A Renewed Reverence for the Ordinary
“It is the saying of holy men that, if we wish to be perfect, we have nothing more to do than to perform the ordinary duties of the day well.” (Cardinal John Henry Newman, A Short Road to Perfection, 1856)
These wise words of Cardinal John Henry Newman, soon to be beatified, remind us not only of what is made the sound substance of sanctity, but also the most effective evangelization of culture: “We have nothing more to do than to perform the ordinary duties of the day well.”
In the heated, partisan passions wrestling for political advantage in the trench warfare of abortion, we have to change hearts; as well as change laws. Creating that culture of life is more than a political agenda.
The gospel of life has the power to transform hearts and habits as well as laws when the Christian follows Newman’s counsel and performs “the ordinary duties of the day well.”
For Cardinal Newman, true Christian holiness is found in the pursuit of the ordinary things. “He, then, is perfect who does the work of the day perfectly, and we need not go beyond this to seek for perfection. You need not go out of the round of the day.” The “round of the day” is a beautiful metaphor that speaks to the rhythm and rituals that can round our days, keeping our hearts and habits in sync with the creative hand of God’s grace. Our earth revolves around the sun, creating the natural cycle of night and day filled with the rituals of sunrise and sunset, the morning dew with the sweet songs of birds and the evening breeze with the soft aromas of the garden’s blooms. So we can give our heart to the ritual habits that round our day with the love and truth of Jesus. Holiness in this manner is an attractive and persuasive way to change the hearts and minds, as well as the laws, of our land.
For example:
- Wearing one’s wedding ring seems like such a little thing. Yet, its quiet, meaningful gesture speaks not only to those who wear the wedding bands. The ring is a daily ritual that all can see, representing the bond of love and respect between a man and woman that becomes a covenant of life.
- Praying the Angelus at mid-day is a wonderful way to pause and reflect on the wonder of Mary conceiving, through the work of the Holy Spirit, the Divine Word. Jesus, the son of Mary, took on our human nature. In doing so, he allows us to take on a divine nature. Praying the Angelus at mid-day makes us mindful of our share in that life-giving and life- changing mission.
- Conversation at the table during meals is one of the most fundamental times to share the joy and hope of the Gospel. It can be a very explicit religious conversation or could be just listening to family members tell the story of their day. Studies have shown that this makes a difference in the decisions that young people will make. We think that conversation comes naturally. Not so. It is a learned skill, a good habit.
- Bring the family together regularly for conversation over meals. Create the habit of sharing stories, listening to others, showing respect and exercising good manners. For many of us, talking about sexuality or religion are considered taboo topics, especially at the table. That is not a reason to avoid those topics. In today’s environment, there is more of a reason to overcome our own uneasiness to share our faith as well as our moral values at table.
These few examples are not extravagant or outrageous by any criteria. That is the point of Newman’s wise counsel, “You need not go out of the round of the day.” These gestures and rituals, constantly repeated, become habits. The habitual gives shape to the heart. The habitual can accustom the mind to new ways of seeing the world and living in it. That is the beauty of the sacraments. The sacramental rituals repeated over and over again bore God’s grace into our souls.
Let me give two other examples. These are often not a part of a Catholic’s daily routine but they should be.
Political participation or civic engagement can be part of our round of the day. Last fall, many parishes conducted a Life and Dignity Sunday. Parishioners were given the opportunity to sign up for the Catholic Legislative Network. The California Catholic Conference, which sponsors the network, sends to those who are registered a weekly update about what is going on in government that affects the life and dignity of the human person. It is a good way to stay informed and provides easy ways for people to communicate with their elected representatives. This is a habit that takes the mystery of the Incarnation we celebrate in the Angelus and brings it to where the Word of Life can become part of the rule of law. (Please visit: www.cacatholic.org )
Another area where Catholics should do more reflection and cultivate new habits is in the sexual practice of marriage. One habit that has taken hold of many marriages is the use of artificial means of contraception. The prevalence of the practice in and outside of the Catholic community has made contraception the unquestioned default mode of marriage. As a consequence, sexuality and relationships are misunderstood and misused; and their true purpose is misplaced.
These comments are not just about the “pill” or other forms of contraceptives. This is more about the habit of using artificial means. The habit has shaped the hearts and minds of many, especially the young. Marriage is no longer understood as the covenant of love between a man and a woman that creates life, because procreation is no longer associated with sexual intercourse. In this new social situation, many shrug their shoulders and wonder why a sexual relationship between any two people who care for each other cannot be called a marriage.
The church’s teaching against the use of artificial contraceptives comes from a reverential awe for the “round” of the marriage covenant, where the human family finds life, grace and goodness revealed in the ordinary rituals of the home. The sexual ritual should not be discounted or dismissed from this sacramental view.
The teaching of Natural Family Planning, as a moral and cultural alternative to the contraceptive culture, offers couples the opportunity to appreciate their sexuality, the grace of fertility and a way to unite themselves to the natural bodily rhythms that create life. Pastors and catechists should be more confident in teaching it. Married couples and young people eager to be married should explore this possibility as a gift, not a burden.
All this is why Newman’s sage words bring us back to a renewed reverence for the ordinary. The rhythm of each day rounded by the wisdom and grace of Christ can awaken in us a heartfelt desire for the Gospel that gives life and hope to all. In the effort to restore a true culture of life, "We have nothing more to do than to perform the ordinary duties of the day well."
This item 9435 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org
