Contemplatives in the world
Photo by Katie Drazdauskaite on Unsplash
St Josemaría Escriva referred frequently to this saying of “being contemplatives in the middle of the world”. He said:
"We live in the middle of the world; that's where our cell is. We are contemplatives in the midst of the world."
What did he mean by this?
The word “contemplative” has two meanings:
adjective
expressing or involving prolonged thought
involving or given to deep silent prayer
noun
a person whose life is devoted primarily to prayer, especially in a monastery or convent.
In many ways, St Josemaría knitted together the adjective and noun so that we could truly understand its importance for our lives as ordinary Christians. He could have just said “be prayerful in the middle of the world”. But instead, he used the word “contemplative”. And there is a difference.
Abide in Me
Contemplation is deepening into the mystery of Jesus Christ. It’s entering into a relationship with Him. The most accurate way of understanding what it means to be contemplative is from Sacred Scripture:
“He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit”. (John 15:4)
It encompasses our whole being. It’s not simply a matter of being prayerful, it’s more than that. It’s seeing the world through the eyes of Christ and finding the source of this vision in Christ, and more in particular in prayerful contemplation of the Eucharist.
We go to our Lord in the Eucharist to get to know Him and to eventually love Him. That love spills out into our day. You might think, that’s for the mystical, the highly spiritual, the saintly. Not at all! It’s truly possible for everyone because as soon as you sincerely reach out to our Lord, He reaches out to you and a relationship begins. Contemplation is not the summit, it’s the beginning, middle and end of our relationship with Him.
Benefits of Contemplation
The benefits of being contemplative in our day-to-day are countless.
There is depth and meaning to the world. Things have a greater purpose. It’s like watching your world in 4k video when you were perhaps used to seeing it in SD (standard definition). Not in a woo-woo sort of way, but in a subtle, almost imperceptible way. Life has more sense and purpose because you are seeing it through the eyes of Christ.
You are more aware of people’s innate dignity as children of God. People always have your respect certainly but when you have a contemplative outlook to life, people are much more than that. Each person is loved by God and you experience this love that God has for each person more acutely. This shows in your readiness to be generous to others, in the same way our Lord is generous to you. To love and forgive.
As the world and the people around you have greater importance and depth, so too the things that happen to you whether circumstantial or by your own will are part of God’s Divine Plan. Everything has a reason and everything is for the good. In short, being contemplative is polar opposite to being nihilistic (I put the definition below, just in case).
St Paul said: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
You may think that this way of living is only for “those who love him” (as St Paul says) but it’s for everyone. As soon as you desire it, you are with Him. St Therese of Lisieux had this beautiful line where she said:
“God would never inspire me with desires which cannot be realized; so in spite of my littleness, I can hope to be a saint”.
So if you want it, it is there for a reason.
Footnote
Definition of Nihilism: Nihilism is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy.
Resources
Theological Study on what it means to be “Contemplatives in the World”. Romana Publication - pdf download