Is leisure merely a ‘battery-charger’ for our productive hours, or is leisure a good pursued for its own sake?
Generally speaking, the “work, work, work” mentality - that utilitarian assumption of modernity - is to be strenuously resisted. Ought one feel guilty about taking time out to rest? Certainly not.
Considering leisure and work from the perspective of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Doctrine, what does the Book of Genesis have to teach us? Does it not curse humanity to toil and work, even by the sweat of their brow? Is work, therefore, something always evil? Again, certainly not - in fact Adam was entrusted with work before the fall - a ‘liturgical work’. Such was Adam’s commission “to till and keep it [the Garden], which has liturgical connotations. The worship of God, the liturgy, thus serves as an exemplar for other kinds of work
This liturgical exemplar of work opens up to considering leisure, not as the absence of activity - but as recreative activity. Just as in heaven, that place of pure leisure, of pure ‘sabbath’, we shall enjoy God for all eternity through activity: knowing and loving God face to face, so too on earth, it seems that those activities which most deeply recreate us, must bear some connection to God Who alone can create in that strict sense, and thus re-create. This is not to make leisure a univocal uniformity amongst all people, as it what recreates one person must recreate another to the same degree, and as if there were no room for differences of temperament and habit (although worship at Mass is the highest form of leisure, ‘Sabbath rest’) - nevertheless it is to re-focus our attention on the true meaning and purpose of leisure. And so yes, leisure is certainly a good pursued for its own sake.
The text above is from the current issue of the free- sheet The Key. On the cover page is written: 'Irish Dominican Friars, Spring 2026.'
Part of the reason St Dominic founded the Dominican Order over 800 years ago was to speak in a language that would be understood by the people, in other words to make the story and mystery of God available to people.
It’s easy to criticise. Is it helpful to criticise? Is it appropriate or responsible to criticise ‘your own’ people?
Is it right to be negative about anyone who is trying to spread the Good News?
But this text above sounds to this reader and the many people who read it over the last number of days, ‘gobbledegook'. What meaning would this have to those who are alienated from the church, what meaning has it for the vast majority of young people? From the small survey this blog carried out during last week, it has zilch meaning or relevance to those who read it.
What in fact is the text saying?
On The Holy Cross Dominicans Tralee Facebook page is written the following: ‘The Key’ is a wonderful new publication by the Irish Dominicans intended to support the journey of formation......’
If you AI the full text it is interesting what it does with it and what it has to say about it. The word ‘scholastic' keeps recurring.
For whom is The Key targeted?
The world and its mother knows we all need recreation, we all know frenetic work is bad for us.
As a child and young person I often heard people saying about the priest’s sermon: 'he’s an intelligent and holy man but I did not understand a word he said'. As I grew older I realised just as well no one understood what he was saying.
The words pomposity and arrogance come to mind.
Is it any wonder Jennifer O’Connell could write her piece in The Irish Times yesterday. It’s an unpleasant read, not helpful, maybe close to being nasty.
Who is the editor of The Key, is there an editorial board? Why not print these details on the publication? But it does give the name of the designer, printer and the publisher, but is the publisher a bona fide publishing company?
Google says: Key Publishing is a magazine publishing company specialising in aviation titles, based in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England.
No comments:
Post a Comment