The Center for contemplative practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Month: January 2018
PRAYER: KEEP IT SIMPLE
When I think about it, while dwelling on Philippians 2:5, one of the few things Christ told us to do was the admonition to love one another as He as loved us. How simple! How utterly profound. If I want to love God with… Continue Reading “PRAYER: KEEP IT SIMPLE”
ITSY BITSY PRAYERS
One of my favorite prayers is the ancient mantra, Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy on me. The important thing about short prayers is they are like drinking concentrated orange juice. They may be too compact and strong by themselves. They need the… Continue Reading “ITSY BITSY PRAYERS”
DID HUGH HEFNER GO TO HEAVEN?
Who determines who goes to Heaven? Is Hitler in Heaven? Is Hugh Hefner in Heaven? These are thoughts I had recently, when I did my Lectio Divina prayers and meditated on Philippians 2:5. Don’t ask me why I thought of Mr. Hefner. It just… Continue Reading “DID HUGH HEFNER GO TO HEAVEN?”
I TOOK INSTRUCTIONS TO BE AN ANGLICAN
It was not a particularly good time in my life in 2010. My application for laicization had been on hold for 18 years, since Pope Saint John Paul II decided not to grant priests dispensation. I felt like I still wanted to be useful… Continue Reading “I TOOK INSTRUCTIONS TO BE AN ANGLICAN”
HOW TO ORGANIZE AND FOCUS ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
MY SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR EACH DAY The following pages are samples of the horarium (hourly agenda) I use to organize my day as a Lay Cistercian. Everyone who practices the Cistercian practices and charisms, for those, not a monk or a nun, will have… Continue Reading “HOW TO ORGANIZE AND FOCUS ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST”
TEN CONTEMPLATIVE WEBSISTES THAT WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF
When I have my Lectio Divina prayer, I usually have follow up homework to do. The Holy Spirit leaves me so much material on my plate that I am full time trying to digest all the ideas the come from just being in the… Continue Reading “TEN CONTEMPLATIVE WEBSISTES THAT WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF”
THE ONE PLACE NO ONE WANTS TO GO
Whenever I read or listen to the Star Trek theme, “to boldly go where no one has gone before,” I always think of the one place where I don’t like to go– inside me. As a Lay Cistercian following the practices of Cistercian spirituality,… Continue Reading “THE ONE PLACE NO ONE WANTS TO GO”
THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT: CHAPTER 4, No. 20. To become a stranger to the world’s ways
This admonition of St. Benedict in his Chapter on the tools monks can do to move from self to God is one of my favorites. It gets to the ancient dialectic between the world and the spirit, as St. Paul frequently uses. Read Galatians… Continue Reading “THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT: CHAPTER 4, No. 20. To become a stranger to the world’s ways”
THE DARK SIDE OF LOVE
This is a topic which can be misleading, if not put into context. In my Lectio Divina a few weeks ago, Phil 2:5, I came across several thoughts that made me sit up straight and come to attention. I was thinking, if love is… Continue Reading “THE DARK SIDE OF LOVE”
HOW DOES IT ALL FIT TOGETHER?
In one of my more esoteric moments, or should I say what I think about after retirement, my thoughts go to how all reality fits together. My book on the Six Thresholds of Life (see the BOOK section of this blog) has, as threshold… Continue Reading “HOW DOES IT ALL FIT TOGETHER?”
RULE OF ST. BENEDICT: Chapter 4. Prefer nothing to the love of Christ
The following are thoughts from my most recent Lectio Divina on Phil 2:5. St. Benedict states to his monks in Chapter 4 that they should prefer nothing to the love of Christ. Here is the quote from Chapter 4 of the Rule of St.… Continue Reading “RULE OF ST. BENEDICT: Chapter 4. Prefer nothing to the love of Christ”
HOW TO START YOUR OWN CHURCH IN FIVE EASY STEPS
The following reflections come from my Lectio Divina meditations on Phil 2:5 and are solely my ideas. I am only a broken-down, old temple of the Holy Spirit, not a theologian, spiritual director for anyone, nor an expert in anything. I wondered what it… Continue Reading “HOW TO START YOUR OWN CHURCH IN FIVE EASY STEPS”
RULE OF ST. BENEDICT: Chapter 4–Instruments of Good Works #10 DENY YOURSELF
9. And not to do to another what one would not have done to oneself. 10. To deny oneself in order to follow Christ. 11. To chastise the body. 12. Not to become attached to pleasures. 13. To love fasting. 14. To relieve the… Continue Reading “RULE OF ST. BENEDICT: Chapter 4–Instruments of Good Works #10 DENY YOURSELF”
THE BOOK OF LIFE
I always had a problem remembering the names of those for whom I wanted to pray. I always remember my parents and grandparents and family members, but, as I grow older, and more names are added to my prayer list, I can’t remember all… Continue Reading “THE BOOK OF LIFE”
YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ!
“You are what you eat’? This phrase has come to us via quite a tortuous route. Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote, in Physiologie du Gout, ou Meditations de Gastronomie Transcendante, 1826: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/you-are-what-you-eat.html In conducting my Lectio Divina, I would like to think that I am what I read.… Continue Reading “YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ!”
PRAY AS YOU CAN
Brother Michael, OSCO, one of our Junior Instructors, gave us many wonderful insights into Lectio Divina, one of which was, “Pray as you can.” For a monk in a monastery, the setting helps him or her to focus on Christ without distraction with a… Continue Reading “PRAY AS YOU CAN”
ODDS AND ENDS
Here are some lectio divina ideas I have written down as a result of my contemplation of the Second Threshold of Spiritual Awareness, “What is the Center of My Life”. These are conversations I have had in the presence of God. My purpose in… Continue Reading “ODDS AND ENDS”
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?
FIRST IDEA: Why are there no churches named for the Apostles? The Old Testament had twelve tribes named for Joseph’s brothers. The early church was the continuation of the Old Testament, yet there are no local faith communities that bear their name. There is… Continue Reading “HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?”
EVER HEARD OF ORVILLE KAHL?
When I was growing up, the smartest man, as well as the most talented man I ever knew was Orville Kahl? Ever heard of him? It is doubtful you have, unless you are from Vincennes, Indiana and lived in the 1950-60’s. Orville was my… Continue Reading “EVER HEARD OF ORVILLE KAHL?”
The Center for contemplative practice 