www.COCaucus.org, "Help us strengthen the voice of the common person.": Holy Simplicity

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Holy Simplicity

From today's Give Us This Day, free print copy or app at http://www.GiveUsThisDay.org

Reflection

Single-Minded Simplicity

Simplicity is vitally important nowadays, because people are so complex, so filled with fears and inhibitions, so fragmented. The dictionary tells us that simplicity means consisting of one thing; sincere, artless, and free from affectation, which correlates with innocence rather than sophistication. Apply this to the spiritual life and we see a person who is single-minded, whose mind goes to the essence of things without embellishment and complicatedness. It conjures up a person innocent of guile, truthful and direct, who—psychologically speaking—lives directly, which is a sign of maturity.

Now “holy” simplicity is the state of mind and soul that is totally occupied by God. The colloquial word for holy simplicity would be childlikeness and would bring us immediately to the Gospel verse, “Unless you become like children (single-minded, uncomplicated, humble, trusting) you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven!” To be simple also means being emotionally or psychologically simple, in the right sense of the word. It does not mean being naive or foolishly ignorant. Intellectual simplicity should blend with this psychological simplicity, and be practiced in a way that will help us to become spiritually simple—or childlike—as Christ wants us to be.

Catherine de Hueck Doherty, Grace in Every Season

Catherine de Hueck Doherty (1896–1985) was a Russian-born aristocrat who dedicated her life to “the gospel without compromise.” Author of numerous books, she established the Madonna House in Combermere, Ontario.

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My elected representative asked me to run for her seat when she decided to step aside. Betty Ann said she would support me if I wanted to do it. But the time just wasn't right for my family. Later I changed political parties, got elected to a leadership role, and ran in a primary election, just to show it could be done. I'm currently registered Unaffiliated.

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John S. Wren

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