Father Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange
The Mystical Life
Some persons talk about mysticism, but misunderstand it and abuse it. These persons must be enlightened by the sound teaching of theology. Others, far greater in number, are altogether ignorant of mysticism and apparently wish to remain so. They rely only on their own efforts, aided by ordinary grace, consequently they aim only at common virtues, and do not tend to perfection which they consider too lofty. Hence religious and priestly lives, which might be very fruitful, do not pass beyond a certain mediocrity that is often due, at least in part, to their early imperfect training and to inexact ideas about union with God to which every Christian can and must aspire.
Pope Benedict XV…”In our day many neglect the supernatural life and cultivate in its place an inconsistent and vague sentimentalism. Hence it is absolutely necessary to recall more often what the fathers of the Church, together with Holy Scripture, have taught us on the subject, and to do so by taking St Thomas Aquinas especially as our guide, because he has so clearly set forth the doctrine on the elevation of the supernatural life. We must also earnestly draw the attention of the virtues and of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, the perfect development of which is found in the mystical life”.
The Natural Life
Confronting those spiritually agitating, especially on the subtlest levels, calls forth accountability, consequences are rendered. Those seeking to advance their spiritual life beyond the stage of a beginner embrace matters passionately; whole heartedly pursuing. Without a doubt, confrontations and differing opinions will arise. Different paths will collide. I found these words from Father Reginald penetratingly insightful. My path does not advance through conquest, defeating others does not produce triumph. Another being wrong does not make me right. In fact, the spiritual shortcoming, mistakes, and perversions of others presents a dichotomy, a contradiction presenting an opportunity to discern appositeness, proper advancement, or to become consumed with a contradictory mentality fixated in opposition, a challenging and argumentative reasoning cemented in stagnation, an effort of my doing rationalizing within the need to be right. Can I grow through others, even those I disagree with and find agitating? Can I acquiesce, allowing the Holy Spirit and example of Christ, a super abundance of grace, and the examples plus traditions of the Church to propel, to lead me further?
In the delicate questions that we have had to consider, in combating an error, it is not always easy to avoid aligning oneself with the contrary error, and to formulate doctrine which rises above these opposing deviations and which is a just mean only because it is a summit. If we have inadvertently employed any inexact expression in this study, we retract them here and now, and declare that we reject all spirituality that deviates ever so little from that of the saints, which has been approved by Holy Church. That is why, as a rule, we have quoted only canonized mystics whose teaching is commonly received.
Quotes from ‘Christian Perfection and Contemplation According to St Thomas Aquinas and St John of the Cross’
