Beyond Silence: The Spiritual Work of Contemplation

Contemplation vs. Meditation

The terms contemplation and meditation are often used synonymously. In Christian mysticism, however, contemplation is regarded as a higher and nobler activity than mere meditation. As the scholar of religion, Evelyn Underhill, puts it:

Now meditation is a half-way house between thinking and contemplating: and as a discipline, it derives its chief value from this transitional character.¹

This definition represents a developmental approach. Instead of being 'this or that,' as so many fundamentalists and conservatives tend to depict the world, meditation leads to contemplation. Along these lines, many Christians hope that those who don't understand the unique beauty of their Christian contemplative experience would come to realize it with the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

Evelyn Underhill

The Work of Intercession

Contemplation emphasizes and encourages an inner union of the individual with God, which, at some point, involves intercession. While ultimately a work of divine grace, this intercession is not without its significant cost and effort for the human vessel, making it a profound spiritual labor. By way of contrast, meditation doesn't necessarily imply the existence of the individual or God, as we find in most forms of Buddhism.

Some Buddhists, however, use the word contemplation within their own social and religious framework. Whether or not Buddhists entirely escape the cultural assumptions and obligations bound up within that religion, as so many claim to, seems highly debatable. No religion, Christianity included, is immune to inherited blind spots.

In Catholicism, contemplation (as intercession) is recognized as a type of work distinct from more visibly active works, such as teaching or ditch digging. This work of intercession, though often unseen, takes a tangible toll on the individual. It requires deep spiritual discipline, profound empathy with suffering, and a willingness to bear the burdens of others before God, which can be emotionally, mentally, and even physically exhausting for the human spirit. In this way, it is a labor that truly earns its designation as 'work,' just as much as any more outwardly strenuous activity for the salvation of souls.

Challenges in Recognizing Sanctity

However, not all Catholics - to include priests, monks and sisters - immediately recognize this type of work when present in saintly individuals. Some Catholics are arguably just too conventional (or perverse) to see a holy person when they're right in front of their eyes. For instance, St. Faustina Kowalska is now hailed as a great contemplative saint within mainstream Catholicism. But in her Divine Mercy Diary, she writes that she encountered harsh skepticism from some of her religious superiors who really should have known better.

St. Faustina Kowalska

Misconceptions of Holiness

The difficulty in recognizing bona fide saints may lie in our cultural ideas of what holiness looks like. We're conditioned to applaud good works when they’re highly visible. But appearances can be misleading. Imagine a churchgoer who cheats on her husband while secretly sleeping with her pastor. As long as she runs bake sales and sits on charity boards, many will see her as a “model Christian” and she can fool almost everyone into thinking she's a saint. Meanwhile, the quiet contemplative soul down the pew—suffering, praying, interceding—might be overlooked entirely.

Aside from religious hypocrites who resist trying to improve their immoral acts, many people expect a saint to be flawless and without sin. This too is misguided. In addition, the psychologically injured or, perhaps, spiritually deceived among us might claim to be saints when they're not. Also, there's the reality of outright charlatans and hoaxers. Taken together, these potential and pseudo-saints muddy the waters. What exactly is a saint? The answer isn’t always clear—at least not to us.

The Transformative Power of Silence

One Sunday bulletin from a well-known Catholic church offered the following description:

In contemplative prayer, we learn to create silence to allow God to transform us; to strive to create a peace which surpasses all understanding; and to heal the wounds of a lifetime.²

It’s a sincere and beautiful sentiment, probably representing how most Catholics understand contemplation, but noticeably absent is the idea of intercession and the profound spiritual 'work' it entails. Contemplation, as many mystics believe, is not only a path of personal healing. It also invites us into a spiritual exchange—a two-way street, if you will—where the influences of others are felt deeply. Other people may uplift us, but sometimes their presence feels like a toxic, spiritual attack.

St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto (2012), before a costly restoration

Ultimately, this spiritual labor, which draws deeply on our energy and inner reserves, is undertaken in the hope that it contributes to the ongoing work of salvation.

 

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¹ Evelyn Underhill, Practical Mysticism: A little book for normal people (London, Dent: 1914), p. 46.

² From "Contemplative Prayer Workshop" in Bulletin (September 5, 2010), St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto, Canada.