Love in the Time of Acedia

Daniel Fitzpatrick describes the struggle with acedia, or sloth, as a temptation to reject the ordinary duties of daily life in favor of distractions. Writing for Word on Fire, Fitzpatrick notes how the repetitive nature of daily tasks can make one feel a desire to avoid God's providence in favor of imagined programs of action or constant digital stimulation.

Drawing on the writings of Walker Percy, Fitzpatrick observes that people often find more engagement during disasters than in the routine of day-to-day existence. He reflects on his own experience following Hurricane Katrina, noting that while the chaos of a disaster can feel more compelling than a standard to-do list, the temptation remains to succumb to the spiritual heaviness of sloth.