Comments for Holiness Means Paying Your Rent at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 7 out of 7 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Fri, 24 May 2013 00:18:48 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/holiness-means-paying-your-rent.html#comment-13324 Interesting. This reminds me of when my husband and I got married over 10 years ago. He taught at a small orthodox Catholic College and many of the guests were employees there or graduates. There were so many of these people who didn't give ANY gift at all - just came and enjoyed themselves! Many others gave very small gifts. Nobody else did that (from my family or friends or his family). I was quite shocked! The convention where I came from was that the amount of your contribution should approximately cover the price of your meal. I knew that money was tight for some people so I didn't necessarily expect big gifts from them, but nothing?! I remember thinking that these people were sheltered and there was no excuse for poor social graces. It really caused a lot of tension between my husband and me at the time - because he defended them!... - Twiggs Sat, 08 Sep 2012 16:29:33 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/holiness-means-paying-your-rent.html#comment-13322 We should keep also in mind that many of these apparent slobs are going through difficult spiritual times and their seemingly uncaring attitude stems from various trials and temptations they are undergoing. It is hard to keep the bathroom clean when you're trashing in the bathtub trying to save yourself from drowning... On the other hand, some of these people are just slobs and spiritual frauds. - Hieronymus Sat, 08 Sep 2012 10:08:04 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/holiness-means-paying-your-rent.html#comment-13321 But why the use of "bourgeois" and "merely bourgeois?" - Mack Hall Sat, 08 Sep 2012 09:07:23 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/holiness-means-paying-your-rent.html#comment-13320 Robert Royal is quite right: I wrote this piece several weeks back, long before he began his appeal for funds and without any knowledge that he was going to do so. He is also quite right, however, that the principle applies: we need to take care of the little things, the means to the ends. And I know Robert Royal well enough to know that, if he's asking for money, he must need it. Those of us who write for "The Catholic Thing" would appreciate it. If we couldn't publish our stuff here, where else would we go? The New Yorker? The Atlantic Monthly? National Review? There are precious few outlets for this sort of material. Please do what you can. "The workman is worthy of his hire." And I'm not talk about me or any of the other writers; I'm talking about the people who work hard to keep this site up and running. For those who don't have the funds right now, please pray for us. Oftentimes the most practical thing you can do is pray. The saintly Fr. Schall might not need them as much, but Lord knows I do. - Randall Smith Sat, 08 Sep 2012 08:33:33 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/holiness-means-paying-your-rent.html#comment-13319 Bl. Mother Teresa said something along these lines (sorry,i could not find the exact quote): "Bring Jesus with you as our Lady did. Let those who encounter you leave better for having been with you. Leave them with the fragrance of Jesus." More and more, the older i grow, i find the Incarnation the most mysterious and pivotal of historical events. That GOD would become Man and BE WITH US in our ordinary life, working, paying rent, cleaning up, studying, etc., changes Everything! If we believe in the Love of God to the point of embracing His Incarnation then we must be Transformed in every area of our lives....to become "like Him." Can you imagine the GodMan making a table that was not level or left un-sanded, or His work area a wreck at the end of the day/week? The Duplicity of heart mentioned in this article among those who call themselves Christians is to be lamented, and-as Prof Smith has done here-addressed head on. If those who "love Christ" are barely skin-deep in Godly character, what impact will we have on the surrounding world? Thank you for this exhortation. - debby Sat, 08 Sep 2012 04:21:20 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/holiness-means-paying-your-rent.html#comment-13318 I think it was St. Teresa of Avila who pointed out that evidence of growth in contemplative prayer is found in an increase of orderliness -- of mind, in one's work, and in one's surrounding -- as well as much more of it. "Unity of life" is the phrase that comes to mind, as does Br. Lawrence's famous Practice of the Presence of God. When I was a (Protestant) kid, my mom had an album of three sisters -- the Andrews Sisters? - who used to sing "Brighten the Corner where you are." And so maybe the quick-test question, for both the "spiritually-minded" who stiff on the rent and on the professional focusing on efficient means, is whether the activities have brightened the corner, so that God's glory is the more served and revealed. - Dave Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:54:46 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/holiness-means-paying-your-rent.html#comment-13317 Thank you Dr. Smith! How very true. As a Benedictine, I can say that living according the Rule of St. Benedict pushes us to keep a balance, an equilibrium, between the necessary world work and prayer by doing both. But more importantly, by doing what you point out: keeping even the material worldly work focused on God and not compartmentalizing. - Br. David Minot OSB Fri, 07 Sep 2012 21:47:52 +0100