EXPAND YOUR READING!!

"Today the concept of truth is viewed with suspicion, because truth is identified with violence. Over history there have, unfortunately, been episodes when people sought to defend the truth with violence. But they are two contrasting realities. Truth cannot be imposed with means other than itself! Truth can only come with its own light. Yet, we need truth. ... Without truth we are blind in the world, we have no path to follow. The great gift of Christ was that He enabled us to see the face of God".Pope Benedict xvi, February 24th, 2012

The Church is ecumenical, catholic, God-human, ageless, and it is therefore a blasphemy—an unpardonable blasphemy against Christ and against the Holy Ghost—to turn the Church into a national institution, to narrow her down to petty, transient, time-bound aspirations and ways of doing things. Her purpose is beyond nationality, ecumenical, all-embracing: to unite all men in Christ, all without exception to nation or race or social strata. - St Justin Popovitch

Wednesday 20 July 2011

THE SPIRITUALITY OF DOM COLUMBA MARMION



Dom Columba Marmion +1923

Born in Dublin in 1858 of an Irish father and a French mother, Joseph Marmion, his
secondary studies finished, was received at the seminary of Clonliffe. He completed his
preparation for the priesthood in Rome. Ordained priest in the Eternal City in 1881, he
was appointed professor of philosophy at Clonliffe Seminary. A visit to Maredsous on
returning from Italy was the occasion of his call to the monastic life. In 1886 he sought
admittance to this Belgian Abbey as a novice. Admitted to profession, different charges
were assigned to him; he was soon named professor of philosophy, then in 1899 sent as
prior and professor of theology to Mont-Cesar at Louvain, where he remained ten
years. He was appointed Abbot of Maredsous in 1909, where he died on January 30th,
1923, leaving behind him the memory of a great monk of intense inner life, of a
consummate theologian, and of a contemplative and apostle of indefatigable zeal.


Dom Columba Marmion's spiritual conferences are gathered up in three volumes:
Christ, vie de l'ame>, appeared in 1917; was published 
in 1919, and issued from the press in 1922. These books 
rank "among the classics of Christian spirituality"[1] and they have won for their
author, from theologians and spiritual writers belonging to divers schools, the title of
"master" and even of "doctor" of the spiritual life. Bishops and princes of the Church
have ratified these judgments; the Sovereign Pontiff Benedict XV used Dom Marmion's
conferences (to employ the Pope's own words) "for his spiritual life"; and speaking to
Mgr. Szepticky, Archbishop of Lemberg, the Vicar of Christ said, pointing to one of the
volumes: " Read that; it is the pure doctrine of the Church." Thus the diffusion of his
works has been extremely rapid.


" This unanimous welcome given by the Catholic world" (R. P. Doncoeur, S.J.) is
justified by a sum total of qualities rarely met with to such a degree: Dom Marmion's
work is entirely based on dogma and Catholic theology; it is an organic and living
synthesis. And as Christian doctrine and doctrine and piety gravitate around the
Person and work of Christ, the author has no other ambition than to make the Divine
Figure of the Incarnate Word stand out in full light and in strong relief.

monks of Pachacamac sing the "Salve Regina" afer Compline


With this end in view, he has constant recourse to the Holy Scriptures, or rather it is the
sacred book itself which is the source whence springs the harmonious development and
fruitful application of his teaching. Hence the fragrance of prayer which emanates from
his books. Cardinal Mercier, who had taken Dom Marmion as his confessor, said: "
Dom Columba makes one touch God." Always, at each of his pages, he is bathed in a
spiritual atmosphere, an atmosphere of prayer. Hence also light, security and peace.

To this biology two volumes are joined: a biography:
Master of the Spiritual Life>, and a collection of letters,
the letters of direction of Dom Marmion>. These volumes, by making us enter into the
intimacy of this Doctor of the spiritual life, add fresh strength to his doctrine.

Of the biography, readers delight in repeating that it is a splendid, inspiring work; that
from it may be gained a more complete and deeper knowledge of Dom Marmion's
inner life. We will content ourselves with the following testimony: " This well
composed work, written with distinction and sobriety, and moreover so full of good
doctrinal pith, bears advantageous comparison with many a 'Treatise on Christian
perfection'."[2]

The Abbot of St Meinrad's Abbey, Indiana, discusses the monastic vocation.


Crowning these works the collection of spiritual letters reveals to us with yet further
spontaneity the soul of whom Christ was truly the life. These pages, wherein Dom
Marmion shows himself especially as an eminent spiritual director, constitute above all
things a treasury of doctrine. We here find once more a work of a deeply spiritual
character which is never at fault and flows from the abundance of the heart and of
experience. This experience, joined to a psychological penetration beyond the common
as well as to the most comprehensive and gentlest charity, makes his words find their
way to the heart. Of this work it could be written: "Dom Marmion excelled in the
delicate art of letter-writing. As his doctrine was very simple and very deep, his
direction established the soul in conviction, light and peace. This collection of Dom
Marmion's Letters will abundantly diffuse the boon of his teaching. It is a boon which
admirably completes the '' (of Dom Marmion's spiritual works) 
henceforth become classics."[3]

St Meinrad's Abbey, Indiana.


ENDNOTES

1 D. Bernard CAPELLE, , February, 1934. 

2 DE GUIDERT, S.J., , April 1930, P. 204. 

3 P. Francois JANSEN, S.J., 1930, p. 614. 

Taken from "Words of Life" by D. Columba Marmion, published by B. Herder Book Co.

Copyright (c) 1996 EWTN

The Abbey of Fontgombault: A vocational video
-------------------------------------------------------------------

   Provided courtesy of:

        Eternal Word Television Network
        PO Box 3610
        Manassas, VA 22110
        Voice: 703-791-2576
        Fax: 703-791-4250
        Data: 703-791-4336
        FTP: EWTN.COM
        Telnet: EWTN.COM
        Email address: SYSOP@ EWTN.COM

   EWTN provides a Catholic online
   information and service system.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

No comments:

Search This Blog

La Virgen de Guadalupe

La Virgen de Guadalupe

Followers

My Blog List

Fr David Bird

Fr David Bird
Me on a good day

Blog Archive