Principles and Practices - November 9

What Contemplation Is

The contemplative life, in the widest sense of the word, is that wherein man - after having quelled his passions and separated himself from the cares and turmoils of exterior affairs - passes his time, inspired by the love of God, in devoting himself to works of religion and piety: pious studies, meditation, petition, and prayer. In the various degrees of prayer, he raises himself step by step from the contemplation of God's work to the contemplation of God Himself, and it is through the more and more perfect knowledge of God, whom he loves and who loves him, it is through the possession and fruition of this sovereign Good - as far as possible here on earth - that he finds, in the loftiness and perfection of his life, a foretaste of eternal beatitude.

-Msgr. Albert Farges.
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From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930