The Abbey of the Genesee
I visit the Abbey of the Genesee’s web site weekly to stay current with what is going on at the abbey, and came across this gem, undoubtedly the result of a rich spiritual life. I haven’t yet read the book, but this quote is motivation enough to get a copy. Incidentally, Genesee Abbey is a terrific place to get a sense of what monastic life is like today in the United States. They’re Abbey News page is filled with information concerning the daily goings on at the abbey, as well as containing a quote of the week. which is a treasure trove for meditation, and a nice way to accumulate a fine reading list on monastic life.
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Our deepest self is accessible to us only through union with God. No amount of inner work on our part does it. We can only dispose ourselves by becoming soft wax, to use Teresa’s (of Avila) image, ready for the divine imprint.
What a remarkable insight into the relationship between psyche and spirit. The deepest part of us – our inner depth – is accessible only through a faith-relationship with God. It is God who leads us into the deeper reaches of the human.
Mysticism, one’s faith-relationship with God, is integral to full human development. Unitive experiences are crucial to human life because they help shape us as loving persons. The fruit of union with God is always a deeper commitment to Christ and to Christ’s gospel of love. Personal transformation is integral to societal transformation because the absence of such genuine love erodes community life, destroys marriages, weakens friendship and leads to loss of integrity in political life.
Distractions in Prayer: Blessing or Curse?
Sr. Vilma Seelaus, OCD
