Return to wonder
‘I love to see the summer beaming forth
And white wool sack clouds sailing to the north.’
John Clare (1793-1864) ‘Sonnet’
In his first major document Magnifica humanitas (Magnificent humanity) addressed to the church and the world Pope Leo urged governments to slow down and closely regulate the development of AI systems whose unfettered growth threatens human rights and dignity and even humanity itself.
Hopefully during the summer months as many recharge their batteries and rest from a regular work routine those with power to respond positively will find time to meaningfully reflect on his words and allow themselves a gift unknown to AI – the gift of wonder.
True rest, as Pope St John Paul II reminded us, is not just an escape from work but a return to wonder. In a culture where what you do often seems more valued than who you are, summer still offers the possibility to engage in something countercultural: to rediscover holy leisure.
Leisure is the pause that lets us remember who we are before God, not just what we produce for the world. A slow rosary in the garden, an uninterrupted hour with a spiritual classic, an evening walk if it’s feasible to a nearby parish for Eucharistic Adoration.
These small acts of rebellion against the hustle and bustle of life restore our capacity to love. In a world that never stops scrolling, the most radical witness may be to stop – and let God fill the quiet.
If we are fortunate enough to have the freedom and the resources to take a break during the summer months we can really make the most of it by returning to wonder.
Wishing you a truly blessed and restful summer.
Paul Clayton-Lea
Editor
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