Grace in the Struggle: How Catholic Women in Trinidad and Tobago Face Spiritual Afflictions

By Denise Scott

Recently I looked back at my spiritual journey and smiled sadly. To many, I appear to be a devout woman of faith, and for the most part, I earnestly try to be, I recognise also that many cannot imagine the spiritual battles that people like me face daily.

The thing is, I now know that I am not alone. I believe that in every parish across Trinidad and Tobago, the same Catholic women that form the heartbeat of faith—from leading the Legion of Mary or St Vincent de Paul or the Parish Prayer group or even those who are nurturing families in the love of Christ—we all quietly wrestle with inner battles of fear, anxiety, temptation, and discouragement that test our faith and resilience.

For many, these struggles manifest as feelings of spiritual dryness or confusion, a sense that prayers are unanswered or that God feels distant. In a culture steeped in both Catholic tradition and Caribbean spirituality, women often find themselves discerning what is truly spiritual warfare versus what is emotional exhaustion. The line can be blurred, but one truth remains: God’s grace is present even in the struggle.

For many years, I would attend Masses in which I received no joy. I was like a zombie, showing up to church because it was expected and it was where my friends were. That was enough for many to believe that I was a good Christian, but I still remember one day unashamedly saying to a new parish priest that I absolutely enjoyed his homily, when in fact I had no idea or memory of what he shared. In hindsight, I am sure he must have seen the dribble running down my mouth while I slept through his homily. I felt neither love or hate. I was just filled with apathy. I was a lukewarm Christian.

My life has since changed drastically, as my parish priest has me yearning for Jesus, morning, noon and night. I recently attended a spiritual warfare seminar and recognised scores of women, many I knew, dressed up, driving fancy cars and wearing the best lace front wigs and the biggest smiles and like me were looking to the Catholic Church and its sacraments for refuge.

What I learnt is this. Somewhere between the tele-evangelists and all our friends who left the Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Reconciliation got a bad rap. But hear me out and trust me when I say: the Sacrament of Reconciliation offers healing for guilt and renewal of heart. It is a gift, so rare and precious and life-changing. And if you can avail yourself of Daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, you will find quiet strength, especially for those battling invisible burdens.

Communal prayer also remains a powerful source of support. When I was in school, groups like the Legion of Mary seemed to be for old folks but these spaces allow women to pray with and for one another. In these gatherings, stories of spiritual warfare are met not with fear, but with faith-filled encouragement. It allows us to truly be a part of an army because we pray for ourselves, our loved ones and our communities and we know that the Blessed Mother always leads us back to her Son.

Catholic women must also balance faith with wisdom. Increasingly, we are recognising that spiritual afflictions often intertwine with emotional wounds such as unresolved grief, family trauma, or burnout from constant caregiving. Increasingly, parish groups are inviting counsellors and spiritual directors to guide women in integrating prayer with emotional healing. A relative of mine was battling a mental health issue and, through my prayers, the Lord led me to find a psychiatrist who could help him. By the third visit, and with the use of prescribed medication, the situation is no longer daunting.

Ultimately, what I want to share most is that the path through affliction is one of transformation. These trials, though they seem like too much to bear, often refine our faith, deepen our humility, and build our compassion. St Paul reminds us, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10).

In the quiet chapels and busy homes of Trinidad and Tobago, Catholic women are living that truth daily. We are choosing grace over despair, prayer over panic, and surrender over struggle. Through their perseverance, they reveal a powerful message: even in spiritual warfare, the victory has already been won through Christ.