On Saturday morning of our Friday-to-Monday Folk Choir retreat at the Abbey of Gethsemani, the former abbot and current guestmaster of the Abbey, Father Damien, addressed us, speaking about spirituality and our being special people of God. The quote that struck me most and spawned the journal entry that I wrote then and offer to you here and now was,
“So many good things happen here.” —Fr. Damien, o.c.s.o.
What a beautiful, simple way to articulate the agency of the Spirit here in a Trappist monastery, the very cradle of Catholic spiritual contemplation. Such an assessment can only be made by a man of firm, grounded faith that is central to his minute-by-minute life and outlook and is constantly influencing the way he lives and sees and encounters his world. This encompasses a disciplined faith that recognizes that God wills no evil and, in His divine foreknowledge, knows how He will pull good things from bad/evil actions and events. Despite the rigors of daily life and the demands of the monastic routine and lifestyle, Fr. Damien speaks first and only about the good—the God—in his monastery.
His statement also reflects inherent optimism that is actually an indication of the deeper trust in God that I will mention later. This is especially discernible in his intentional speech, which uses words sparsely and deliberately (“How many words do we waste?” —Fr. Dan Parrish, c.s.c.). He doesn’t stumble over finding politically correct words or softening potentially hard speech or shrouding deep-seated tensions or hatred, etc. He can speak on his immediate, spontaneous thoughts since he has cultivated a righteous heart and Christian disposition.
His positive disposition is an excellent outward illustration of his calm, attuned heart. By clearing away distractions—making his mind unclouded by unnecessary things—he can be constantly living in Christ in the best of season of his life at all times.** Most importantly, his speech and this quote demonstrates a profound trust in God.
His faith, optimism, and disposition are all intertwined with his trust in God. He could not believe with conviction unless He trusted in the Truth of his faith and God’s Revelation. He could not carry an optimistic outlook without first trusting that God will provide in all things and make good of all we freely undertake. And Fr. Damien could not live so well-disposed to life and his monastery unless he trusted that his attitudes and behavior would be looked kindly upon by His Father.
**If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.” This is a cool, killer final line of a poem shared with us at Catholics on Call/August 2009 by Bishop Morneau.
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