Yesterday I went to the first day of the retreat given by Fr Dominique Faure on the Book of Revelation. It is awesome to have such a great teacher in New Zealand. He seemed to have a spiritual peace about him which I guess must come from his experience and knowledge. For those of you who don’t know, Fr Dominique is from the Community of St John and Mother Teresa asked him to personally oversee the spiritual formation of her sisters in India before she died. He set up and runs an Aids hospital in India, among other things, so is a pretty cool guy.
One thing that struck me, which actually surprised me a little because it is often what we think we need more of, was that he feels India has to be careful to not focus on social work and helping people so much! He said the Church there has to be careful to also foster a contemplative life and deep relationship with Christ. Apparently the Indian people have a tendency to associate the Church with social work, and fail to recognise the spiritual element which should be the core.
When we lose our thirst for knowledge, truth and contemplative intelligence, we end up at the practical level of just work and service, which is actually easier to focus on in many ways. Our culture is a culture of efficiency, he said, which misunderstands the role of fruitfulness. That has to ring true – we see it all around us – and it is definitely a temptation for me to focus on work, money and ultimately power and the love of people/society really. It could well be the thing that tempts me most and takes me most away from God. Then, he said, from a focus on work only man moves on to develop the many ‘isms’ – Marxism, materialism, positivism, freudism, capitalism – which all have ourselves as the focus, and lead us to ignore God. Even if we feel like we are working or doing moral things for God, we are not really being his friend, and engaging in a personal relationship.
I have never thought about the contemplative orders being at the core of the Church before. We do tend to thing about those “doing” things in the community more. In fact, Fr Dominique described the contemplative orders as the pearl of the Church. It makes sense, considering if the Church loses its core purpose, knowledge and theology, really it is left with nothing.
He also said interesting things about suffering. It is really easy to despair, he said, but that would be move away from God, and decide there isn’t hope. Instead we have to look at all the bad things we see in the world from the perspective that ultimately Jesus and God have already won, and Christ is victorious. This is the key message of the book of Revelation. Jesus suffered, so why should we not, and suffering helps us get closer to Christ and not depend on ourselves so much. I guess it is having an eternal perspective on things. Sorry if this is all sounding a little heavy for you! But, basically the book recognises that life is a battlefield for the Church and us personally, and we have to fight everyday to do the right thing and resist temptations. But ultimately, you’ve already won, so there’s hope. Not really so hard to understand if you’ve been living a few years! – or think Narnia perhaps?!
Overall I found him an amazingly insightful man, and it made me interested to learn more about the Book of Revelation – far from being a scary book which it can seem at first, it is really a book of hope.
Go to theology on tap at the Muddy Farmer in Auckland city (if you live in Auckland) by St Pat’s cathedral at 8.30 tonight to hear him speak and have a glass or wine or two with friends. I’m sure it will be awesome.
Good summary – it was a great retreat!
Great post, eyeWitness!
I was at the retreat, and it was fantastic, let’s all pray that the Community of St John sets up shop here in NZ.
Such beautiful and profound teaching, it makes me mad that we generally have to settle for so much activist drivel that passes for teaching around these parts. On that subject, was anyone at the youth mass at the Ak cathedral this last month? ‘Voices that Challenge’ anyone?
[sigh]
Great Post EW and great retreat!
We soooooo much need that level of teaching in NZ. I suggest we pray for the Order to be invited into NZ because our need is so great.
Sad so few priests and religious there. Hard for weekends I know. Seriously though, any trawling this blog do not miss the opportunity to hear this man. You would certainly be missing a great deal!!!! Still talks in Vermont St this week & then Hamilton and ChiChi, not sure where else hes going. Talks being videoed I understand but never quite the same as being there.
His teaching flows from a place of contemplation and worship while also insisting on authentic realism that acknowledges the Other, rather than the simply endless reasoning and projection from inside our own minds. Fr Faure talked about the fascination we have with our minds and thinking, which is Idealism and how we are all imbued with it because it is so much the age we live in.
Another thing he mentioned was how when we hurt all we want is for others to look at us and make us feel better and if they do not, then we insist upon being our own best spectators. Made me laugh and ‘ouch’ at same time.
If you get the chance do not miss these talks!
3 VEg, did not get to youth Mass, but Fr Faure certainly had a voice and message that challenges…in the right way. Lets pray the Order can come to NZ, please Bishops…invite them… in fact plead our cause… the church here needs this message of truth, love, realism and simplicity from within heart of Tradition.! NZ would be grateful for generations to come!
J
Joan,
Is there a programme for the talks/retreats ? I haven’t seen any publicity for this.
God Bless
It was a brilliant retreat, if you are able this weekend go to the 2 talks in Hamilton. I ask people to pray for the Community of St John to establish itself in New Zealand as we rarely hear such wisdom of the Church in this country. The community has what is solely needed in this country: both a strong academic and contemplative focus. Such formation as they offer cannot do anything but help people grow in their faith.
Dear Leo XIII,
thank you for your contribution, and for apostolicae curae.
I know Bp. Dennis Browne is looking to establish a contemplative order in the Hamilton diocese – maybe these are the ones he has in mind.
Let’s pray for that success.
Lets hope we have them establish in all the dioceses which have shown an interest which just happen to be Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch. If you live in those dioceses write your bishop and tell him how wonderful the Community of St John is (and pray for it).
Chris,
Only just saw your question
I believe it was advertised in NZ Catholic but the rest was mainly word of mouth I think – some posters here and there. Bishop Pat certainly alerted all the priests.
The last opportunities to hear him for this visit are today in Hamilton from 2pm to 6 at St Matthew’s Hillcrest. He is giving three talks on the experience of friendship and what it contributes to the ethical growth of a person.
Also, in Tauranga Monday night at St Mary’s, 7.30pm: Loving the Church and trusting the Church”
If people would like CDs or DVDs of his talks in NZ, they are available from Myriam Tape Ministries, ph 4183428.
The good news is that he is available to come back for an intensive week of talks in February.