Active Or Contemplative Life?

[Amy G.]

[size="3"]St. Thomas Aquinas writes about the [b]active religious life[/b] and the [b]contemplative religious life[/b] in the Secunda Secundae of his Summa. I read the section on this topic, and it didn't make much sense to me! I finally got some clarification on the issue from one of my Dominican professors (his class is amazing!! He is the papal theologian – Fr. Giertych, O.P. [url="http://www.op-stjose...pal_theologian/"]http://www.op-stjose...pal_theologian/[/url] ) I thought I'd share what he had to say with all of you, in case there's someone out there who is also confused by this question in the Summa!! [/size]

[size="3"]One of the more famous quotes from this section of the Summa is the following:[/size]

[size="3"][b]"Better to illuminate than merely to shine; to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate."[/b] (Thomas Aquinas, Summa, II-II, Question 188)[/size]

[size="3"]I wondered if this meant that active orders (or active with a contemplative component) do much good… while the life of prayer practiced in purely contemplative orders (that don't physically go out into the world to 'share the fruits of their contemplation') is somehow less significant.[/size]

[size="3"]Father said that the word contemplation (Latin, [i]contemplatio[/i]) used by Thomas in the 13[sup]th[/sup] century did not have the same meaning that we attach to it today. It wasn't until the 16[sup]th[/sup] century with the writings of the Carmelites St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross that the word 'contemplation' began to be used to refer to contemplative prayer – a personal, "heart to heart" encounter with God. Thomas used the words contemplation/speculation/meditation interchangeably. What he meant by contemplation was a study, a thought process, a rational speculation, an intuition of truth about God – not necessarily tied with prayer. Father advised, [b]when reading the Thomas' question on the active religious life and the contemplative religious life, we should translate "contemplative" religious life as "[i]academic[/i]" religious life[/b] – a religious life in which study plays a central role. [/size]

[size="3"]So Aquinas is telling us that if we study theology, we should deliver to others the truth we have arrived at through our study. (This is, after all, one of the major interests of the Dominican order – the preaching of the truth!) [/size]

[Lisa]

Thanks for that insightful post!


One idea of St. Thomas Aquinas that sticks out to me is "to contemplate, then give to others the fruits of our contemplation." And I think this is really a beautiful imitiation of the Gospel.

When Jesus sends out the 12 in Luke 9 ([url="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke9.htm"]http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke9.htm[/url]) and the 72 in Luke 10, he instructs them to take nothing (or very little) with them and preach the Gospel. It's important to realize at this point, they had received Jesus' teaching through miracles, parables, and the Beatitudes.

We are all called to be Contemplative Disciples- first learning about Truth, like you mentioned Amy, and then doing something about it. For the modern day cloistered/contemplative order, that DOING something is praying- which we all need! Praise the Lord. For the active communities, it's doing something along the lines of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Both are doing something to spread the Good News of Jesus!

It's also interesting to note, that when Dominic founded the Dominicans, he first established a convent of women to pray for the success of the Order of Preachers. We must first have contemplation (in the religious sense) before we can take that fruit anywhere. St. Dominic sent out all 16 of his followers to preach the Gospel, keeping nothing back for stability. Amazing!

[InPersonaChriste]

In the Dominican order it is based around God and preaching his word. Their are not many cloistered domincans because of this. I do think that cloistered life has a different form of preaching. It is not of the physical but of the spiritual touch.

:D

[Lisa]

[quote name='InPersonaChriste' timestamp='1302017009' post='2226117']
In the Dominican order it is based around God and preaching his word. Their are not many cloistered domincans because of this. I do think that cloistered life has a different form of preaching. It is not of the physical but of the spiritual touch.

:D
[/quote]


There are actually cloistered (or mostly cloistered) Dominican nuns! Which I think is aw.esome- their mission is to pray for the preaching of the friars to the salvation of souls! Here is the website of the US Dominican nuns (with a little about their history and work) [url="http://www.usaopnuns.org/"]http://www.usaopnuns.org/[/url]

Your last sentence "I do think that cloistered life has a different form of preaching. It is not of the physical but of the spiritual touch." is a beautiful truth!

Edited April 5, 2011 by Lisa

[Amy G.]

I agree with you both. I love the Dominicans! (I'm currently attending a Dominican university...it's so neat to see the professors walk down the corridors with their white habits flowing and their rosaries swaying at their sides!! It's definitely a change from my old university.) If you do read that section in the Summa that I mentioned - it is really helpful to substitute the word "academic" for "contemplative." When I first read it, I thought 'prayer' when I read 'contemplative,' and Aquinas' response is a bit confusing if you read it that way. I hope that helps!

Also - I don't think the link works in my original post. Here is is: [url="http://www.op-stjoseph.org/blog/papal_theologian/"]http://www.op-stjose...pal_theologian/[/url]

[Lisa]

[quote name='Amy G.' timestamp='1302018368' post='2226122']
I agree with you both. I love the Dominicans! (I'm currently attending a Dominican university...it's so neat to see the professors walk down the corridors with their white habits flowing and their rosaries swaying at their sides!! It's definitely a change from my old university.) If you do read that section in the Summa that I mentioned - it is really helpful to substitute the word "academic" for "contemplative." When I first read it, I thought 'prayer' when I read 'contemplative,' and Aquinas' response is a bit confusing if you read it that way. I hope that helps!

Also - I don't think the link works in my original post. Here is is: [url="http://www.op-stjoseph.org/blog/papal_theologian/"]http://www.op-stjose...pal_theologian/[/url]
[/quote]


I dominicans! Definitely wasn't disagreeing with you- was just adding something that stuck out to me!