Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Revisiting Contemplative Renewal

I have long believed there is a kind of contemplative renewal occurring in the Church. From where I sit, I've seen an ever growing body of evidence that this is the case. An increase of Eucharistic adoration, a re-focus on the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, an emphasis on Divine Mercy, interests in contemplative prayer and monastic life and silent retreats. So many things make me think this has all been growing, hidden, in the darkness of a world increasingly confused about Truth.

This renewal has not arrived with the fire and exuberance of some other movements.  It is growing in a quiet, hidden way. 

One cannot make this sort of thing happen here or there or anywhere; one can only be a yes to God and make oneself available.  And one "yes" - one unconditional, unqualified yes to the will of God - can reverberate throughout the whole earth.  I believe we are seeing fruits of some of these yeses, this very day.

Tough times produce tough yeses. These yeses may not be spoken in the midst of great emotion.  They may be uttered in the pain of darkness, or with the sting of aridity, or with the apprehension of knowing that those who stand for the Truth of Christ are often scorned and looked down upon.  This in itself makes the yeses unconditional. I think the blooms of contemplative renewal are being spotted here, and there, across the earth.  They have been growing hidden, their roots spreading deep under the soil.


It is a struggle to get these words down, for I suspect they sound a bit dramatic.  But in 1995 I made an attempt to speak of this to a priest, a man (now deceased) who traveled the world teaching the Truth of Christ.  He responded:  "you write of a 'contemplative renewal.'  Yes.  We are shoots of a larger growth - of the Spirit - coming up everywhere.  There is hope.  It is He."  

Those looking for fanfare and accolades for their opinions don't pay much attention to little clumps of flowers here and there.  But little clumps of pray-ers, rooted securely in the Church, are the ones God has always used to hold the fertile soil of His world together.    

Yes, there is hope.  It is He.




Reconciled To You and Theology Is A Verb 



Text not in quotes

7 comments:

  1. Love! Your last paragraph reminds me of some words of St. Therese of Lisieux about a garden. She said that although roses are beautiful, it takes a lot of little. less regal flowers to make the garden beautiful. I do hope you are right about a contemplative renewal!

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    1. I love the thought of the little, less regal flowers! Thank you, Candy.

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  2. I honestly do not remember reading any other post or article that has so powerfully drawn me to humility. It's meaningful that you have described contemplative renewal as 'blooms'. There is no noise attached to blooming. Coming to the end of your post, all I wish is to be one of the little clump of pray-ers, working beneath the soil. Noiselessly.

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    1. There is no NOISE attached to blooming!! Oh, I love this, Caitlynne Grace - thank you!

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  3. Dear Nancy,

    I wanted to take a moment and thank you for your beautiful and encouraging blog! I am seventeen and presently discerning a vocation to the contemplative life (thinking Carmelite...) -- your wonderful thoughts and images are always such a blessing to me! Thank you for letting the Holy Spirit work through you in such a powerful way!

    God Bless,

    Graci Rose| http://withzealforthelord.blogspot.com

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    1. Graci Rose, thank you so much! I went to your beautiful blog and loved it immediately. I pray that God will bless and direct you as you continue discerning.

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    2. PS And I look forward to coming back to your blog tomorrow, Graci Rose! I love the way you write.

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