Hmm. I would say that the things to look up are the midday demon - you will see that later writings psychologize "acedia" more (another useful term; sort of represents executive dysfunction, though often especially the kind you get from depression), but I think it's fascinating to read those earliest writings that are portraying distraction as this external force that acts upon you. In this genre: the advice given to monks on how to stay focused, at work or at prayer. Re: work, copyists' complaints particularly have interesting analogical merit. Re: prayer, "lectio divina boredom" might be a good rabbit hole to go down.
One day I confessed a few sins to a very, very young priest, and he immediately discerned that I suffer from acedia. I'd never even heard of it, but he recommended a book for me to read, which I devoured. And it turns out that acedia is truly a rampant scourge of the modern world that is barely recognized for what it is.
You know how when you're sick but you have no diagnosis, it's difficult to treat or heal from it? Yeah, that's how it is spiritually. If you don't know the root causes or motivations for your sinful ways, you can't escape them and you're still in slavery.
So once I identified acedia (and it's a slippery, amorphous, insidious malady) I was able to make great progress along the path. In fact, God granted me the graces of self-knowledge and introspection so that I could further discern my identit, my vocation, and my destiny.
Yep so if you're doomscrolling your smartphone all day, or if you're addicted to Netflix/YouTube, you're probably suffering from acedia just as much as the French loved their absinthe and opium. Get diagnosed and get some help from above!
kixiQu|3 years ago
Eleison23|3 years ago
You know how when you're sick but you have no diagnosis, it's difficult to treat or heal from it? Yeah, that's how it is spiritually. If you don't know the root causes or motivations for your sinful ways, you can't escape them and you're still in slavery.
So once I identified acedia (and it's a slippery, amorphous, insidious malady) I was able to make great progress along the path. In fact, God granted me the graces of self-knowledge and introspection so that I could further discern my identit, my vocation, and my destiny.
Yep so if you're doomscrolling your smartphone all day, or if you're addicted to Netflix/YouTube, you're probably suffering from acedia just as much as the French loved their absinthe and opium. Get diagnosed and get some help from above!