Pray without ceasing

In popular portrayals of catholics, contemplative orders are often portrayed as kind of selfish. Although I really enjoyed "Sister Act", I remember the nuns seemed to think it was actually something of a revelation that they could go out and help people. But in fact, the people devoted to orders are usually well aware of the kinds of service they are called to perform. Some services are rendered to people by feeding and caring for them. And some services are rendered to people by praying constantly on their behalf.

"Pray without ceasing," St. Paul said. By observing the hours, I imagine that contemplative monks and nuns obey this more faithfully than anyone.

When St. Peter established the order of deacons, the type of clergy who are ordained specifically to serve others, he said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And so it is that some peoples' role is to go out into the world in roles of service and healing. That is the purpose of the diaconate, and that is even the role of many monastic orders that are not contemplative, such as Mother Theresa's Sisters of Charity.

But not all role are the same. Some are consecrated to service. Some are consecrated to praise and contemplation, a less visible but just as important function of the church.

This may be the point of St. Paul's essay in 1 Corinthians on the Spiritual Gifts - "Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary," he says, speaking of the need for different roles in the church.

The solitary monk Thomas Merton once wrote, "Yet it is in this loneliness that the deepest activities begin. It is here that you discover act without motion, labor that is profound repose, vision in obscurity, and, beyond all desire, a fulfillment whose limits extend to infinity." He found that he could deepen his solidarity with his fellow men - develop true charity for them - by focusing on his aloneness as a monk. The contrast allowed him to see his true unity to all men.