Thought for the Day – 28 April – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Contemplative and the Active Life
“The man is heading for disaster who becomes obsessed with the necessity for external activitiy to the exclusion of the vital source of the apostolate, which is to be found in prayer and contemplation.
He will sow much and will gather nothing!
He will make a great deal of noise, wherever he goes but, his work will not be blessed by God.
Those who are overactive and think that they can conquer the whole world, says St John of the Cross, would do well to remember that they would be more useful to the Church and more pleasing to God, if they spent at least half their time with God in prayer.
Unless neighbourly love and external charity are inspired by the love of God, they are a useless sham and are often no more than the outward expression of personal ambition.
On the other hand, there is something lacking in prayer and contemplation, if they fail to produce good works.
Love cannot be idle and contemplation should not be mere daydreaming.
If a man loves and contemplates God, he will love and contemplate his neighbour.
Then he will feel the urge to dedicate himself, no matter what the sacrifice, to charitable activity on his neighbour’s behalf.”
Antonio Cardinal Bacci
PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/05/17/thought-for-the-day-17-may-contemplation-and-our-lady/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/02/thought-for-the-day-2-december-the-contemplative-and-the-active-life/
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