The daily rosary, the Angelus and other Marian devotions are also encouraged. Vatican II declared Mary to be the Mother of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. As such, she is also our mother. Our ideal is the right balance between the two so that we lead a true vita mixta , that is, a life divided between contemplation and action so that we nourish our spiritual lives with prayer and contemplation and then pass on the fruits of our contemplation to those to whom we minister, including within the community. As clerics, we do not seek only our own sanctification, but also that of the people whom we serve, including each other.
Most communities emphasize one aspect over the other.
Some communities tend to be very active and apostolic while keeping the contemplative aspect to a minimum. It is for each community to find its own balance, but no individual or community can long survive if it is not nourished by an active life of prayer and spirituality. Each of us individually as well as each community needs to be replenished spiritually through days of recollection, spiritual retreats and private prayer as well as common prayer. The time we spend with the Lord is never wasted. Conclusion Finally, although the reality of religious life is quite different in the Western World and in India, one thing remains the same.