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Martha and Mary
"...the contemplative life and the active life have always been contrasted as springing from contrary thoughts and aspirations. Contemplation gathers in, action gives out; the one seeks for light, the other longs to bestow its possession on others... but real life does not admit of such a separation... Thought and action have the same Father... The monk works with his hands or undertakes some apostolate; the great doctor has his hospitals; the artist his exhibitions... Action should have a limit and give place to solitude, because external action disturbs the soul while silence calms it. But carried too far, silence in its turn has a disturbing effect... [one can] lose one's balance.."
A.G. Sertillanges, O.P., 'The Intellectual Life" trans. Mary Ryan, Washington, DC, The Catholic University of America Press, 1998, pp62-63
posted by Holly at 2:44 PM
1 Comments:
The monk has his work, the doctor his hospital and the mother her home and children...
I loved this little post because it points to the balance necessary to have a truly full life. Both the seeking for God through prayer and study and contemplation AND the sharing the fruit of this search with our families and acquaintances is truly the call of the mother.
We cannot give what we do not have. We need that regular time daily with God to fill up with his peace and refreshment and wisdom. But we also need to leave the joy of this mountain of transfiguration and head back to the normal duties of our family life, set to serve and share what God has blessed us with.
Motherhood is about both receiving from God and giving that away in love to our families. And then, doing it all over again...and again...
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