On
the Stages of Contemplation
Let us take our stand on the tower, leaning with all our strength
on Christ, the most solid rock, as it is written: He has set my feet on a rock, he
has guided my steps. Thus
firmly established, let us begin to contemplate, to see what he is saying to us
and what reply we ought to make to him.
The first stage of contemplation, my dear brothers, is to consider
constantly what God wants, what is pleasing to him, and what is acceptable in
his eyes. We all offend in many things; our strength cannot match the rightness
of God’s will and cannot be joined to it or made to fit with it. So let us
humble ourselves under the powerful hand of the most high God and make an
effort to show ourselves unworthy before his merciful gaze, saying Heal me, Lord, and I shall be
healed; save me and I shall be saved. And
again, Lord, have mercy on me;
heal my soul because I have sinned against you.
Once the eye of the soul has been purified by such considerations,
we no longer abide within our spirit in a sense of sorrow, but abide rather in
the Spirit of God with great delight. No longer do we consider what is the will
of God for us, but rather what it is in itself.
For our life is in his will. Thus we are convinced that what is
according to his will is in every way better for us, and more fitting. And so,
if we are concerned to preserve the life of our soul, we must be equally
concerned to deviate as little as possible from his will.
Thus having made some progress in our spiritual exercise under the
guidance of the Spirit who gazes into the deep things of God, let us reflect
how gracious the Lord is and how good he is in himself. Let us join the Prophet
in praying that we may see the Lord’s will and frequent not our own hearts but
the Lord’s temple; and let us also say, My
soul is humbled within me, therefore I shall be mindful of you.
Posts You May Also Like:
Prayer comes from a humble heart (by St Cyprian)
The Glorious Duty of Man: to Pray and to Love (by Saint John Vianney)
The Mercy of God to the Penitent (by Saint Maximus the Confessor)
Source: The
Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings
From a Sermon by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons
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