Merton’s Virginity

I wanted to make this post on Monday in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, but I’m a little late. I’ve slowly been making my way through Thomas Merton’s The Monastic Journey, which I have loved. The pages overflow with wisdom and his words on the monastic life speak directly to my spirit. I just read a passage about virginity of spirit. What a weird phrase. I know I’ve never heard anyone else say it, but I do like what Merton said about spiritual virginity, the peaceful soul moving with the breaths of the Holy Spirit within us. Here is a bit of Merton’s wisdom on virginity of spirit.

Spiritual virginity is not arrived at by violence or strain. The first step is the total acceptance of our self, our whole being, as God has willed us to be – the acceptance of all the parts of our being – body and soul, mind and instinct, emotions and wills, in order to give all to God in the harmony of a balanced and spiritualized personality.

The passion of my teenage years opened me up to the reality of God in the world and in my life. Through my twenties I have been learning the truth of who I am, who I was created to be. I have been trying to accept myself and let my spirit breathe. The words of John Elredge, Anne Lamott, and others who don’t know me, plus those who know me very well have encouraged me to seek the reality of me. Discovering and accepting my true self will be the greatest thing I ever do. Sometimes, like tonight, it is the most complicated task I will ever have before me.

One more Merton Quote:

In order to be perfectly what God wants us to be we must be truly ourselves. But in order to be truly ourselves we must find ourselves in Christ – which can only be done if we lose ourselves in Him. This is our great vocation.

Tags: Life, Spirituality