Saralou Hendrickson reflects: Father Richard Rohr, OFM, founded the Center for Action and Contemplation out of the need he saw for the integration of action and contemplation.  When asked which word is the more important, he will say it is the word “and.”  I have heard him say that “and” connects action to contemplation and neither action nor contemplation is more important than the other.

Contemplation and action are sometimes likened to breathing.  You must breathe in but must also breathe out.  If those two actions don’t take place in the right proportions, body chemistry will be thrown off and cells will not be able to process the nourishment and elimination of waste products that they need.  So it is with our life in the world.

Thomas Merton recognized the importance of contemplation to action.  “The real purpose of prayer is the deepening of personal realization in love, the awareness of God… and of our life in Christ… He who attempts to act and do things for others or for the world without deepening his own self-understanding, freedom, integrity and capacity to love, will not have anything to give others.” (From Contemplation in a World of Action)

But how do we “do” action and how do we “do” contemplation?   In Mary Mother’s bulletin, either hard copy or online, there are many ways to grow in action and contemplation.  Go for it!