"Faith offers us many spiritual gifts. One of the greatest of these gifts is a sense of perspective-an appreciation of the smallness of our span of life on earth, and the greatness of eternity that awaits. A contemplative life enables us to perceive our surroundings sub species aeternitatis-a perspective transcending petty demands or ephemeral desires. Saints like Francis of Assisi and Teresa of Lysieux exemplify this gift of stepping outside of time, outside of human plans, to apprehend in radical simplicity the timeless virtues of self-giving, service, and contemplation of the divine"--