Contemplation should direct action; Angels: Day 289

Contemplation, says St. Augustine, is the highest part of  reason, which is the highest part of the soul, which is the highest part of our nature. In everything we do, then, we should be guided by our contemplation of God.

Each of us, we know, consists of soul and body; but so does a beast. Again, it is plain that in the order of nature the soul is superior to the body. More- over, in our own souls there is reason, which does not exist in a beast. Therefore, as the soul is superior to the body, so in the soul itself the reason is superior by the law of nature to the other parts which are found also in beasts; and in reason itself, which is partly contemplation and partly action, contemplation is unquestionably the superior part.

The object of contemplation is the image of God, by which we are renewed through faith to sight. Rational action therefore ought to be subject to the control of contemplation, which is exercised through faith while we are absent from the Lord, as it will be hereafter through sight, when we shall be like him—for we shall see him as he is. Then in a spiritual body we shall by his grace be made equal to angels, when we put on the garment of immortality and incorruption, with which this mortal and corruptible body shall be clothed, so that death may be swallowed up in victory, when righteousness is perfected through grace.

For the holy and lofty angels have also their contemplation and action. They require of themselves the performance of the commands of God, whom they con- template, whose eternal government they freely obey because it is sweet to them.

But our bodies are dead because of sin, till God enlivens our mortal bodies

by his Spirit dwelling in us. We live righteously in our feeble measure, according to the eternal law in which the law of nature is preserved, when we live by that sincere faith that works by love. –St. Augustine, Reply to Faustus the Manichean, 22.28

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

How does contemplation affect what I do in my daily life? Do I let contemplation guide my action the way the holy angels do?

CLOSING PRAYER

Purify me from every stain, Lord, and make me worthy to contemplate your mysteries along with your holy angels in Heaven.

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