Everyone who has a decent prayer life goes through periods when they just have a difficult time praying. By “prayer life” I don’t mean saying 1 or 2 prayers and that’s it. I mean daily Mass readings, Bible study, rosary devotion and whatever else that constitutes a greater-than-normal attention to the interior life of the soul.

Sometimes one just can’t do it. Whether it’s through a personal failing (“I don’t feel like it.”) or a God-induced dryness (just ask St. Teresa of Avila), people sometimes just have a difficult time praying.

One can force it or just roll with it until the moment returns. I go through it for a few days every so often. Not epic by saintly standards but enough to welcome and appreciate my prayer life’s return.

And when it returns it is like coming to a wellspring in an oasis after detouring through a desert. The tank was empty and then it isn’t.

My primary tool for sobriety has thus been recharged.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)