St Augustine -The life we lead
There are three
kinds of life: that of repose, that of action, and the one which combines the
two. A man may attain to everlasting happiness by leading any of them, as long
as he keeps to the faith.
But we must ask
the man who seeks the truth in repose what he does for love of his neighbour.
He must not give himself up to idle leisure; let him search for the truth,
progress in his search, hold fast to what he has learnt and be generous in
sharing it with others. He who leads an active life must not long for honours
and power – he must love the work itself if it is well and profitably done,
that is, if it leads to the salvation of those under him.
Let no one be
attached to his own repose that he has no thought for his neighbour, nor on the
other hand be so busy that he neglects the contemplation of God. If we are
believers, we are walking in the path of faith, and if we keep to it, some of
us will arrive at a certain comprehension of the unchanging truth, and at the
end will contemplate it “face to face” as the apostle says.
On the other
hand, there are those who, while understanding what is meant by thing invisible
and immutable, refuse to keep to the way that alone leads to everlasting
happiness, the way of Christ crucified. Some rays of heavenly light have
reached their souls, but only as it were from a great distance, and they will
not reach Christ’s hidden mansion of rest.
S. Augustini De Civitate Dei, XIX,19
