Saints' Discussion Forums

I'd love to hear how you all balance (or don't)  the two: contemplation or prayer and time alone with God, and action or doing the work of one's ministry.
Saints' reflections on this subject also welcomed.   :)

I don't know that I do it well at all. I emphasize the contemplation/prayer part of it and feel that prayer is action. It may well be my ministry.  I don't know. (I do know what you mean, though.) Were I a nun I would have been a either partially or fully a contemplative nun. I have read a number of Saints on the subject, but I don't remember any at the moment. :imsorry:

I don't balance it very well, but try to. I try to grab snatches of quiet time to pray at home or my recent visits to the Blessed Sacrament, then family Rosary time in the evening (which is not really contemplative time with 4 kids ::) ).  My work for my children is my ministry. Not a very successful balance, but I know the Lord understands.

If you mean action as in being actively involved in Church activities...I'm not.  Too busy with the children.  Maybe I will be some years later when my youngest grows up.

I can post saints' reflections easily enough -- as for my own? I am a failure at such work so I really don't know what to say.

I think I need to work harder on the mechanical side, and let it sink in enough to be always there, along such lines as repeating the Jesus Prayer or other prayers without end.

I know that however active you are, you have to devote significant time to inactive total prayer to do well as a general rule, despite this. You can't just get all your prayer on the run and consider the good of the work sufficient.



'St. Laurence Justinian says that the works of Martha, without the recollection of Mary, cannot be perfect. He deceives himself, says the saint, who expects, without the aid of prayer, to succeed in the work of saving souls a work as dangerous as it is sublime; without the reflection of mental prayer, he shall certainly faint on the way.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Our Lord, rebuking Martha, said, "Thou art careful and troubled about many things." If she had been simply careful, she would not have been troubled, but giving way to disquiet and anxiety, she grew eager and troubled, and for that our Lord reproved her. The rivers which flow gently through our plains bear barges of rich merchandise, and the gracious rains which fall softly on the land fertilize it to bear the fruits of the earth;-but when the rivers swell into torrents, they hinder commerce and devastate the country, and violent storms and tempests do the like. No work done with impetuosity and excitement was ever well done, and the old proverb, "Make haste slowly," is a good one, Solomon says, "There is one that laboureth and taketh pains, and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind;" we are always soon enough when we do well. The bumble bee makes far more noise and is more bustling than the honey bee, but it makes nought save wax-no honey; just so those who are restless and eager, or full of noisy solicitude, never do much or well.'

St. Francis de Sales

'Do not be so given to the activity of Martha as to forget the silence of Mary. May the Virgin who so reconciled the one with the other be your sweet model and inspiration.'

St. Padre Pio

'We can never arrive at the contemplative life, if we do not first exercise ourselves laboriously in the active life.'

St. Philip Neri

[I believe St. Philip is especially talking about here about the work of virtue, which purifies the soul, though not only about.]


'Do you ask what piety is? It is leaving time for consideration. You may perhaps tell me that herein I differ from him who defines piety as the worship of God; I do not really differ from him. If you well consider the point you will find that I have expressed his meaning in my own words, only partly, however, I admit. What is so essential to the worship of God as the practice to which He exhorts in the psalm, Be still and see that I am God? This certainly is the chief object of consideration. Is anything, in all respects, so influential as consideration? Does it not by a kindly anticipation create the divisions of the active life itself, in a manner rehearsing and arranging beforehand what has to be done? There must be consideration lest haply affairs which foreseen and premeditated might turn out well, may, if precipitated, be fraught with peril.'

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St Pio once said that God will never hold us to account for time spent in prayer. From prayer flows all good actions.

I'm reminded of the saintly shepherd girl who left her flock of sheep everyday, without a guard save for her guardian angel, so she could go to mass on Sundays.  :D God took good care of that flock.

'Each degree of prayer presupposes a purification.'

St. Paul of the Cross

This analogy describes prayer so well!

You said it!

I love the nature analogies of St. Francis de Sales!

I like this a lot..............


I remember those days with young kids; but for me, I actually had more time then than now!   :o  But that's probably because you have more than me.  I should get some mother quotes from Elizabeth Seton.  She had quite a few in her journals and letters.

Actually, I didn't mean church activities since I'm not involved in any either to my pastor's chagrin.  I told him when the youngest leaves the next 4 short years from now, the church can have the next approximate 20 -30 yrs left of me!   ;)

I am not balancing well at all; all action, no prayer other than on the run.  And my mind is scattered of late........ it is the wild child of mine.  It's a nonstop interrupt.  I wish I could be like Catherine of Sienna with her internal cell.  But I'm just not that capable! 

Anyway, off to prune roses........ therapeutic........

Take pictures of them sometime! I love roses! :D

Today seems to be my reading day. Spiritual reading is good stuff.. not quite prayer to my mind, or at least not the power behind the work type prayer.. not quite not either..

Hmm.. perhaps it's possible to read more prayerfully than I normally do.. yes, I'm sure it is.

Well.. one can always learn new tricks.. as long as one isn't too set in one's old dog ways.

I haven't a clue how to use your new method.  If you remember, it took me several weeks/months to figure out the avatar!...  But not today.  I'm still recouping from shell-shock.  

I'd like to hear some mother Saint quotes. :)


Nothing like gardening, even weeding to relax.

I haven't either :-[.

Oh let's see, I guess I have to do instructions.. Apologies!

Another announcement post to make!  :D

In my search for words of celebration for the life of St Bernard of Clairvaux, this thread was listed in what seems another in an amazing series of coincidences/inspirations pressing me to understand better the nature and practice of prayer/meditation/contemplation.  I praise and thank all current and former members who are encouraging and stimulating my efforts to grow in faith and understanding.