Sep
28
Reading through Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations was quite different than any other reading we have done in Honors this semester in the respect that it was not written by a Christian author. In spite of this stark difference, it was a fascinating read. While it was quite repetitive and disorganized, it came across as a very authoritative text on the ideas and lifestyle of Stoicism.
What makes it so absolutely fascinating is the conflict in Marcus Aurelius’ reflections and reminders. His frustration is readily apparent to the reader and is born out rather plainly in every part of the work. One of the best examples is when he writes, “Are you ever going to achieve goodness? Ever going to be simple, whole, and naked, - as plain to see as the body that contains you? Ever be fulfilled, ever stop desiring…?” The whole work betrays a sense of failure – a sense that even Marcus Aurelius, who some claim to be the “philosopher king” which Plato called for, failed to live well according to his philosophy.
For me, the most striking line of the entire text was one of the shortest meditations in the work, but its profundity captivates me. He writes, “To stop talking about what the good man is like, and just be one.” Indeed, there have been numerous times I have I felt a similar frustration about Christian life. It is one thing to have life figured out; it is quite another to live it accordingly well. This led me to reflect on the primary difference between the expectations I place on myself as a Christian and Marcus Aurelius’ own personal expectations as a Stoic.
It was actually a very frightening comparison at first. As I began to realize how much alike my Thomistic Christian worldview was to Stoicism, and I began to grow more and more sympathetic to him. The difference, which I began to sense in our second class discussion was not clearly apparent to me until after further discussion with my friend and fellow classmate, Michael Kujan. The difference, among others (like his body-soul dualism), is primarily found in our understanding of the Logos. For Marcus Aurelius, the Logos, as the principle of Nature, pervaded everyone and everything. Similarly, according to Thomistic philosophy, everything that has being participates in God who is Being. However, unlike what one experiences in Stoicism, we are not part of the Logos by merit of our participation in being. Marcus Aurelius believed himself to be a part of the Logos because he was part of Nature, and therefore necessary to Nature. As Christians, we do not believe we are in any way necessary to God, but that our participation in Being is itself a privilege and that our final union with Being in eternity – the source of our salvation – comes from outside of us. This is not the case for Marcus Aurelius who comments, “I have it in me to keep my soul from evil, lust and all confusion” (p. 106, emphasis added), and who later more explicitly states, “Salvation: to see each thing for what it is – its nature and purpose.”
For Marcus Aurelius, salvation was entirely dependent upon his own cooperation with nature, a cooperation which he assumed he was entirely capable of achieving by himself. After this final observation, it is little wonder to me why he felt such frustration! As a Christian, I know that by myself, I am incapable of my own salvation– of attaining the way of perfection – and that admittance seems, to me at least, a crucial step on the way to becoming the “just man” which was always just beyond his reach.
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Dear John,
Here is a copy of an e-mail i just sent to you at the Westerly Catholic Library. I see you are at Franciscan University; good for you–God bless and I hope to hear from you:
I congratulate you on your project to create a Catholic library in Westerly , Rhode Island. This is truly wonderful!! I am a librarian (since 1973) and have been looking on the Internet for information on Catholic libraries. I came across your site and I am truly impressed that a young man your age would take on such a project!
I really feel that reading is a great means of evangelization in the Church. I converted to the Church in 1980 and two Catholic books had a great influence on me. Google, Facebook, and Twitter, etc have their place and the Church should have a presence there but reading has so much greater depth and is more reflective. There is nothing like it! I feel there is a need for more libraries like your own and even for a national Catholic lending library. I understand England and Ireland possess such a library. It would also be great if something could be set up to loan Catholic books by mail. Most public libraries have very little in the way of good Catholic books. Anyone who is serious about Catholic reading usually ends up purchasing the books.
Best wishes, John. May God truly bless you for your wonderful efforts and may Our Lady be always close to you. You should consider writing up an article about your project for your Diocesan newspaper and for a national Catholic magazine or newspaper. I will pray for you and hope to hear from you!
How are things at the library since you are in College?
Becky Harper
200 Quaker Hill Road
Warren, Pennsylvania 16365
beckyharper@westpa.net