Dear Catherine,

St Paul tells us to seek the higher gifts, and the highest of all is love. Indeed, it is the only gift that matters as he explains - even faith that moves mountains is empty without love (1 Cor 13). To focus only on Christ, like Mary at his feet contemplating him and absorbing his words, is a pure and beautiful expression of love. Christ calls it "the better part".

For some people an increase in contemplation is compatible with some of the external forms of devotion and particular gifts associated with the Charismatic Renewal, while God may call others to leave these aside (for example if you discover a vocation to a religious order whose spirituality does not have those elements). This is not rejecting the Holy Spirit, quite the contrary, you are going to have to be closer than ever to him because he himself is love and without him you cannot love, you cannot be a contemplative.