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THE SAINTS IN PRAYER AND ACTION

Charles Mitchell-Innes, Vicar of the Close (Thursday 1st October 2009)

Amongst the saints whom we celebrate this month are Francis of Assisi (4th) and Teresa of Avila (15th). Francis, in founding the Franciscan Order of Friars, and Teresa, in founding the reformed Carmelite nuns, have much to teach us about the balance between the active and the contemplative life. It is a balance not easy to achieve and, for busy people, a constant struggle.

The message of both these attractive saints is that work and contemplative prayer are not mutually exclusive; that each is needed for a well-balanced life. St Francis’ friars had a disciplined communal prayer life but also spent much time outside the community preaching, teaching and helping those in need – all of which they still do.

Teresa made sure that she and her nuns took their full share of domestic work – sweeping, spinning, cooking and gardening – as well as participating in the regular devotions of the community, whilst she herself was a writer and mystic.

Some people say that the active life is a preparation for contemplation; others that quiet reflecting should precede action. But few would doubt that the two are indissolutely linked: we need the interior life of reflection and prayer to balance our external life, Mary and Martha walking together in harmony, not in competition.

As Farther Gregory, leader of an Anglican religious community, who died this August wrote, “Humble work fosters prayer, (which is) a still centre at the heart of the world”.

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