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Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
*Romans 6.19, NLT
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Said Pope Pius XI (Pope, 1922-1939) of the writings of St. Albert the Great (Albert Magnus), also called the Universal Doctor (c. 1206-1280): "We readily discern in them the holy man discoursing of holy things."
St. Albert, a Dominican and teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas, is one of the most prodigious writers in the history of the Church, and he was the first Christian writer systematically to seek to integrate theology with science. Persons estimate his words at 20,000,000. An edition of St. Albert's works equals, at the size of books today, some seventy-six.
Yet, like his spiritual son St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Albert was first a holy man. So, Pope Pius XI could point to his writings manifesting his holiness.
Such is the life of every follower of God. We each are gifted in a particular way to be means of the shining of the Holy in our world.
Holiness is beautiful, not for it evidences strictness to rules, rites, self-denials, or doctrine. Holiness is attractive, even godly, for it reflects and communicates the Presence of God.
Mystical Contemplation is not merely a way to transcend the world or become one with God. Christian contemplation has a Christlike purpose of sharing God in the world, and in a way progressively selfless, and even more so by who we are as what we do.
Pope Pius XI, again referring to St. Albert, noted of his mystical writings that they: "[S]how that he was favored by the Holy Ghost with the grace of infused contemplation."
St. Albert spoke of this this-worldly holiness, when he addressed the proper fear of death to be a grace:
For many neglect the fruits of good works on this account, that they think they will live long, but the Lord coming by [means of] graces, strikes them with the fear of death, so that they may more fervently sow on earth what they will reap in Heaven.
The pursuit of holiness is a choice, when we come to long to be truly a sacred person, a manifestation of the graces of God on earth. We are to give our whole selves to this pursuit, for St. Paul says: "Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous [right, just] living so that you will become holy [sacred, consecrated, set apart]" (see Romans 6.19, NLT).
The grace of Silence prepares us to manifest an alluring holiness, one expressive of union with Love. The more we are one-ed with God, the more of the Holy will evidence through our appearance and actions. Holiness, indeed, grounded in the grace of mystical Union with the Spirit of Christ, is a most beautiful site to see.
Lastly, St. Paul speaks to us: "Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord" (Hebrew 12.14, NLT). We can see this seeing of God to refer to the grace of spiritual vision, a perception of the hidden Presence. Without holiness, the graces of contemplative Love are blocked by us. Holiness both leads to Union and from Union.
Pray the following prayer several times, letting its intent sink into your awareness and make firmer your intent to be a holy person.
A PRAYER FOR HOLINESS
Breathe in me,
O Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me,
O Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart,
O Holy Spirit,
that I love only what is holy.
Strengthen me,
O Holy Spirit,
to defend all that is holy.
Guard me so,
O Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
Amen.
*www.catholicdoors.com ; copyright 2007 .
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*Materials on St. Albert from Fr. Christopher Rengers. The 33 Doctors of the Church.
*Charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in the continuance of his work of ministry. For contributions, contact Brian at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Brian's book of spiritual love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers, or through the Cokesbury on-line store, at www.cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox, a United Methodist Pastor, lives in Southwest Florida. Brian is vowed through Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a vowed, contemplative life and inspires others to a more intimate relationship with Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused, experiential Christianity and renewal of the Church through addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons.
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