The Life of Virtue

The rich Christian tradition provides that there are three expressions of prayer: vocal, meditative, and contemplative.  Among the spiritual masters, it is clear that the last of these is the very highest form of prayer that a person can attain.  Yet, too few people attain the heights of contemplation.  It is natural to wonder why so many miss out, if contemplative prayer is so great; and it is appropriate to venture a solution for the dilemma. When conversations turn to the subject of prayer, common reactions include, "I don't really like to pray because I don't know how" or "I get distracted too easily."  Both objections pose real problems, but neither is sufficient for neglecting to develop a prayer life.  In fact, once a person understands the way that God intends contemplative prayer to proceed, those two objections that were previously obstacles become sources of deeper prayer. The first obstacle, lack of knowing how to pray, is easily surmounted. ...

"For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator."  So states the fifth verse of the thirteenth chapter of the book of Wisdom in the Old Testament.  The author of this sentence, and the sentences that precede it in the chapter, wants to remind his audience that the grandeur of natural creation is supposed to elicit thoughts and awareness of the One who has created.  That grandeur, however, ought not to be deified.  How much better is the Lord, he exclaims, "the author of beauty" ( Wisdom 13:3 )! Blowing Rock, NC Photo Credit: Wife Family and I were blessed to experience this for ourselves during the past weekend.  We took a day-long pilgrimage to a nearby mountain range to gaze upon ancient and rugged peaks, see autumn foliage that is perhaps unparalleled on earth, and share each other's company.  There is no doubt in my mind that we were successful on all three accounts.  And, there is ...

I have recently been blessed to experience beautiful weather along with magnificent sunrises and sunset.  Such moments of aesthetic appeal call to my mind other instances of natural beauty that I have been blessed to see.  I am reminded of a return flight from Australia during which I viewed the most captivating burnt orange aura encircling the earth as the sun set over the earth's horizon.  I also recall many late summer evenings when everything around seemed to radiate in an extraordinary way.  The sunrise that I witnessed this morning was no different.  In every case, these glimpses of beauty have brought me to ponder God more deeply. Romano Guardini is the author of a book whose final pages capture this reality as well.   The Living God concludes with a reflection on the "gentle and powerful beauty [that] reigns over all."  This is the reason that natural events (sunrises, sunsets, schools of fish swimming, etc.) and natural forms (mountain...

Yesterday was a glorious day.  The weather was nearly perfect, a delectable afternoon meal was served (and consumed) at table, friends gathered, and I even caught a cat nap while the evening breeze blew in.  Yet, none of these was the most important characteristic of the idyllic day.  No, the reason that yesterday approached such blessed perfection is simple: it was Sunday, the day for communion with the Lord and His people, which leads to rest. In recent weeks and months, I have been very much attuned to the need to keep Sunday sacred.  It is apparent that the enemy, who is still very much alive and lurking in the world, wants to distract God's people from the things that will keep them close to God.  (Believe me, I am first among the group of the distracted.)  The very first thing that he would like us to forget is the covenant day, the day when we pause everything else in our busy lives to commune deeply with the Creator God.  After Satan distract...

The word "religion" is often used in reference to a set of beliefs and worship practices that makes up one part of a broader culture.  At least that's how it's come to be used in the modern world, and it is often used in pejorative sense.  Yet, until the modern age, religion (read "the cult") has been the central and pervading element of culture.  Religion is so integral to culture, not because it is simply a set of beliefs and worship practices that a human being attaches to who she is, but because it is a virtue that allows her to express her full created glory. The virtue of religion is the first virtue related to the cardinal virtue of justice.  Religion is the virtue by which a person is disposed to give to God what is due to His Holy Name.  Thus, the person may remain in right relationship with God.  God is the Creator of humanity and, as such, deserves worship, praise, and happy obedience of lifestyle because of His gift to us.  The good news ...