Interior Life (Catholic Theology)
Interior life is a life which seeks God in everything, a life of prayer and the practice of living in the presence of God. It connotes intimate, friendly conversation with him, and a determined focus on internal prayer versus external actions, while these latter are transformed into means of prayer.
According to John Paul II, Jesus' statement "without me you can do nothing" (cf. Jn 15:5) is a truth that "constantly reminds us of the primacy of Christ and, in union with him, the primacy of the interior life and of holiness."
In his first encyclical Deus Caritas Est, Benedict XVI emphasized that man "cannot always give, he must also receive," and pointed to the urgency and importance of experiencing in prayer that God is Love. He taught the Christian's dialogue with God "allows God to work" for God is "the only One who can make the world both good and happy."
Read more about Interior Life (Catholic Theology): Biblical Basis, Thomas A Kempis: Imitation of Christ, Garrigou-Lagrange: Three Ages of The Interior Life, Dom Chautard: Soul of The Apostolate, Josef Pieper, Josemaria Escriva: The Way, John Paul II: Novo Millennio Ineunte, Benedict XVI: Deus Caritas Est
Famous quotes containing the words interior and/or life:
“The monk in hiding himself from the world becomes not less than himself, not less of a person, but more of a person, more truly and perfectly himself: for his personality and individuality are perfected in their true order, the spiritual, interior order, of union with God, the principle of all perfection.”
—Thomas Merton (1915–1968)
“You know all my life I’ve hated funerals. The fuss and bother never brings anybody back. It just spoils remembering them as they really are. And when I see people actually facing it that way, I have to act like a sap.”
—Jules Furthman (1888–1960)