Monday, January 28, 2008

Is there delight in contemplation?

“Objection 1. It would seem that there is no delight in contemplation, for delight belongs to the appetitive power, whereas contemplation resides chiefly in the intellect. Therefore it would seem that there is no delight in contemplation.

“Objection 2. Further, all strife and struggle is a hindrance to delight. Now there is strife and struggle in contemplation. For Gregory says (Hom. xiv in Ezech.) that ‘when the soul strives to contemplate God, it is in a state of struggle; at one time it almost overcomes, because by understanding and feeling it tastes something of the incomprehensible light, and at another time it almost succumbs, because even while tasting, it fails.’ Therefore (it would seem that) there is no delight in contemplation.

“Objection 3. Further, delight is the result of a perfect operation, as stated in Ethic. x, 4. Now the contemplation of wayfarers is imperfect, according to 1 Corinthians 13:12: ‘We see now through a glass in a dark manner.’ Therefore seemingly there is no delight in the contemplative life.

“Objection 4. Further, a lesion of the body is an obstacle to delight. Now contemplation causes a lesion of the body; wherefore it is stated that after Jacob had said, ‘”I have seen God face to face” . . . he halted on his foot. . . because he touched the sinew of his thigh and it shrank’ (Genesis 32:30-32). Therefore seemingly there is no delight in contemplation.

On the contrary: It is written of the contemplation of wisdom (Wisdom 8:16): ‘Her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness’: and Gregory says (Hom. xiv in Ezech.) that ‘the contemplative life is sweetness exceedingly lovable.’

I answer that: there may be delight in any particular contemplation in two ways.

“First, by reason of the operation itself [Cf. I-II, 03, 5] because each individual delights in the operation which befits him according to his own nature or habit. Now contemplation of the truth befits a man according to his nature as a rational animal: the result being that 'all men naturally desire to know,' so that consequently they delight in the knowledge of truth. And more delightful still does this become to one who has the habit of wisdom and knowledge, the result of which is that he contemplates without difficulty.

“Secondly, contemplation may be delightful on the part of its object, in so far as one contemplates that which one loves; even as bodily vision gives pleasure, not only because to see is pleasurable in itself, but because one sees a person whom one loves.

“Since, then, the contemplative life consists chiefly in the contemplation of God, of which charity is the motive, as stated above (1 and 2, ad 1), it follows that there is delight in the contemplative life, not only by reason of the contemplation itself, but also by reason of the Divine love.

“In both respects the delight thereof surpasses all human delight, both because spiritual delight is greater than carnal pleasure, as stated above (I-II, 31, 5), when we were treating of the passions, and because the love whereby God is loved out of charity surpasses all love. Hence it is written (Psalm 33:9): ‘O taste and see that the Lord is sweet.’


“Reply to Objection 1. Although the contemplative life consists chiefly in an act of the intellect, it has its beginning in the appetite, since it is through charity that one is urged to the contemplation of God. And since the end corresponds to the beginning, it follows that the term also and the end of the contemplative life has its being in the appetite, since one delights in seeing the object loved, and the very delight in the object seen arouses a yet greater love. Wherefore Gregory says (Hom. xiv in Ezech.) that ‘when we see one whom we love, we are so aflame as to love him more.’ And this is the ultimate perfection of the contemplative life, namely that the Divine truth be not only seen but also loved.

“Reply to Objection 2. Strife or struggle arising from the opposition of an external thing hinders delight in that thing. For a man delights not in a thing against which he strives: but in that for which he strives; when he has obtained it, other things being equal, he delights yet more: wherefore Augustine says (Confess. viii, 3) that ‘the more peril there was in the battle, the greater the joy in the triumph.’

“But there is no strife or struggle in contemplation on the part of the truth which we contemplate, though there is on the part of our defective understanding and our corruptible body which drags us down to lower things, according to (Wisdom 9:15), ‘The corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.’ Hence it is that when man attains to the contemplation of truth, he loves it yet more, while he hates the more his own deficiency and the weight of his corruptible body, so as to say with the Apostle (Romans 7:24): ‘Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?’ Wherefore Gregory say (Hom. xiv in Ezech.): ‘When God is once known by desire and understanding, He withers all carnal pleasure in us.’

“Reply to Objection 3. The contemplation of God in this life is imperfect in comparison with the contemplation in heaven; and in like manner the delight of the wayfarer's contemplation is imperfect as compared with the delight of contemplation in heaven, of which it is written (Psalm 35:9): ‘Thou shalt make them drink of the torrent of Thy pleasure.’

“Yet, though the contemplation of Divine things which is to be had by wayfarers is imperfect, it is more delightful than all other contemplation however perfect, on account of the excellence of that which is contemplated. Hence the Philosopher says (De Part. Animal. i, 5): ‘We may happen to have our own little theories about those sublime beings and godlike substances, and though we grasp them but feebly, nevertheless so elevating is the knowledge that they give us more delight than any of those things that are round about us’: and Gregory says in the same sense (Hom. xiv in Ezech.): ‘The contemplative life is sweetness exceedingly lovable; for it carries the soul away above itself, it opens heaven and discovers the spiritual world to the eyes of the mind.’

“Reply to Objection 4. After contemplation Jacob halted with one foot, ‘because we need to grow weak in the love of the world ere we wax strong in the love of God,’ as Gregory says (Hom. xiv in Ezech.). ‘Thus when we have known the sweetness of God, we have one foot sound while the other halts; since everyone who halts on one foot leans only on that foot which is sound.’ “

Saint Thomas Aquinas
Summa Theologicae
From the Second Part of the Second Part
Question 180, article 7

Friday, January 18, 2008

"This is our vocation...

"...to stand before the face of God."
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Heavenly Father,
you renew the Church
in every age by
raising up religious women
to bear witness to you.

Fill the hearts of young women
with a spirit of courage and love,
and enliven in them
an awareness of their vocation
that they may hear your call.

May those you have
chosen to serve you
provide by their way of life
a convincing sign
of your kingdom
for the Church
and the whole world.

"If you feel called to a life of prayer
within the context of an enclosed life

  • have good physical and mental health
  • have a spirit of generosity and love that will enable you to give yourself totally to God
  • are between the ages of 21 - 45,"

contact the Discalced Carmelite Nuns
Carmel of Saint Joseph

Piedmont, Oklahoma at:
vocation@okcarmel.org

Happy National Vocation Awareness Week!



(from a previous post)

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Our vocation is a 'mystery'...

"...a gift of God, a call revealing itself only gradually -an irresistible attraction drawing us to the Lord, freeing our hearts from attachment to material things and enabling us to freely offer ourselves in love to the Lord.



"Like St. Paul we 'consider everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord'. (Phil 3:8)

"Being nuns of the Order of Preachers means that we belong to the worldwide Dominican Family - friars, nuns, Sisters, laity - who try to centre their lives on the Word of God.


"The friars, sisters and laity of the Order preach the name of the Lord Jesus throughout the world while the nuns seek, ponder and call upon Him in solitude - so that the word proceeding from the mouth of God may not return to Him empty, but may accomplish those things for which it was sent."

(from the website of the Monastery of St Catherine of Siena
a community of contemplative Dominican nuns in Ireland)




(see also the blog of Contemplative Dominican Nuns in New Jersey: monialesop.blogspot.com)

Happy Vocations Awareness Week!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

"...a quiet flame...

"...like a candle held in a woman's hand,
or set in a window at dusk.

"Does this small spark, this life of prayer
serve the Church and our world of the third Millennium?"





"Carmel is a silence
that is broken by a song.


"It is a desert
where the Spirit sows seeds of joy
that bloom
and come to fruitfulness
under the profound action
of God."


"Do I desire to belong to Christ alone and live my whole life
seeking intimacy with him?

"Do I want to be an instrument
of peace and healing
in our wounded world?

"Do I believe
that a life of prayer and holiness
by itself is a true apostolate?
That it can make a difference
in our world
of the Third Millennium?"


"To discern a vocation means to:

  • "Listen to your own heart.

  • "Listen to Christ speaking in the Gospels.

  • "Listen to the words of a priest, friend or counselor
    in whom you have placed your confidence.

  • "Pray without anxiety,
    peacefully and perseveringly.

  • "Wait for the Lord
    and trust him
    for he will not fail
    to make you know
    his will for you."

from the well-crafted
and stunningly beautiful Web site of
Carmel of Terre Haute
http://www.heartsawake.org/

(from a previous post)

Happy Vocation Awareness Week!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Adoration is our apostolate

"We are a Cloistered Community of Contemplative Nuns, known as the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration.

"Eucharistic Adoration is our apostolate, for as our Foundress, Mother Marie of St. Claire, once said: 'We are adorers of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the purpose of our adoration is thanksgiving.' Essentially, we begin to do on earth what every blessed soul will do for all eternity: praise, adore, and offer thanksgiving to our God....


"(We are) taking the treasures of spirituality and love that we have been given (at our founding monastery in Alabama), and, with His grace, begin planting it anew in the desert of Arizona."

"What are the requirements of entering the Poor Clare of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of Solitude? You must be a single woman between the ages of 21 and 35, have a High School education, be a Catholic in good standing, (and) have good physical and psychological health."

"If you are discerning a vocation and are interested in learning more about our Community, please contact us at vocations@desertnuns.com"

from the website of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration
Our Lady of Solitude Monastery
http://www.desertnuns.com/

Happy National Vocation Awareness Week!

Monday, January 14, 2008

"This is the cup of My blood..."


from the Holy Father's Mass yesterday
in the Sistine Chapel
on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

We seek God

"Our Benedictine monastic vocation is centered in the monastery.

"We seek God
in prayer,
in work, and
in community.


"Daily Mass and The Liturgy of the Hours provides the framework around which our day evolves. This communal praise of God is our most important task. The Liturgy of the Hours (or Divine Office) is sung six times a day in English using simplified Gregorian chant melodies. Lectio divina (sacred reading), personal prayer and an atmosphere of silence are also essential elements of our life of prayer....

"Single women (ages of 18-40) speak with our Prioress, Mother Mary Anne, and then come to visit the community. These first visits provide a glimpse of what our life is like and offer both sides to get to know one another. At each stage of the process, both the community and the individual discern whether or not God is calling the woman to our monastic community."

from the website of
St. Emma Monastery,
Greensburg, Pennsylvania


Happy National Vocation Awareness Week!

(from an earlier post)

Sunday, January 13, 2008

For those who are very, very serious...

...about prayer
and about being alone with God

for the love of Christ
and of the whole Church
there are few paths more magnificent
than that of the Carthusians:
monasteries of men and monasteries of women
tucked away in different corners of the world, from France to Vermont and from Brasil to Korea.

The Carthusians balance intense solitude
with strong community.

They seek God in austere isolation
and also in the magnificence of God’s creation.

They serve God with rough manual labor,
with eloquent artistry,
and in deepest prayer.

Vocation reflections from the Charterhouse of the Transfiguration, Vermont USA:


"Who is called to a life such as this?


"The vocation so centers in God and is directed by Him and for Him that the choice cannot possibly come from man. The hermit cannot progress along this often perplexing path unless God wishes it and calls the person to it, and gives him the graces for it....



"A candidate needs fairly good, though not exceptional, physical health to sustain the rigors of the vocation.


"In particular, given the more intense stresses of solitude, a candidate must be free of any serious emotional and psychological pathology; indeed even lesser degrees of trauma can prove an obstacle. The common practice is, therefore, to have candidates take psychological testing before admittance into the community.

"The Carthusian life requires significant human maturity and sound judgment. The Statutes allow no one under 20 to be admitted, and in fact, given the delayed maturity in the West today, a person does not enter before he is 23. Since adaptability to such a life becomes increasingly difficult after mid-life, the upper age limit is 45, though candidates over 40 are not often considered. A reposed, open and sociable character is very desirable. "In addition, cloister candidates are asked to have some knowledge of Latin and a liberal arts background if at all possible, with at least two years of college. The brothers are encouraged to have a high school education or the equivalent.

"Once the applicant has contacted the community, the Charterhouse sends a questionnaire concerning personal information and references. If the Superiors discover there is sufficient possibility of a vocation, they invite him to make a retreat of at least a month’s duration (if possible) at the monastery. During his retreat, he is gradually introduced to the Carthusian life and encouraged to participate as fully as his capacity permits.



"If at its end, the applicant remains convinced of his calling and wishes to take the next step, and if the Superiors, with the assistance of the grace of God, validate his discernment, then together they decide when he should enter the novitiate."


Please see the Carthusians' excellent site for more information (with recently added slide shows) and for the locations of the Charterhouses throughout the world: http://www.chartreux.org/



Happy National Vocation Awareness Week!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Imagine... you are there

For me, today's Gospel (Luke 4:14-22) is a great window for imagining myself in that time and place.

How wonderful it would have been to be sitting there in the synagogue as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ stepped up and read that wonderful prophecy.


He came to Nazareth,
where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.


He stood up to read
and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll
and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim

a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll,

he handed it back to the attendant
and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue

looked intently at him.

He said to them,
“Today

this Scripture passage
is fulfilled in your hearing.”