The Saints say contemplation is for everyone.
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

This reflection is not on contemplation itself, but the steady climb toward contemplation as the highest form of prayer. Contemplation is a Gift of God, which one can aspire to receive, but which one should not demand in any way. Be sure to look for God but not for the experience - because contemplation is not that sort of gift. As I am writing these lines (a few years ago), I am reading, slowly, from "The Great Conversation," by Peter Kreeft (Ignatius, 1975), an outstanding book on prayer because of the way it is written, in conversation style. I am reading from a Dialogue 9 "How to shut up and let God show up." Although I am not using direct quotations, I am picking up a word or a concept, here and there, and letting it resonate in my own thoughts as I listen to the Holy Spirit to write about a more intimate relationship with God.

Fr. Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O, in “The Seven Storey Mountain”, his autobiography, defines Contemplation as follows: “Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence of God and learns something of the secret of His perfections less by seeing than by fruitive love.” (p. 454 soft-cover book). Merton (1915-1968) was a Trappist monk, living for many years at Our Lady of Gethsemane Abbey, near Bardstown, Kentucky, an abbey at which I spent a few days on retreat in 1997.

Contemplation does not come if it is wished for. It is like that proverbial watched pot that just won't boil. If we are impatient and cannot wait for God to bring contemplation to us, you will strike out. We must tame our ego completely, not just for the moment or for the day, but as a concentrated effort all the time. That is why there is no such thing as a "weekend course in contemplation." Preparing a soul for contemplation is not a one-day, or one week experience. You may wonder why I am trying to write about contemplation if it is so hard to get, and if we cannot really, nor should experience it in any palpable way. I am not going to tell you the precise reason, perhaps I do not even know it, except that I have this inner urge, this strong desire for a more personal, a more intimate relationship with God.

During the 5+ years I spent in religious life in the past twenty years, closer to 7 years if you add all the bits and pieces together, I have felt very close to God. But intimacy with God is not a "feeling" because there is nothing emotional about it. Intimacy with a spouse is a different kind of intimacy than one's intimate relationship with God. Take religious sisters, for example. In their spiritual life they refer to themselves as brides of Christ. Or Jesus being their bridegroom. That is not in any way a carnal relationship, it is the ultimate of spiritual friendship. Men religious may also refer to such a relationship, but I've heard it expressed more often in regard to the Church being their bride. There is a great deal of beauty in that relationship. It is mysterious, to say the least. A lot in our religion is a mystery. Just about anything that's above my head is probably a mystery, too!  But getting back to prayer. Peter Kreeft states that prayer isn't a mechanical thing... "it isn't like getting to know a person; it is getting to know a Person." "The simple basics of prayer are the necessary foundation for contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer isn't that different from ordinary prayer, just purer and simpler and more complete." It is a wordless prayer. It is not necessary to make further distinctions between what it is, and what it is not. But we must emphasize that a lot more listening is necessary. That would be good in any case. I have often stated in my reflections that one must give God a chance to answer our prayer discourse. It's OK to pray to God, more than OK., but in forming this intimate relationship, one is having a conversation with God. And, talking wouldn't be conversation if only one person was so engaged, right?

Peter Kreeft indicates in his booklet that Jesus did not teach us anything about contemplation. True! But thousands of monks were rapt in a contemplative relationship with the Lord from the Fathers of the Desert all the way to the present time. Some people refer to me as a mystic or a mystical writer. I think it is a little over the top, but there is no denying that I love reading and sharing about what I read and in many ways I'm a bit of a dreamer. I keep dreaming that this can still become a perfect world. However, I am also a realist - we need a miracle from God to become a perfect world. Also, I no longer have that many years left. Let us just say that I am closer to the end than to the beginning, maybe that's why I think about this stuff more often.

It is very clear from history, particularly the history of the Saints, that the devil is doing everything in his power to keep us away from perfect joy. If you boast to your friends that the devil can't sway you, be careful... that's an open invitation for trouble. The devil is very real and an extremely dangerous customer. Do not dare him to do anything, and do not show him your weakness. Since the devil is a fallen angel, he has far more access to us than an ordinary person on the street. So keep your distance. Pray more often for deliverance from any kind of bondage there might be.

A Mystic, by the way, "is one who practices the heights of contemplative prayer, who tastes in prayer something of the joy and intimacy, and understanding that we'll have in the "beatific vision" of God face to face in Heaven." (ibid) so suffice it to say that I am nor have ever been a mystic. When we are in God's presence in deep prayer, we want to be free of sin, and we want to be in a state of continual freedom of sin. There must be a degree of inner sanctity before contemplation comes to us. We are all sinners, but many (certainly not most) are striving to be rid of sin, and some are very successful at it - take Saint (Mother) Theresa of Calcutta. She will tell you (if she were still alive) that she is the greatest sinner, but her life tells us otherwise.

Temptation must be subdued. We must be pure of heart, firm in purpose, totally willing to abandon ourselves in the Lord, and be a perfect brother or sister to other people over whom we have some sort of responsibility. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is important in reaching a near sin-free life. An extended chat with an occasional confessor would probably help too. If you feel God's presence very strongly, stop what you are doing if you can, and just give Him your undivided attention. Look at God and realize that you are in His presence. Keep temptation at bay by not even considering the suggestion to sin. You cannot concentrate on God when you're committing a sin. It is just not possible. Do not try to hasten contemplation by looking into techniques, especially Eastern Techniques. These have no bearing on closeness with God. They are not useful to us.

I do not have much use for Mantras either. Saying a word to quiet us down - it usually does not help. "Contemplation is just an awareness of God. " (ibid) Your will has to accept this contempt and turn to God. Really "all we have to do is open the door and let God into our spiritual life, then he comes to eat with us, and we with Him." (ibid)

" '"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (then) I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne." '"Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'" (Rev 3:20-22)

Quotations from: "The Great Conversation," by Peter Kreeft (Ignatius Press, 1975)

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
All Saints Day, 2020

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