aeternus

Last week I was privileged to meet someone quite astounding. We met after mass at the Carmelite Monastery where she had been staying over the past week or so. She was in the United States to meet with colleagues in her organization called “International Research Center for Spirituality in Business Practice” which is a program affiliated with the University of Mystic, at Avila, in Spain.

The aim of her project is to promote spirituality in the workplace by leadership training. They “favor spiritual progress of people at work, as managers and leaders, by giving them answers to meet the challenges of today’s economic world.”

This sounds not unlike what is today quite common in America, Bible Study at lunch with your colleagues (or in a way motivational efforts to lift employees to a higher level in the whole lives not just at work). To challenge these efforts already in place in many places of employment, the center is looking to evangelize through authentic Catholic spiritualites and charisms. They want to make an effort to show the beauty behind our tradition by introducing prayer in pure and time tested fashions. Igniting anew the enthusiasm for those special graces contained within the Church’s observance of prayerful and reverent worship through the many flowering vines of beauty we hold through sacred tradition and history.

The center for spirituality in business practice is an “intellectual frame of Carmelite mystic theology, but in a non exclusive way. The variety of spiritualities within the Roman Catholic Church (Benedictine, Franciscan, Dominican, Ignacian, Rhenan, of the French school, the Opus Dei…), the other religions (other Christian churches, Jews, Muslim…), and agnostics are strongly encouraged to participate.

This sounds great does it not? A blessing indeed! Something to be excited about and shout from the rooftops! But, here is the catch… this wonderful woman is trying to make this happen in France. Do I have to say more, or have you already sighed in a knowing sadness just what seeming futility she is up against? Though she is not the least bit pessimistic about the value and importance of this ministry she is trying to launch, surely I was able to see her holding back tears of frustration over the weight of her task in France.

Not to worry though, I am confident that all will work out for the best. You see, the hero of this story lives just two doors down from “Les Buissonnetes” in Liseiux. For those of you who do not know this famed address, it is the childhood home of Saint Thérèse (the littel flower of Carmel) where her father (Louis) moved after the death of Thérèse’s mother (Zelie). The home is on a little road called “Chemin du Paradis” (“Paradise Way”). It was in this home that Thérèse Martin spent eleven years of her life here, until she joined the Carmelite Convent, and here that our new Carmelite Apostle is beginning her quest to bring Carmelite Spirituality into the workplace. Is it no small consolation to have a friend and neighbor like Thérèse on your side! Not to mention I pray that the other holy Martin Sisters (Carmelites: Mother Agnes of Jesus, Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, Sister Genevieve of the Holy Face and Visitation Sister Françoise-Thérèse) will be helping too! May they send down the roses from heaven please!

I thought it quite fitting then yesterday when I read of Pope Benedict’s equal frustration with contemporary European Culture and its attempts at playing with this new societal evil which is an irrational new humanism. The pontiff noted “the current cultural crisis in Europe as suffering from “a false dichotomy between theism and authentic humanism.” In its extreme form, this belief sees “an irreconcilable conflict between divine law and human freedom”.”

It seems that in Europe tradition and spirituality are like oil and water. Tradition is a mere “habit” while the actual practice of heritage (like spirituality) is an exercise they are unwilling to partake in. It is like the exact opposite of America. Here we will indulge in plenty of spirituality, though certainly it can be seen that it adhears to no absolute form of tradition. How many protestant churches are there now listed in the Yellow Pages? 5,ooo or so!?!

I pray for the efforts being born in a land which is so desolate. It certainly seems to me that the lands of rationalist Europe are completely opportune to hear a different voice. The voice of truth and love at an objective level. It certainly gets tiresome listening to the secular voice shouting that “everyone is right” no matter how skewed their viewpoint. I pray that instead of following the heard of sheep falling off the cliff of despair that the voice of our Heavenly Father will be heard. It is He who wants to shepherd us all into an enchanted and blissful eternity of ceaseless love with Him.

I would WELCOME any thoughts or ideas about this new “Center for Spirituality in the Workplace”. Is this a project that could happen in America or am I totally wrong? Is there a chance this could happen with a good old grass roots effort? Would not this effort be welcomed by many Third Order community apostolates? Remember this is not just a Carmelite effort. Please forward this article on to any persons you might think could benefit from it and I will send it along to France.

In the meantime, here is the article from the Catholic News Agency:
The Holy Father Reflects on “A New Humanism”

Vatican City, June 24 (CNA).-The Holy Father joined rectors and university professors from all over Europe in the Paul VI Auditorium on Saturday to discuss the theme of a ‘New Humanism.’ The meeting was organized to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, “which gave rise to the present European Union”, the Holy Father noted.

The pontiff first noted the moral climate of Europe: “Europe is presently experiencing a certain social instability and diffidence in the face of traditional values, yet her distinguished history and her established academic institutions have much to contribute to shaping a future of hope.”

Commenting on what this new philosophy might embody, Benedict remarked: “Promoting a new humanism, in fact, requires a clear understanding of what this “newness” actually embodies. Far from being the fruit of a superficial desire for novelty, the quest for a new humanism must take serious account of the fact that Europe today is experiencing a massive cultural shift, one in which men and women are increasingly conscious of their call to be actively engaged in shaping their own history.”

The current moral and intellectual crisis is largely due to the attempt “to build a regnum hominis detached from its necessary ontological foundation.” Modern man has attempted to construct a kingdom of mankind, without any reference to its Creator.

The Holy Father diagnosed the current cultural crisis in Europe as suffering from “a false dichotomy between theism and authentic humanism.” In its extreme form, this belief sees “an irreconcilable conflict between divine law and human freedom”.

Quoting his predecessor, John Paul II, Benedict questioned the result of man’s progress: “we need to ask ‘whether in the context of all this progress, man, as man, is becoming truly better, that is to say, more mature spiritually, more aware of the dignity of his humanity, more responsible and more open to others.’” (Redemptor Hominis, 15).

Benedict spoke of a theme often touched on by John Paul II: Man cannot know himself without knowing Christ. He said, “In my recent visit to Brazil, I voiced my conviction that “unless we do know God in and with Christ, all of reality becomes an indecipherable enigma.”

In conclusion, the Holy Father referred to universities as “laboratories of culture”, stated that they provided a needed service of wisdom to society, and hoped that they would work, with the help of theologians, to address “the questions of particular importance to society.”

Top Photograph: The room of Thérèse’s sister, Marie, where she was cured by the Virgin Mary on Sunday 13th May, 1883.