Contemplative Haven

For our Merton entry this morning, I would like to lead you first to this post at Mike’s, The Mercy Blog.   Although the subject-matter concerns “dew” in the context of grace/passivity/activity, it brought to mind the following passage of Merton’s, from “The Ascent to Truth” , in which we see the elements of nature used as metaphors for growth in contemplation:

“In the beginning of the contemplative life, it is possible for the soul to rest for long periods absorbed in the consolation of divine love.  The spirit is in a certain sense satisfied by that love.  Contemplation can even appear to become an end in itself, as if the intimate embrace of God’s love were already as good as heaven.  But this is an illusion.  Sooner or later, like all created things, this joy must end.  God takes care to see that it ends sooner in some souls than in others.  The love that was sweet and consoling becomes a purgatorial flame.  The repose that was our friend becomes a terrible adversary.  It devours our bones.  Contemplation descends upon us now no longer like dew but like a desert wind, smothering our whole being in fire and sand.  The faculties begin to turn upon themselves like paper blistering at the approach of flame.  The will shrivels and twists and the mind disintegrates into ashes consumed by thirst for the vision of God.” 

We already have about four feet of snow piled up in the back and front yards, and a couple of more feet coming since 3:00 a.m. and continuing all day and night, so we hear.  We are being told to stay off the roads except for dire emergencies.

So I’m writing Christmas cards and catching up on three weeks worth of ironing.

This is just to impress upon you the fact that I do indeed live an exciting life offline.  Hidden, but oh, so thrilling. 

You really must excuse me now, as I have to plan dinner.  We didn’t get out yesterday to buy any groceries, but I’m sure I can throw something together with lettuce, mushrooms and Christmas cookies.  I do enjoy a culinary challenge. 

 Let us rejoice.

Direct to YouTube is Here.

[Excerpt from "Heart of the World", by Hans Urs von Balthasar]

Or I can postpone guilt until tomorrow.  The eye that looks at me fixedly always says “today.”  “It is now that I want to be loved.”  But I lower my eyes and say:  “I will love you tomorrow.  Tomorrow you’ll see what I’m capable of doing for you.  You’ll see the sacrifices I’ll bring to you.  Tomorrow I’ll pay you twice over if you’ll only grant me this one hour today.  I must yet pluck the rose before it fades away, but the rosehips I’ll bring you for sure.  Give me the spring and I’ll let you have the autumn, maybe even late summer.  Just for today turn away your gaze, and starting tomorrow you’ll be able to look at me all you like.”  “I’m coming now, I’m coming right away!” the child cries up to his mother when she calls him in, and he finishes playing his game, thinking that surely obedience includes a certain period of grace - a human margin.  Who could all at once make a clean break with his life?  Why, God, do you want to jump steps in my case?  You want the whole thing all at once:  one’s whole heart, whole soul, whole mind - all my strength…

For the anniversary of Thomas Merton’s death, I would like to share some extracts from a letter written on the following day, December 11, 1968, to the Abbot of Gethsemane, Abbot Flavian Burns. This letter was signed by the six Trappist delegates at the Bangkok Conference:

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“With one accord every delegate here and the hundreds represented by these delegates appreciate your own kindness and generosity in allowing Father Louis to attend this conference. It was his presence here that drew us, and from the very moment of his arrival he was the center of all proceedings. Some had already met him, most of us were meeting him for the first time person to person. He was known to us through his writings and by his reputation, but now that we have had the privilege to meet and live with him we know just how truly great a monk he was. He endeared himself to everyone by his simplicity, his openness to all, his eagerness to give of all that he had, and above all by the fact that here indeed was a true monk.”

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“This morning at 10 a.m. we celebrated Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul.  The Abbot Primate Dom Weakland was the principal celebrant and was assisted by the Apostolic Delegate of Thailand and Dom Joachim of Kopua.  The Archbishop of Bangkok and his secretary were also present.  All the priests concelebrated, assisted by other delegates.  The vestments were white to testify to our belief that this was indeed an occasion of great happiness as we rejoiced in the knowledge that our brother had truly gone to God.”

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“…we wish to extend to you and your community our deep heartfelt sympathy in your great loss of a son and brother, a loss which is also an intimate one for each of us.  We know that you too will also feel that it is an occasion of great happiness with the realization that Father Louis has attained that goal that we all seek, eternal union with the Godhead.”

[From:  The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton, Appendix VIII]

It seems as though the death of Thomas Merton is “a loss which is also an intimate one” even for those of us who never had the privilege of meeting him.  We miss you, Father Louis.  Please pray for us.

[From: Handmaid of the Lord, by Adrienne von Speyr]

“In order to understand her childhood, therefore, one must look back on it from her definite self-engagement later on. It has meaning as preparation for that for which she was chosen from all time - chosen so completely that at the moment of her conception she was dissociated from original sin and thus from everything that might have weakened or impaired in her the power and perfection of her later assent.  So great is the power and freedom of her consent that she is perfectly free from the slightest inclination to say No.  This is so because her assent is prepared and planned from the first moment of her existence.  In her being, then, her assent is cause and effect together.  It is not one single act in her life; rather, God called her into existence for the sake of that act, and every excellence she was endowed with was granted for its sake.  She, who matures in order that the Word may be spoken from her, already lives completely from the outset and on the strength of that Word.”

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Come and take a peek at the new site.  Barely started, but raring to go!

Direct to YouTube for this video is HERE.

[Edited to add:  The creator of this video, Bob Carlton, posted it on his blog about a year ago, with the lyrics by Paul Simon.  You can see the lyrics here.  Bob Carlton's YouTube Channel is here, and he has made some really lovely videos for reflections on special liturgical days/seasons].

I was tagged by Marie Cecile of Soulful Longings to list eight things about myself or my habits, so here’s what popped up in my stream of consciousness.  The real me.  Transparency.  It’s all about transparency, isn’t it.

1.  I have a fondness for eccentrics.

2.  I cannot attend serious, dignified events with people I like, because we end up in fits of giggles at highly inappropriate moments.

3.  I really like the impact of short videos.  You’ve probably noticed.

4.  I like things to be balanced.  For instance, if I walk into a wall and bump my right shoulder, I’d like to bump the left one too, just to make it even.  I don’t, but I’d like to.

5.  I cannot read upsidedown.  I have a teacher-friend who can, and she says it comes in very handy on parent/teacher night.  I’m not sure when it would come in handy for me.

6.  I don’t care for licorice.

7.  The power went out this week for a few hours.  Seeing as how the house was fairly warm and I had no intention of doing anything even remotely resembling this, I rather enjoyed the peace and quiet.

8.  I would leave the Christmas decorations up all year if they would let me. They won’t let me. 

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I plugged in practically everybody in my sidebar, and the only one who came out “Genius” was Phil, of CatholicGeek. And he’s on sabbatical. Go figure. 

To try it for yourself, go HERE.

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“You realize that prayer takes us beyond the law.  When you are praying you are, in a certain sense, an outlaw.  There is no law between the heart and God.  The law is outside our intimate relationship with God and if you bring a law into the intimate relationships with God, you mess things up.  Between the soul and God there are no laws.  But that is not a natural situation; it is the result of redemption, the result of Christ.”

[Thomas Merton in Alaska:  The Alaskan Conferences, Journals and Letters]