinct, with its
attendant graces, will help us, exteriorly, to do the same things,
but in a vastly improved manner, with greater attention to quality
and detail. What is noteworthy here, is that the difference lies in
the fact that this instinct will guide us from within to do
everything in a completely different way, a way that is connected to
God.
What,
then, can totally attract us with such magnetism to God? Only the
Mystical Instinct. Will it force us to act against reason? No, on the
contrary, it will move us from within to connect directly with God
while we are apparently undertaking our normal routines. The
difference lies in the deeper inner world.
Can
any human being have it?
Yes,
providing he or she has been through a conversion, and spiritual
growth has commenced.
Is
there a call for a mystical life?
Yes
there definitely is. We are all called to follow Jesus. And this
journey is by definition “mystical”. Please see the following
posts:
Can
it be triggered?
Jesus'
words “I called you, not you called me” (John 15:16) clearly
indicate that the initial move is made by God. However, much depends
on us (see here).
A
more detailed theological explanation of the difference between"general help" and "particular help" with St Thomas Aquinas.
Can
spiritual growth be further developed ?
It
most emphatically can: this new instinct is constantly refined, by
the addition of a developing and in-depth discernment. It is to be
remembered that God is Spirit and cannot be deceived. We can only
learn to discover Him... He is our sole teacher. (See below):
Can
it be hindered?
Of
course it can. Ignorance, is one of the main reasons for hindering
growth. Spiritual laziness only exacerbates this.
Can
one develop it more than others?
Most
definitely, as holiness has grades and levels; in fact we could say,
with St Therese, to Jesus: “I want it all, I don't want half
measures.”
Are
some temperaments more prone to it?
We
all are invited to have a share in it. (see 1 Timothy 2:4 and John
15:15)
Can
it be faked?
Unfortunately
deviations are possibles. The Devil can easily interfere and the Lord
allows this in order to test our obedience to Him. Charlatans exist
as well, in the name of religion.
Can
it be dangerous?
Anything
in the spiritual life not led by discernment (through spiritual
direction) can lead to real disaster.
Is
the mystical instinct the same as the contemplative instinct?
Some
people would consider themselves more contemplatives, and others more
active. These distinctions tend to be misleading. Although we cannot
deny that some human dispositions are more contemplative, introvert,
and others are more active, extrovert, we cannot completely dismiss
the contemplative (mystical instinct) dimension in extroverts and the
active dimension of spiritual life in introverts. Balance, and
communication between the two dimensions is valid for all - the rest
encompasses only grades of intensity.
How
can I know if I am called to it?
Being
personally and directly called to it does differ from the general
theoretical statement: all are called to it (please see the Post "Acall is a call").
How
can we understand the "instinctual" aspect of it?
“Instinct”
means an almost uncontrollable way of thinking or acting - a more
spontaneous way of acting. Providing this spiritual instinct grows in
us, and grows properly, in the correct direction... we can say that
this is the result of God's new life in us: the Holy Spirit dwelling
in us.
Do
we become like robots?
Is
being led, moved by the Holy Spirit, turning us into a species of
spiritual puppet? What happens to our freedom?
Of
course not. The example of dancing (think of a waltz) sheds an
interesting light on the relationship between our free will and God's
impulses. When learning to dance it can sometimes take years of
exercise for a learner to master this art. Does dancing require only
one of the partners? No, it requires both. Does dancing mean that the
lady leads? No, this is not the case. Paradoxically, when you see
both dancing you have the impression that the lady is as light as a
feather, and that she is following all the hand and body movements of
the gentleman, like a puppet. But is she a puppet? Quite the
contrary, for over the years of learning she has been deeply
transformed. The same applies to us: do we become the robots of the
Grace of God? What happens to our free will? The answer lies here:
hours and hours of exercise, becoming connected, docile, in harmony
with the Divine Partner.
In
which sense would we call it "instinct"?
In
the sense that this long friendship has seen the development of these
virtues to the point that they now seem instinctual rather than
painful and implying effort.
How
does it relate to fervour?
The
more we grow spiritually, the more this instinct grows. But there are
phases of growth which follow the normal curve of holiness. See thecomplete journey of growth here.
How
does it relate to spiritual emulation?
Spiritual
emulation as well as “mystical instinct`” is the result of a
fervent spiritual life.
Will
the "mystical instinct" differentiate us from the rest of
the crowd?
The
Mystic within us sees his “mystical instinct” grow, become surer,
more discerning. But in the final analysis, as above-mentioned, it
does not go against reason, for it comprises an inner instinct to
seek out and connect with God all the time, to keep the Fire of His
Love alive in us. Therefore, paradoxically, the "mystical
instinct" make us more respectful of the authorities, and allows
us at the same time to seemingly blend in with the crowd.
If
we follow this instinct we will do great things, as Jesus said.
Without Jesus we are powerless (see John 15). This instinct, by
drawing us closer to Him, will keep us connected with Jesus. And if
by any chance we go astray, it will bring us back, with even greater
humility.
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