Contemplative in the Mud

Usefully Devourable

1–2 minutes

Benjamin Embley

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4 comments on Usefully Devourable

In July 1928, a young Catholic man was looking for a way in life. He was wondering if he could stay in the world. Yet at the same time, he was drawn to contemplation. His friend and teacher, a philosopher, wrote to him,

A life integrally contemplative in the world? To be honest, I don’t think it’s possible. A contemplative life in its essence, yes, and even one that does not care for the mixed active-contemplative life of (for example) the Dominicans, yes, that is possible, too. But this kind of contemplative life lived in the world could find no other justification than to attend to the deep desires of souls, to be in some way or another given to them, to support them courageously through all the troubles, bitterness, and useless ups-and-downs that are inseparable from the traffic of humanity. In other words, this contemplative life must give witness in their midst to contemplation itself and to the Eucharistic love of our Lord…

If you must stay in the world, I believe that it is with the will to let yourself be devoured by others, only keeping the part (a pretty big part at that) of solitude that is necessary so that God makes of you something usefully devourable…

Five years later, the young man helped found and joined the Little Brothers of Jesus. Thirty years later, the old philosopher followed him.

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Benjamin Embley

With backgrounds in engineering (BSc PhD) and philosophy (MA), Ben has lived and worked in England, France, and Thailand and is now back home as a settler in the unceded traditional territory of the Wabanaki peoples in Canada. He is a Laudato Si’ Animator and currently studying an MTS Peace & Justice in Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

4 responses to “Usefully Devourable”

  1. sylvietheolog Avatar
    sylvietheolog

    I received notice that you liked my post on “Eudemonism or Beatitude”. Did you glance at the rest? I like your blog too. I am interested in the fact that you converted to Catholicism and also that you read and speak French. I am a cradle Catholic who experienced a sort of conversion when I returned to the Faith after several years of estrangement. Almost all my favourite authors are converts (Maritain, Frossard, Chesterton) and I particularly like converts’ blogs and conversion stories.

    If I may be so bold as to give my opinion on the dilemma of contemplative and active life, I think there can be moments of contemplation in active life, but that if you really want to live a contemplative life, only a hermit or a cloistered religious can do that, God willing. Fortunately, contemplative life is not absolutely required to become a saint. All saints and good theologians do not cease to encourage us to become saints by following our particular call. The title of your post today “The Only Sadness is not to be a Saint” is a phrase from Leon Bloy, I think, quoted by Maritain (“La seule tristesse est de n’être pas des saints”). Bloy was a writer, married, he had children, his life was certainly active but he was also a contemplative. Maritain, his wife and his sister-in-law were active-contemplative also.

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    1. Contemplative in the Mud Avatar
      Contemplative in the Mud

      Thanks for your comments! My own conversion is a bit of a mystery to me. I often wonder how people like Saint Augustine were able to write so well about their conversion experiences. I can only imagine speaking without charity for my own self and/or being unable to do justice to what God was actually doing with me at the time. I can only imagine rushing to extremes. I marvel at a work like the Confessions.

      As you say, “Fortunately, contemplative life is not absolutely required to become a saint.” This is very fortunate. However, I really do think that a contemplative life is possible (for some) on the roads. There’s no absolute need to withdraw from the world. The Little Brothers and Little Sisters of Jesus live a contemplative life, for example. (Jacques Maritain actually “retired” to be with the Little Brothers and then became a LBJ himself.) They work regular jobs and mix with people. But they are convinced they are contemplatives, not active-contemplatives. They take their inspiration from Blessed Charles de Foucauld.

      I think – but I’m not sure – I found somewhere in Jacques Maritain the idea that, really, the only distinction between “active” and “contemplative” life that matters is whether one’s life is led by the Holy Spirit primarily by the three contemplative Gifts (Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge) or the four active Gifts (Piety, Counsel, Fortitude, Fear of God). Because of where I am, this makes a lot of sense to me. It removes the major difficulties about being a contemplative in the world. And it’s very God-centred, too. I will try to write about it more in the future. ^^

      Reply
  2. Noel E. Bordador Avatar
    Noel E. Bordador

    Hello, May I ask where I could find this quote from Maritain? So beautiful, thank you,

    Reply
    1. Benjamin Embley Avatar
      Benjamin Embley

      Hi! Sorry for the late response. I think I found this quote in a biography of Louis Gardet in French: Maurice Borrmans, «Louis Gardet (1904-1986). Philosophe chrétien des cultures et témoin du dialogue islamo-chrétien» (Paris: Cerf, 2010), p. 19. This is my translation here.

      You can, however, also find it in this online book by Jose Maria Recondo, on p. 17: http://charlesdefoucauld.org/docs/6-the-pathway-of-prayer.pdf

      Reply

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