[annalex]

Since his attitude to life was determined at its very roots by this fear, Luther was radically subjectivist. That is to say, he was naturally inclined to take into the tension of his own subjective consciousness all objective truths and values presented to him from without, and only then to evaluate their importance and significance. If any truth or value could not be thus assimilated to the thoughts already in the depths of his fearful soul, he had no great interest in it.

This is a good description of the impoverished state of modern man in general. We only learn what we are predisposed to understand. No wonder contemplative life is virtually unheard of.

[jo kus]

No wonder contemplative life is virtually unheard of.

What is particularly scary is that theologians such as St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John of the Cross, and many others considered the gift of contemplation to be an "ordinary" gift of grace accessible to anyone properly disposed.

Hard to be "silent" and contemplative in this day and age.

Regards