Designate and maintain a solitary place.
In considering "suitable places", we should consider also that places means far more than the physical places where we live and worship. From the fourth century, we have a document called the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolitus. In this document, which describes the initiation ceremonies of the Church in Rome, there is a list of professions that Christians are prohibited from holding: “If someone is a sculptor or a painter, let them be taught not to make idols. Either let them cease or let them be rejected. If someone is an actor or does shows in the theater, either he shall cease or he shall be rejected...” The list continues to include certain public officials, one who wants to become a soldier, astrologers, diviners and even includes an admonition that one who teaches children should cease. What this list tells us is not that it is immoral for a person to be a teacher, a solider, or to hold certain public offices, but that the Church recognized that there are certain professions and kinds of work that by their very nature, require one to do things that are indelibly opposed to the life of a Christian. One could not continue teaching children because in Rome, one would have been required to teach the virtues of the Roman gods and prepare children to burn incense and worship the Roman gods. To be an artist or sculptor would have required one to make images of the Roman idols. To become a soldier would have meant to have sworn loyalty to the emperor as a god and to consign one’s self to following orders that would surely have included the killing of innocents and other duties antithetical to Christ. Certain public offices also would have required one to enforce or even commit acts contradictory to their vows to Christ and his church. Similarly, today there are professions which may require one to act in unchristian ways, and push us in ways that contradict our chosen Way of Life.
If one is a county clerk which requires one to validate marriage certificates, it would be inherently impossible to both faithfully fulfill one’s responsibilities to the laws acknowledging same-sex marriage and to the Church’s teaching of marriage between a man and a woman. In a more obscure way, holding a position in advertising may require one to tempt others to buy things which they do not need, or are not a real benefit to their life; being a successful investment manager may push a person toward greed and the desire for increasing wealth; even teaching at a public school, depending on the particular school district, may require one to teach beliefs, values and a history that undermines the values of a Christian faith. That something is done because it is our job does not erase it’s effects on our soul and life outside of the workplace.
To accept places that are suitable and convenient does not refer only to physical places, but also means that we give attention to, and whenever possible, accept jobs and professions that are also suitable, convenient and encouraging of our Christian faith and chosen Way of Life. In addition to jobs and the various places we live and spend our time, we may also consider the people who we call friends and spend our time with, the hobbies that we enjoy, and truly every facet of our life. That we accept only those things which help us in this life in allegiance with Christ and reject those which lead us in a different way.
Above all, and most importantly, we must remember this: what is suitable and convenient does not mean what is good and comfortable to me. If I have given my life to Christ and to the service of God’s people, then what is suitable may be a job as a counselor for alcoholics, a cook at a restaurant, it may be to take the night shift at a warehouse in order to provide for my spouse and children, it may be to remain at a parish where the homilies are truly boring so that I become more attentive to the other aspects of Mass—for Mother Teresa, the life of convenience to her avowed life was to become homeless, live on the streets and begin teaching the children of the ghettos.
Whatever your service to Christ may be, the life of faith and in allegiance to him, accept all that is suitable and convenient to the observation of your faith and leads you on your chosen Way of Life.
To accept places that are suitable and convenient does not refer only to physical places, but also means that we give attention to, and whenever possible, accept jobs and professions that are also suitable, convenient and encouraging of our Christian faith and chosen Way of Life. In addition to jobs and the various places we live and spend our time, we may also consider the people who we call friends and spend our time with, the hobbies that we enjoy, and truly every facet of our life. That we accept only those things which help us in this life in allegiance with Christ and reject those which lead us in a different way.
Above all, and most importantly, we must remember this: what is suitable and convenient does not mean what is good and comfortable to me. If I have given my life to Christ and to the service of God’s people, then what is suitable may be a job as a counselor for alcoholics, a cook at a restaurant, it may be to take the night shift at a warehouse in order to provide for my spouse and children, it may be to remain at a parish where the homilies are truly boring so that I become more attentive to the other aspects of Mass—for Mother Teresa, the life of convenience to her avowed life was to become homeless, live on the streets and begin teaching the children of the ghettos.
Whatever your service to Christ may be, the life of faith and in allegiance to him, accept all that is suitable and convenient to the observation of your faith and leads you on your chosen Way of Life.
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