Note: Word and Sacrament are the foundation of the Christian spiritual life. So say the Camaldolese and the Lutherans. Christianity is not a works righteousness religion. And, importantly, the spiritual disciplines are not works righteousness practices.

Quote:
“But who is this Jesus Christ? Our response to this question is the spiritual life, a life animated by the Spirit. Monastic life is ‘spiritual’ not because monks pray so much or perform asceticisms, but only because they seek the Father in Christ through the Holy Spirit. Therein lie the roots of monastic contemplation.” (p. 49)

and this “seeking God”? on p. 48 he explains that “It is Christ who draws near to us, who seeks us out and enters into our lives” (as on the road to Emmaus); that “We are not yet with him, but he is with us. … Only the grace of the Word and the gift of the eucharistic bread open our human eyes to the contemplation of the risen Lord.” So this isn’t us seeking Him before He seeks us.

Source: Barban, Alessandro. “Lectio Divina and Monastic Theology in Camaldolese Life” in Belisle, Peter-Damian, editor. The Privilege of Love: Camaldolese Benedictine Spirituality. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2002, pages 48-49.