More on Vacation
Continuing with some comments about vacation, last time we talked about how you should be sure to really take a break from your work when you're on vacation. You'll feel more relaxed and refreshed. Then we reminded you to get to Mass on Sunday: not only is this an obligation, but why would you want to miss Mass in the first place, right? Now a few other items.
First, don't break away from your prayers, meditation, spiritual and doctrinal reading (the so-called "norms of piety." Don't make the mistake of thinking of these in the same way you think of work. You don't need a "break" from these. Get up a little earlier to make time for these. Sure, you're on vacation, so you may think getting up earlier goes against the idea of rest and recreation. But really it doesn't. What could refresh your mind and body more than a few quiet moments with Our Lord in prayer and meditation? How would your life be in any way better without those brief moments of recollection where you say "Hello" to Our Lady and ask for her sure protection and guidance while you're on vacation? Why would you want to take a break from learning about your Holy Faith, the greatest treasure of all, or reading the words of spiritual writers which help us to grow closer to God? Just ask yourself these simple questions, and the answers will pop right up on their own. Then all you need is a simple act of will to follow through. Don't worry, this isn't work!
So this vacation, I've gotten up early (maybe not as early as usual!) and, sure enough, came across this, just as I was about to urge you not to slack off on your spiritual life while on vacation:
Shortly after that, I came across some comments about the Collect from last Sunday's Mass from Father Z's blog. He starts with the Collect itself, then proceeds to enlighten us:
Isn't this a wonderful summary of the dilemma we face in this world as a result of Original Sin? Notice how he explains the role of the "will" - something addressed in the spiritual reading I quoted above, which I came across the same morning? This is Father Z at his best. I don't know about you, but why would I want to take a break from this on my vacation?
(Click HERE for the full post.)
Finally, I was reminded of the efficacy of "spiritual communion." The local church here doesn't have Mass during the week, so we can't receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. But we can receive our Lord in "spiritual communion." St Thomas defines spiritual communion:
Do you see why you don't want to take a break from that during vacation?
First, don't break away from your prayers, meditation, spiritual and doctrinal reading (the so-called "norms of piety." Don't make the mistake of thinking of these in the same way you think of work. You don't need a "break" from these. Get up a little earlier to make time for these. Sure, you're on vacation, so you may think getting up earlier goes against the idea of rest and recreation. But really it doesn't. What could refresh your mind and body more than a few quiet moments with Our Lord in prayer and meditation? How would your life be in any way better without those brief moments of recollection where you say "Hello" to Our Lady and ask for her sure protection and guidance while you're on vacation? Why would you want to take a break from learning about your Holy Faith, the greatest treasure of all, or reading the words of spiritual writers which help us to grow closer to God? Just ask yourself these simple questions, and the answers will pop right up on their own. Then all you need is a simple act of will to follow through. Don't worry, this isn't work!
So this vacation, I've gotten up early (maybe not as early as usual!) and, sure enough, came across this, just as I was about to urge you not to slack off on your spiritual life while on vacation:
"...our good acts of the will, “pierce Heaven, please God, merit an increase of glory, and are written by the finger of God in the book of life...These acts of will - such as acts of love, sorrow, adoration, praise, thanksgiving, petition for grace - never fatigue the mind nor interfere with our ordinary occupation, and can be multiplied each day in the thousands.”Notice: "never fatigue the mind nor interfere with our ordinary occupation." Get it?
Shortly after that, I came across some comments about the Collect from last Sunday's Mass from Father Z's blog. He starts with the Collect itself, then proceeds to enlighten us:
O God, strength of those who hope in you, graciously hear our pleas, and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing, grant us always the help of your grace, that in following your commands we may please you by our resolve and our deeds.
"In the fall of our First Parents, we were sounded and weakened in our intellect and will. It is hard for us to reason to what is good and true. After we figure them out with our reason or we learn about them from authority, because of our passions and appetites it can be hard for us to will to choose them. Our intellects and wills must be disciplined through the repetition of choices and actions in the right times, moments, and measures so that we develop good habits, virtues.
In our prayer voluntas is set in juxtaposition with actio “action”. We have “inclination” to this or that thing. In actions our inclinations become concrete. Some actions are entirely mental or spiritual, in that they are actions of the mind. We have an initial idea or inclination and then we use our free will to grasp or refuse that idea. We can bring an inclination to a deeper thought, contemplate it. There are intellectual acts (for good or ill). There are also physical acts. We get an idea and then, with our intellects and wills, we figure out how to do it and choose to act (for good or ill). Because of the weakness in us from Original Sin, in order to will and act properly we must have the help of grace."
Isn't this a wonderful summary of the dilemma we face in this world as a result of Original Sin? Notice how he explains the role of the "will" - something addressed in the spiritual reading I quoted above, which I came across the same morning? This is Father Z at his best. I don't know about you, but why would I want to take a break from this on my vacation?
(Click HERE for the full post.)
Finally, I was reminded of the efficacy of "spiritual communion." The local church here doesn't have Mass during the week, so we can't receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. But we can receive our Lord in "spiritual communion." St Thomas defines spiritual communion:
“Spiritual communion consists in an ardent desire of receiving Jesus Christ in the holy sacrament and embracing Him with the same love as if you had actually received Him.”Confession: I had forgotten this. Only because I've been pursuing my morning routine of prayer, meditation, and reading did I come across this reminder.
Do you see why you don't want to take a break from that during vacation?
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