ACTIVE AND CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE

        The active life is the journeying; the contemplative life is the summit.  Active life makes him holy; the contemplative life makes him perfect.     

        It is characteristic of the active life to inflict injuries to no one; the contemplative bears inflicted injuries calmly.

        The man living the active life is prompt to forgive the man who has sinned against him; the contemplative does not even notice the man who sinned.   

        The active controls anger by the virtue of patience and restrains his passions.  Touched by carnal desire, he does not consent; attacked by the devil, he is not overcome.  The contemplative, by holy virtues, overcomes all feelings that ordinarily rule all mortals, which enables the soul to rise up to the joy of divine contemplation. 

(08-30-10)