Saint Joseph Allamano, the founder of the Consolata missionaries teaches in his spiritual writing that “a day without mediation is a wasted day.’’ This is true not only within the context of religious life but also within the ordinary daily life. Within the philosophical domain, this could be what Socrates meant by his famous phrase: “the unexamined life is not worth living.’’ But then the question is, what does Socrates mean by this?
To some philosophers, Socrates doesn't believe in living a "quiet life", that is one that exists with a quiet mind. For him, this quiet life is one that would require him to be dishonest – to keep silent the questions that enter his mind. For Socrates therefore, an unexamined life is also one focused on individual wealth and status over and above the wealth and health of the society. Therefore, distracted and even driven by possessions this unexamined life gives no thought for wisdom or the good.
On the other hand, Saint Augustine in his confessions stated that “our souls are restless until they rest in God.’’ What did he mean by this? Based on the philosophical thoughts of Socrates about the dangers of living the unexamined life, Augustine could mean that our souls should not purport to be fine without the restless effort of searching for full communion with God.
It is this desire to be in full communion with God that sets our souls down the slope of restlessness, for just as it is described in the book of Genesis: “So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam, no suitable helper was found'' (2:20) so do our souls find no suitable companion in the fleeting pleasures of the world. It is only in God that our souls find suitable companion that grant them true rest, one a kin to that which God enjoyed on the seventh day: ''On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.'' (2:2)
Saint Joseph Allamano’s phrase “a day without meditation is a wasted day’’ finds its foothold within the philosophical arena and spiritual domain. This is very true for any person who wants to build a lasting relationship with God. For it is when we are in the desert of meditation that we make the words of David in Psalms our own and we cry out: “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land without water.’’ (Psalm 63:1)
It is through daily meditation that our souls are set on the path of finding Jesus whom we then tell: “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” (Luke 24:29). It is after finding Jesus during meditation that he can speak to us as we listen to him and we speak to him as he listens to us. Therefore, with all that has been said, no one can live an authentic life without the spiritual restlessness that sets our souls on the journey to spiritual search for the creator, no one can live an authentic spiritual life without examining his or her life in quest of a positive change for as Buddha said ‘’ to change our lives, we must first acknowledge that our present situation is not satisfactory.’’
No one can live an authentic spiritual life without a search for the answers to the questions about life challenges that are fabricated in his or her mind, the questions of which the World cannot purport to answer, but can only be answered by Jesus himself making right the cry of Saint Peter: ‘’ Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). But then, what does St. Joseph Allamano mean by meditation? According to Bede Jarrett, Meditation is a time when I set about seeing how I can apply myself to God, not what a mess I have made of things but just realising the fact that someone is perfect and that perfect as he is, he loves me.
Following the thoughts of Bede Jarret, Saint Joseph Allamano defines mediation as a means through which a person acquires perfection, through avoiding sin. In other words, if for Bede Jarret meditation is a thoughtful moment of applying one's self to God, to St. Joseph Allamano, meditation goes a step further by putting one on the journey to holiness through distancing oneself from occasions of sin through reflecting on one’s life and making appropriate resolutions to live a godly life and asking for pardon for the occasions we have fallen.
What then are the values of meditation? The centrality of meditation cuts across all the boundaries of human life both religious and non-religious contexts. It is for this reason that Jon Kabat-Zinn states that meditation is about human development and so a natural extension of cutting teeth, growing an adult-sized body, working and making things happen in the world, raising a family, going into debt of one kind or another and realizing that you too will grow old and die.
At the scientific and psychological level, Attila Orosz states that meditation has its most obvious benefits on the mind and physiologically, the brain. Following various studies, he confirms, that brain activity significantly changes during meditation. Some researchers found that in experienced meditators the grey matter of the brain observably thickens, effectively resulting in greater brain power. If mediation can have such a powerful effect on the brain, then it can have more effects on the soul too.
Saint Joseph Allamano categorises meditation among the means for acquiring perfection. He uses the word mental prayer interchangeably with the word mediation. Therefore, to Saint Joseph Allamano, one who has developed affection for meditation has already taken a great step along the way toward his or her perfection. To Saint Joseph Allamano, this step should be taken forthwith otherwise; one runs the danger of neglecting it.
In the spiritual thought of Saint Allamano, meditation is necessary for anyone who desires the spirit of piety, devotion and love of God. Moreover, it is necessary for people who want to do good for souls. Saint Joseph Allamano does not confine mediation within the religious domain; he alleges that even worldly people meditate in their way. For example, he states that merchants meditate on how to make a profit. They think of customs, premiums and cost, and of the way to present their merchandise. This broad–spectrum character of meditation makes Saint Joseph Allamano call it ‘’our duty’’ nor business. Following the spiritual techniques of Saint Alphonsus, Saint Joseph Allamano approaches meditation in the following steps: Preparation, body and conclusion.
- Preparation
Regarding the preparation, Saint Allamano states that one should not begin prayer with a distracted mind. Therefore, the first step is to place oneself in the presence of God, thinking that He is there and He sees us. This self-abandonment in God’s presence involves an act of faith, humility and an act of asking God for help so that we may meditate well.
- The body of meditation
According to Saint Joseph Allamano, the body of mediation can deal with the life of our Lord, with one of his teachings, or something similar. Concerning this, one is invited to read what the book says or listen to someone else read, but one doesn't have to meditate on every word. It is better to concentrate on one point if the heart finds enough to nourish itself.
The second part then follows whereby one can continue with the first if his or her heart finds nourishment for it is better to listen to what is being read, so that, if the first part becomes dry, one will find other matter to meditate on. For example: this morning I meditated on the letter to the Hebrews 11: 27-28. It describes Moses in this way: ''By faith Moses left Egypt without fear of the King’s anger, he held to his purpose like someone who could see the invisible’’
In my meditation, I asked myself, why did Moses have to leave Egypt? Why would the Kind be angry with him? To which purpose did he hold to? The answer to the first question is that Moses naturally saw the danger that Pharaoh posed to him. Closer contact with Pharaoh would influence him into living an ungodly life, for it is only by fleeing from Pharaoh that he refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter and chose to be ill-treated in company with God's people rather than to enjoy the transitory pleasures of sin. (Hebrew 11:25)
Not only did Pharaoh pose a danger to Moses, but also the whole environment of Egypt was unhealthy for him since this was a land polluted by torture, forced labour, idol worship and bloodshed. All these were orchestrated from within the house where Moses grew up. Moses needed a break from such an environment in order not to be influenced into getting used to bloodshed and disregarding human suffering and more to idol worship.
The next step is asking myself: as a person, which Egypt must I flee from? And which Pharaoh must I disregard his anger? In responding to the first question, I realised that there are many things that, the world around me might be akin to Egypt in one way or another. The world around me might influence me into worshipping modern idols such as gluttony, avarice, giving way to my passions, drinking to excess, having wild parties and orgies, sacrilegious worship of false gods, ingratitude, jealousy and envy (1 Peter 4:3-4). Therefore, as Moses did, I must resolve to distance myself from such a world. I must resolve not to conform to such a world as Saint Paul invites us: “do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
What about the pharaohs that I must not fear his anger? This might be the many voices that surround me, the voices that as St. Paul says, ‘’ not only refuse to acknowledge God, but also applaud me when am doing wrong’’ (Rom 1:32) These can be my close friends, my family members, my companions or even my fellow Christians, for as Saint Peter writes, “as there were false prophets in the past history of our people, so you too will have your false teachers, who will insinuate their own disruptive views, in their greed, they will try to a profit out of you with untrue tales.’’ (2 Peter 2: 1, 3)
What about holding to the purpose as someone who has seen the invisible? I asked myself, what did Moses hold on to? I realise that he held on to his calling not only to lead the people out of Egypt but also to be a mediator between them and God. I then asked myself, which purpose must I hold on as someone who has seen the invisible? I realised that this purpose is my calling to be a religious missionary. How then should I hold to it? In response to this question, I call to mind the words of Saint Joseph Allamano. '' It is not enough to be called, it is not enough to answer the call, it is not enough to enter the Society, it is not even enough to go to the missions. One needs a full, generous and constant response to the grace of his or her vocation''.
My first duty therefore is to respond fully, generously and constantly to my vocation which is the purpose I hold on to. It is using this that I make my vocation the centre of my life and the reason for my being consecrated ad vitam for the mission. I concluded that the call to the missionary apostolic life is the best gift God gave me. There is no other gift comparable to it, to it, I must hold on until the end bearing in mind the words of Saint John: “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.’’ (Revelation 3:11)
Therefore, I have resolved to cling to my purpose come what way, living it in season or out of season for it is what will save my soul and the souls entrusted to my spiritual care. Therefore, using the words of Saint Paul I affirm: ''And I shall go on (holding to my purpose) for I know that this is what will save me, I shall never have to admit defeat, but with complete fearlessness, I shall go on, so that now, as always, Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or my death.” (Philippians 1: 19-21).
And to a husband or a mother? Based on the above content of meditation, which questions should guide you? To begin with, you ought to ask yourself, which environments pose a threat to your relationship or marriage? Which pharaohs should you run away from so that you protect not only yourself but also your marriage? And which Egypt must you flee from? One will realise that as a husband or a wife, he or she must identify such things which are harmful to his marriage and family. For example, one could identify things like alcohol; long nights spent in clubs and bars, unfaithfulness, bad friends, fear of responsibility, and lack of honesty in dealing with one another.
- The Conclusion
Saint Joseph Allamano teaches that we conclude meditation by asking God for forgiveness for the omission we have committed during our meditation, and by asking Divine help in keeping our resolutions. According to Saint Joseph Allamano, these resolutions should be few, practical and relevant to the probable circumstances of the day. Saint Allamano invites us to make an effort to meditate at least daily and never to omit this good practice. For when we have affection for it, we will always find time for it. It is this affection for it that will make us feel that we have neglected our nourishment whenever we omit meditation.