THE RELIGIOUS LIFE 

Religious life may be divided into active and contemplative. The active is lower, the contemplative is higher. The active life begins and ends here on earth. The contemplative may begin here on earth but continues and is perfected in heaven.

Religious life may also take three forms. There is the life of withdrawal, reserved only for the greatest spiritual athlete. This is sometimes called the eremetical life. Then there is the life of stillness wherein the spiritual athlete lives with one or two. And there is the life in community where there is living in community.

A religious community resounds with chanting, studying, fasting, praying, rejoicing in the hope of future good and working in distributing alms but, foremost, maintaining both love and harmony among the brethren.

(12-22-02)