This article first appeared in Our Sunday Visitor magazine. Subscribe to receive the monthly magazine here.
In the spiritual masterpiece “Introduction to the Devout Life,” St. Francis de Sales recounts an anecdote from the monk Cassian about St. John the Evangelist. A hunter, happening upon the apostle in the woods, was shocked to see him wiling away his time, gently caressing a partridge perched upon his wrist. How could a man of such holiness spend his hours so frivolously? In response, St. John asked the hunter why he did not always keep his bow strung. The man explained that a constantly bent bow would lose its strength when truly needed. “Do not marvel then,” the Evangelist replied, “if I slacken my mental efforts from time to time, and recreate myself, in order to return more vigorously to contemplation.”
Hobbies, as a form of recreation, when embraced with moderation, are not a distraction from the spiritual life but a necessary aid to it. The challenge is to discern how much of our time can rightly be given to hobbies without losing sight of our true calling, which is holiness. This balance may have been easier to maintain in past centuries; the world today offers endless avenues for entertainment and leisure, making it all too easy to misplace our priorities. It is no wonder that so many of us try to forgo social media and streaming services during Lent. Leisure is important but can quickly dull our desire for holiness.
Making a proper discernment
Our relationship with food is a helpful analog to this question. St. Ignatius of Loyola, addressing a similar concern from his brothers in the Society of Jesus, advises that they should eat only what is necessary for the well-being of the body. In other words, food is not for indulgence, but for sustaining the body in its duties. Understood similarly, hobbies and recreation can rightly refresh the soul, providing a necessary salve to the rigors of our day. But they should not become an indulgence, something that becomes an obstacle or hindrance to spiritual maturity.
Truthfully, there is no satisfying answer to this question. Each person must make a proper discernment based on his or her own condition and circumstances. In fact, this is a perfect example of what it means to exercise a well-formed conscience. A child may want to play outside all day, with no regard for anything else; the parent, however, knows when that child needs to come in for rest or food. Similarly, we must learn to exercise the rational will and intellect the Lord has given us, guided by faith, in determining how much time can be devoted to hobbies. The key lies in moderation and ensuring that our recreation serves the greater good of our relationship with God — not as a distraction, but as a means to refresh our minds and hearts on God. Through discernment, we can learn to properly balance rest, prayer, recreation and work, all of which allow us to enjoy the gifts of this life in anticipation of the eternal goodness of heaven.
