THE BE-ATTITUDES: HEART AND HEAD

Today we use the word “holistic” to describe the totality of our commitment. Eugene’s vocabulary for this same concept in the 1818 Rule, and later, was “charity and obedience.” In other words, “heart and head.”

To “imitate in everything the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles” meant a commitment to BE with heart and head.

Charity and obedience mirrored the two portions of the life of the Missionary. A total love of the Savior and an unswerving obedience to His will, on the one hand. At the same time there was the outward direction towards others:

They will all be united by the bonds of the closest charity, and in perfect subordination to the superiors, in dependence to whom they will live the exact practice of holy obedience.

1818 Rule, Part Two, Chapter One. Regarding other principal observances

The Missionaries were to be a united body connected by the bonds of Christian love and their attentiveness to the will of God as manifested to the community.

Heart: love one another and God.

Head: listen to God’s will as it is shown in one another, and especially in the Rule and through the one responsible for the guidance and well-being of the community.

 

“In the progress of personality, first comes a declaration of independence, then a recognition of interdependence.”        Henry Van Dyke

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2 Responses to THE BE-ATTITUDES: HEART AND HEAD

  1. Jack Lau, OMI says:

    It is so important to “re-author” words/story and concepts to speak to the culture of today. In doing so they come alive. So often people hold on to words and church images that have been hurtful in the past, yet they continue to search for meaning. I often see this with in the “yogic community” that I am apart of. But once we are able to find a common language we let go of judgement and sit in wisdom.
    So from “Charity and Obedience” we have the “Heart and Head”. And from here we move from the dualistic split which is very prevalent with “us men” though not exclusive to us, to a gentle flow of ministry were compassion is the key. Where obedience flows from integrity “Truly I say to you, he who believes (from intensive prefix *ga- + *leubh- “to care, desire, like, love” this is a heart word not head word) in me will also do the works that I do; and greater because I go to the Father” Jn 14:12

  2. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associates says:

    I find myself agreeing with you Jack – wording is everything. I have to admit to struggling with the wording of the 1818 Rule, and yet when it is put into the language of today my being leaps out and recognises a lived reality, (or at least what I try to live) with a deep “Yes”.

    “The Missionaries were to be a united body connected by the bonds of Christian love and their attentiveness to the will of God as manifested to the community. Heart: love one another and God. Head: listen to God’s will as it is shown in one another, and especially in the Rule and through the one responsible for the guidance and well-being of the community.”

    The interior and the exterior. The interior – God fills us with such awesome love that we can do nothing but to respond back with love – that moves outside of ourselves to others (we recognise that love of God in each other perhaps?). The exterior – listening for and to the will of God in and through another, in this case a superior. It requires a great measure of humility and trust – which can be easy to say but perhaps a little harder to live. It follows the heart, the interior. Again that ‘being’ in order to ‘do’. I am reminded of listening to an Oblate (who was older than I) speak about the new Roman Missal and parts of it that are “not comfortable” (my words not his). He finished speaking by saying the word “obedience” and then adding that was all he could do was to be obedient. It was not said with resignation – it was simply stated with incredible beauty and trust. What a gift!

    For some reason I am also reminded of that awesome painting (don’t know the name) of God reaching out and with one finger touching the finger of man.

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