Finding Harmony and Balance : The Significance of Exterior Order for Interior Tranquility According to Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas emphasizes that the external environment and our actions have a significant impact on our inner disposition and spiritual well-being. This stressing the importance of cultivating harmony and order in our external surroundings to foster a balanced and virtuous inner life.
Physical Manifestation of Interior State: Aquinas recognized that our external actions and surroundings often reflect our internal state. Disorderly surroundings can lead to distractions, making it difficult to focus on matters of the soul. Conversely, an organized and well-maintained environment can provide a conducive atmosphere for contemplation and spiritual growth.
Virtue and Habit Formation: Aquinas believed that practicing virtue is essential for spiritual development. Engaging in orderly and virtuous actions in our daily lives helps form habits that shape our character. When we maintain external orderliness, we are more likely to cultivate habits of discipline, self-control, and patience—virtues that contribute to inner harmony.
Aid to Prayer and Contemplation: A cluttered and chaotic environment can impede our ability to engage in prayer and contemplation. Aquinas advocated for creating a tranquil and peaceful space where one can commune with God. An organized environment can help reduce distractions, enabling deeper moments of reflection and connection with the divine.
Holistic Well-being: Aquinas believed in the unity of the body and soul. Disorder and chaos in our external surroundings can lead to stress, anxiety, and restlessness, which in turn can disrupt our inner peace. By establishing external order, we contribute to our overall well-being, allowing us to better focus on our spiritual growth and relationship with God.
Sign of Interior Disposition: Aquinas saw external order as an indicator of one's inner disposition. Orderliness can reflect a mind and heart that are open to receiving God's grace and wisdom. On the other hand, disorder may suggest inner turmoil or neglect of spiritual well-being.
Moral and Social Impact: Aquinas believed that external orderliness extends beyond individual well-being. Living in an orderly and virtuous manner contributes to the common good of society. When individuals practice virtue and maintain external order, they positively influence those around them and contribute to a more harmonious community.
All in all, St. Thomas Aquinas highlighted the profound connection between exterior order and interior order. He understood that our external actions and surroundings play a vital role in shaping our inner disposition and spiritual journey. By cultivating orderliness and virtue in our external lives, we create an environment conducive to deeper reflection, prayer, and connection with the divine. This whole approach to order contributes not only to individual well-being but also to the betterment of society.
