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Holidays according to theologians
16 august 2024
Holidays According to Theologians
Theologians, although often focused on issues of faith, morality, and the relationship between humans and the divine, can offer interesting perspectives on the concept of holidays, particularly through the notions of rest, Sabbath, contemplation, and spiritual renewal. Indeed, holidays, beyond their physical and psychological dimensions, can be seen as an opportune moment for deeper reflection on the human condition, on man's place in the world, and on his relationship with the divine.
Saint Augustine:
For Saint Augustine, true rest is found in God. In his Confessions, he writes that "our heart is restless until it rests in you." This quote highlights the idea that true rest, the kind that brings lasting inner peace, can only be found in a relationship with God. Holidays, viewed from this perspective, could be seen as an opportunity to draw closer to God, to retreat from the world, and to find spiritual rest through meditation and prayer. Augustine emphasizes that all human activity, including rest, should be oriented towards God. Thus, holidays could be seen as a privileged period for renewing one's commitment to faith and for spiritual rejuvenation.
Saint Thomas Aquinas:
Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, speaks of leisure as necessary for virtue. He refers to Aristotle and argues that leisure is important for contemplation and for balancing active life. Aquinas sees leisure not merely as a time of relaxation, but as an opportunity to cultivate the contemplative life, essential for a virtuous existence. Holidays, according to him, are therefore a propitious time to distance oneself from worldly activities and focus on higher, spiritual realities. In Aquinas's view, holidays are not a time for idleness but for a form of leisure that nourishes the soul, enabling a balance between action and contemplation. In this, they are a necessary time for spiritual maturation.
Martin Luther:
For Luther, the concept of rest is intrinsically linked to the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of rest dedicated to God, where man ceases from work to focus on his relationship with the divine. Holidays could be seen in this light as an extension of the Sabbath, a longer period where one takes time for spiritual reflection, prayer, and for spiritual replenishment. Luther also emphasizes the importance of community in the practice of faith, suggesting that holidays could also be a time to strengthen community bonds and share faith with family or other believers.
John Calvin:
Calvin, like Luther, emphasized the importance of Sabbath rest, not only as a divine command but also as a means to better serve God. For Calvin, holidays can be seen as a time to renew one's physical and spiritual strength in order to return to one's duties with greater zeal and devotion. In this perspective, holidays are not just a moment of respite but a time of spiritual regeneration, where the individual can prepare to better fulfil their vocation.
Teresa of Avila:
Saint Teresa of Avila, a mystic and Carmelite reformer, spoke much about prayer and contemplation as means of drawing closer to God. For her, true "vocation" or rest is found in union with God. Holidays, in this perspective, could be considered an opportunity to retreat from the world to engage in deeper prayer and more intimate meditation, seeking communion with the divine. Teresa of Avila emphasizes the importance of interiority, of exploring the soul, and of personal relationship with God, making holidays a precious time to deepen these aspects of spiritual life.
John Paul II:
Pope John Paul II spoke extensively about the need for rest and the value of leisure time. In his encyclical Laborem Exercens, he highlights the importance of leisure time for the family, for personal development, and for spiritual growth. He encourages the faithful to use their holidays not only for physical rest but also for spiritual renewal, spending time in prayer, reflection, and communing with nature as God's creation. He sees rest as an opportunity to reconnect with family relationships and rediscover the beauty of divine creation, giving holidays a spiritual and educational dimension.
Hans Urs von Balthasar:
Swiss Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar emphasized beauty and contemplation in Christian life. For him, holidays could be a special time to contemplate the beauty of creation and to draw closer to God through this contemplation. He would view holidays as a time to rediscover the divine presence in the world and to marvel at creation.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
Bonhoeffer, a Protestant theologian who resisted Nazism, wrote about the notion of "community life" and the importance of living faith in community. Holidays, according to his vision, could be a time to strengthen family and community bonds, to practice Christian hospitality, and to live out an active faith, even in moments of rest and relaxation.
Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger):
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a renowned theologian, often spoke of the need to regain a balanced rhythm of life that includes time for prayer, contemplation, and rest. In several of his writings, he emphasizes the importance of liturgy and beauty in Christian life. For Benedict XVI, holidays could be a time to immerse oneself in the beauty of creation, to find rest in God, and to participate more fully in the liturgy, as a means of spiritual replenishment. He also insists on the importance of not disconnecting holidays from liturgical life, but rather using them to deepen participation in the sacraments and in community prayer.
These perspectives show that, for theologians, holidays are not simply a time for physical rest but also a potentially rich time of spiritual significance. It is a time when one can reconnect with God, deepen one's prayer life, and renew one's spirit to better live out one's faith in everyday life. By stepping back from daily activities, holidays offer a unique opportunity to rediscover the sacred dimension of rest and to transform this time into a true space for spiritual renewal.