Michael Brooks
The interior life is a central concept in Catholic theology, referring to the life of the soul and its relationship with God. It is the idea that within each person is an inner world that is distinct from their exterior life or observable actions. The interior life is a conversation with God and with oneself, and it involves self-examination, reflection, and contemplation. It is a journey towards holiness and a deeper connection with the divine, which can be nurtured through prayer, mentorship, Bible studies, and other spiritual practices. While the interior life is a personal and individual experience, it is also influenced by Catholic teachings, spiritual literature, and the lives of saints and writers like Thomas Merton, who have documented their own struggles and triumphs in their spiritual journeys.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | "Interior life means literally 'not the exterior life.' The exterior life is everything you do, everything that's just immediately observable from the outside." |
| What it entails | "The interior life is what's going on within your soul." |
| Relationship with God | "The interior life is the life of the fullest, it's the life in which we have a relationship most intimately with God." |
| Stages | Beginner's or purgative stage, proficient or illuminative stage, perfect or unitive stage |
| Distractions | "The interior life is under attack because life is so full of distractions and entertainment." |
| Prayer | "One of the pillars of the interior life is a deep prayer life." |
| Purity of conscience | "Another pillar of the interior life is a profound purity of conscience, which involves an ongoing watchfulness over self." |
| Contempt for self | "Another pillar of the interior life is a great contempt for self." |
| Love for Jesus Christ | "Our fourth pillar of the spiritual life is a great love for Jesus Christ." |
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What You'll Learn
The interior life is the life of the soul with God
The interior life is a central concept in Catholic theology, referring to the life of the soul with God. It is the idea that within each person, there is an inner world that is distinct from their external life and actions. The interior life is a conversation with God, an intimate relationship that is unique to each individual. It is a journey towards holiness and a way to orient oneself towards one's true vocation and purpose in life.
In Catholic theology, the interior life is understood as a participation in divine, intratrinitarian life, introduced to a Christian at baptism. This divine life then grows through the reception of sacraments and constant communication with God. It is a life of contemplation and mystical union with God, where one's thoughts, ideas, and inner conversations are directed towards the divine. This concept has been explored by many Catholic spiritual writers, with one of the most well-known works being "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas à Kempis.
The interior life is often contrasted with the exterior life, which encompasses all observable actions and behaviours. However, it is important to note that the interior life is not just about spiritual thoughts, ideas, or convictions but includes everything that occupies the mind. It is a conversation with oneself, where one examines one's life and reflects on the past, present, and future. This self-reflection can lead to a deeper understanding of one's character, talents, and aspirations, as well as a greater awareness of one's flaws and areas for improvement.
Developing one's interior life requires a daily friendship with Jesus, intentional friendships with others, and a commitment to spiritual multiplication. It involves a deep prayer life and a profound purity of conscience, where one is vigilant against evil thoughts and intentions. It also includes a great love for Jesus Christ and a devotion to following his example. This may involve meditating on the mysteries of Jesus' life and making acts of virtue with the intention of imitating him.
The interior life is a lifelong journey of spiritual growth and transformation. It is a way to connect with God and to discover one's true self. By paying attention to our interior life, we can ensure that our exterior actions are aligned with our deepest values and beliefs, leading to a more authentic and meaningful existence.
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It involves a deep prayer life
The interior life, in a Catholic context, refers to the life of the soul with God. It is the intimate conversation one has within oneself throughout life. It is the opposite of the exterior life, which is everything that is immediately observable from the outside.
The interior life involves a deep prayer life. Prayer is what roots us in our dependence on Christ. It reminds us of the primacy of Christ and, in union with him, the primacy of the interior life and holiness. Prayer and solitude were both the mainstays of and the compass for Jesus' spiritual life.
Developing a deep prayer life involves acknowledging that we have an interior life and that we must pay attention to it. This means taking notice of our thoughts and being intentional about acknowledging our inner dialogues. We can nudge our thoughts towards God, and in doing so, strengthen our interior life.
The interior life is a journey of spiritual development. It involves progressing in intimacy with God and growing in holiness. It is a path towards sanctity and our true vocation and purpose in life.
The interior life is also about having a daily friendship with Jesus and teaching others to do the same. This involves activities such as Bible studies, group talks, mentorship, and pilgrimages. It is about growing in one's relationship with God and others and taking the mission of evangelization seriously.
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It involves a profound purity of conscience
The interior life, in a Catholic context, refers to the life of the soul with God. It is the opposite of the exterior life, which is everything observable from the outside. The interior life is the life of the fullest, in which one has an intimate relationship with God.
A pillar of the interior life is a profound purity of conscience, which involves an ongoing watchfulness over oneself. This means not allowing even one evil thought to fester and grow in one's soul. This purity of conscience is achieved through constant communication with God, which is facilitated by prayer.
Prayer is an important tool for Catholics to strengthen their relationship with God and root themselves in the truth of Christ's primacy. Through prayer, individuals can invest their resources of intelligence and energy in serving God and guarding against sin.
The interior life also involves a great contempt for self, as seen in "The Imitation of Christ," which stresses the principle that "a man who truly knows himself realizes his own worthlessness." This self-abasement is necessary to counter the harm that pride can bring to spiritual progress.
Additionally, the interior life includes a great love for Jesus Christ. Father Lallemant emphasizes that throughout one's spiritual journey, one must devote oneself to the knowledge and love of Jesus to attain true spirituality. Meditating on the mysteries of Jesus' life and imitating his virtues also nurture the growth of one's spiritual life and love for him.
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It involves a great contempt for self
The interior life, in Catholic theology, refers to the life of the soul with God. It is the life in which we have a relationship most intimately with God. It is the opposite of the exterior life, which is everything that is immediately observable from the outside.
A pillar of the interior life is a great contempt for self. Although this practice of self-contempt may seem degrading, it is frequently mentioned in great spiritual literature. For instance, "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas à Kempis, a classic Christian spiritual book, stresses this principle: "A man who truly knows himself realizes his own worthlessness." This idea is also present in the writings of Faber, who quotes Saint Angela of Foligno as saying, "I tell you with an entire certainty that the soul can have no better science than that of its own nothingness."
These ideas about self-contempt may seem too extreme for the modern mentality, but they are important for preventing the harm that pride can bring to spiritual progress. As the Bible says, "For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself" (Galatians 6:3).
The interior life involves a deep prayer life and a profound purity of conscience. Through prayer and solitude, we can develop a close relationship with God and listen to his direction. By examining our thoughts, intentions, and desires, we can identify and guard against our faults and sins, as well as discover our talents and inclinations.
The interior life is a journey of spiritual growth and transformation. It involves moving from a focus on the exterior life to an inner life of union with God. This process is facilitated by practices such as Bible studies, group talks, mentorship, and pilgrimages, which help individuals develop their relationship with God and others.
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It involves a great love for Jesus Christ
The interior life, in a Catholic context, refers to what is going on within one's soul, as opposed to the exterior life, which is everything observable from the outside. The interior life is the life of the fullest, in which we have a relationship most intimately with God.
The interior life involves a great love for Jesus Christ. Father Lallemant says that during "the whole course of our spiritual lives", we "must devote ourselves more and more to the knowledge and love of our Lord without which we can never attain to any solid spirituality." This involves entering the "Heart of Jesus" by "recollection to contemplate the Word Himself and His Most Sacred Humanity." Meditating on the mysteries of Jesus' life is highly conducive to this purpose. Making acts of virtue with the interior intention of imitating Jesus nurtures the growth of our spiritual life and our love for Jesus.
The interior life is under attack because life is so full of distractions and entertainment, but also because many skeptics say that the interior life is nothing but an illusion. However, this idea of an interior life is not unique to Christianity. The idea of "life" is present in the biblical distinction between two Greek terms for life: bios (biological life) and zoe (divine, supernatural life). In Catholic theology, this divine life grows through constant communication with God and the reception of the sacraments.
The interior life is also about progressing toward holiness. We are all called to holiness, and it would be sad not to progress toward this vocation in the wisest and most prudent way possible. The interior life is about seeking God in everything and substituting egoism with the love of God. It is about contemplating and acting, and it is a path that has been well-tested and well-travelled.
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Frequently asked questions
The interior life is the life of the soul with God, the intimate conversation one has within oneself throughout life. It is the opposite of exterior life, which is everything observable from the outside.
Bios refers to biological life, while zoe refers to divine, supernatural life.
The pillars of the interior life are a deep prayer life, profound purity of conscience, great contempt for self, and great love for Jesus Christ.
The stages of the interior life are the purgative, illuminative, and unitive states.
Evangelization is a result of one's inner life of union with God.
