Active contemplation

Contemplation in action

The term “contemplativus in actione” (contemplation in action) was first coined by the Spaniard Hieronymus Nadal SJ (1507-1580) as a concise description of the spirituality and charisma of the Society of Jesus, i.e. the Jesuit order. It is an alternative to the contemplative way of life of the Benedictines, who we know as "ora et labora" (praying and working). The Jesuits do not align their times of the day with the Liturgy of the Hours and the times of work. The experience of God in Jesus Christ is home and source. Wherever Jesus' companion is sent, there he works to the best of his ability. The Jesuit religious exercises are at the heart of Ignatian spirituality. In these retreats, the participants explore their own will and the will of God and ultimately also lead them into the mystical experience. The conscious will is the guideline for action in the world. The following joke illustrates the differences between the charisms of the large religious families in a humorous way: “A Benedictine, a Dominican, a Franciscan and a Jesuit are sitting in the room. Suddenly the light goes out. The Benedictine unwaveringly continues to pray his Divine Office, because he knows it by heart. The Dominican lectures on the essence of light and darkness. The Franciscan praises God, who also gives man the gracious veiling darkness. And the Jesuit goes out and changes the fuse. "

A representative of contemplation in action is the holy Martha. The evangelist Luke describes the following story: “At that time Jesus came into a village and a woman named Martha welcomed him kindly. She had a sister named Maria. Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his words. Martha, however, was completely occupied with looking after him. She came to him and said, Lord, don't you care that my sister leaves all the work to me? Tell her to help me! The Lord replied: Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled very much. But only one thing is necessary. Mary chose the better, that should not be taken from her ”(Lk 10, 38-42). At first glance, Martha is not doing as well here as Mary. She is overactive and does not listen to the words of Jesus.

John gives us another side of Martha in the story of Lazarus. Martha speaks to Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you. Jesus said to her: Your brother will be resurrected. Martha said to him, I know that he will be resurrected at the resurrection on the last day. Jesus replied: I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live even if they die, and anyone who lives and believes in me will not die forever. Do you think the? Martha answered him: Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world ”(Jn 11: 21-27). Saint Martha is one of the few people in the Gospels who really recognizes Jesus for who he is.

Meister Eckhart also takes the side of Martha and believes that she is actually further than Mary and writes about this: “If a person were as ecstatic as Saint Paul was, and if I knew a sick person who needed a soup from him, I thought so for far better, out of love you let go of the rapture and served the needy with greater love ”(Tract 2).

"For Meister Eckhart, Marta, in her energetic wisdom, is able to put insights into words in order to be able to bear witness to them to others, and this goes beyond the level of listening. In the end, "vita contemplativa" and "vita activa" are not opposites, but work together as "contemplativus in actione"." (Father Christof Wolf, SJ)

We know very well that the Divine Office and the Lectio Divina are not for everyone suitable. It is comforting to hear that this is the same for others and that there is also the path of contemplation in action wherever we are called, be it in the service of the family, of work and in the service of the church and society.