SPONSA RECIS - Volume 35 - Issue 5 - A Spiritual Review for Sisters

Sep 21, 2026

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A Spiritual Review for Sisters, Sponsa Regis Vol. 35 No. 5, presents reflective Catholic meditation on “The Fruitful Field” rooted in Christ’s parable of the sower. The text explains the Church as both the field that receives the seed and the faithful community that bears fruit, emphasizing that hearing and keeping God’s word are essential. It argues that contemplation is fundamental to Christian life and to the Church’s vitality, describing prayer as listening and interior enlightenment by the Holy Spirit through Scripture.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time1 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

The Fruitful Field

Behold, the sower went out to sow.

The Church as fruitful field and faithful flock

Contemplation as essential to the Church

Prayer as listening and interior enlightenment

SPONSA RECIS # HE WHO HEARSTHE WORD OF GOD BUILDS HIS HOUSEUPON ROCK. # SPONSA RECIS A SPIRITU AL REVIEW FOR SISTERS JANUARY 1964VOLUME 35NUMBER 5 The Fruitful Field 123PAUL HINNEBUSCH,O.P. The Holy Spirit 129ROBERT GUELLUY A Naked House,A Naked Moor 136BARBARA DENT Inner Suffering 142CONLETH OVERMAN,C.P. Poem 147 MARTIN A.MILLER Book Reviews 148 NIHIL OBSTAT:Reinold Theisen,O.S.B.,Censor deput.IMPRIMATUR:函Peter W.Bartholome,D.D.,Episc.Sancti Clodoaldi. Published monthly by monks of Saint John's Abbey,Collegeville,Minnesota.Rev.Ronald Roloff,O.S.B.,Editor;Rev.Myron Kasprick,O.S.B.,ManagingEditor;Rev.Raymond Roseliep,Poetry Editor.Advisory Board:Rev.KilianMcDonnell,O.S.B.,Sister Ritamary Bradley,C.H.M.,Sister M.Rose Emman-uella Brennan,S.N.J.M.,Sister M.Emmanuel Collins,O.S.F.,Mother MaryRobert Falls,O.S.U.,Sister M.Jean Frances Fiffe,O.P.,Sister M.JeremyHall,O.S.B.,Sister M.Jerome Keeler,O.S.B.,Sister M.Teresa Francis McDade, B.V.M.,Sister Mary Virginia Micka,C.S.J.,Sister M.Charles BorromeoMuckerhirn,C.S.C.,Sister Mary Emil Penet,I.H.M.,Sister Mary JamesWalsh,S.N.D.,Sister Annette Walters,C.S.J.,Mother Mary Florence Wolff,S.L.,Sister M.Francine Zeller,O.S.F. Address all correspondence except poetry to Sponsa Regis,Saint John's Abbey,Collegeville,Minnesota 56321 (Checks payable to Sponsa Regis.)Poetryshould be sent to Rev.Raymond Roseliep,Loras College,Dubuque,Iowa 52003.1 year $2.50;2 years $4.00;single copy 25 cents.Sterling area(exceptAustralia):1 year 18s;2 years 29s;single copy 1s 11d.Australia:1 year 23s;2 years 37s;single copy 2s 3d.Agent for India:Asian Trading Corporation,Post Box No.1505,Bombay-1.Indexed in the Catholic Periodical Index.Printed by Sentinel Publishing Company,413 East Saint Germain Street,Saint Cloud,Minnesota.Second class postage paid at Saint Cloud,Minnesota.(Do not send mail to this address.) ## The Fruitful Field "Behold,the sower went out to sow."In this parable,our Lorddescribes his Church as a fruitful field,alongside a road.Someparts of the field are rocky,with no depth of earth.Elsewhere inthe field there are patches of thorny weeds.But for the most part,the field is fruitful,bearing thirtyfold,sixtyfold,even a hundredfold. Meditation on this parable should help correct a certain modernthoughtlessness about the true nature of the Church.The Churchis not just a sower of seed;it is also the field which receives theseed and bears fruit.Too often people think of the Church onlyas the clergy,the hierarchy of rulers and teachers.“The Churchsays this,the Church commands that..."Our Lord's Church isnot just the hierarchy,not just preachers of the word,not justrulers of the flock—it is the flock.The Church is the people,organized,of course,under the rulers who bring them life fromGod.The Church is the gathering of the faithful,called togetherinto one flock by the word of God,to be nourished by that word,the bread from heaven.The official definition of the Church beginswith the words,"the congregation of the faithful."The Church isthe faithful,the believers—they who receive the word of Godfrom their leaders,and keep it. What good is a seed if it is not received into fruitful soil?All its life-giving power is in vain if it is not sown upon goodground.Where would the Church be if there were only preachers,no hearers?Where would the Word,the Son of God,be,if Maryhad not received him into her heart and kept him?He would stillbe where he was in the beginning,with God;but not made flesh,not dwelling among us.The hearers and keepers of the word aretherefore essential to the Church.Never should we minimize theChurch's duty of receiving the word of God. This function is essentially contemplative.The Church cannotlive without contemplation.The word of God,her living breadfrom heaven,is received most perfectly in contemplation.Or should we not say,rather,that it can be received only in contemplation?For there can be no assent of faith,and no new insight into thetruths of f

FAQs

What does the parable of the sower teach about the Church?

The parable describes the Church as a fruitful field. The Church receives the seed and also bears fruit, so it includes both those who offer the word and the faithful who hear and keep it.

Why does the text say contemplation is essential for the Church?

The text teaches that the Church cannot live without contemplation because God’s living word is received most perfectly in contemplative interior enlightenment by the Holy Spirit.

How does the review define prayer in relation to listening to God?

Prayer is presented as a conversation in which God begins and has the last word. It is a time of “coming to the light,” opening oneself to deeper enlightenment so Christ can manifest the Father within.

Sep 21, 2026

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