The Center for contemplative practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Month: March 2019
Mr. McCarrick
As I sit here before the computer, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me in my search for God, a striking thought keeps infiltrating my consciousness. Earlier in the week, I had read an article in the “Tabloid” press about how the Vatican had… Continue Reading “Mr. McCarrick”
FORGIVE THOSE WHO HURT YOU
Several years ago, at Evansville, Indiana, a couple came up to me and told me that they were sorry but were changing their membership to another Religion because they observed the Church was too corrupt. I thanked them for their attendance and gave them… Continue Reading “FORGIVE THOSE WHO HURT YOU”
Eh?
It is a sure sign you are getting old when you must worry about getting cataract surgery and being tested for hearing aids. I had both of these done within the last two years. the last one (hearing test) done at the VA Clinic… Continue Reading “Eh?”
SIMPLICITY
Sometimes I can’t get to sleep or wake up at night and must use the bathroom then can’t get back to sleep. This is one of those nights. I always get enough rest, but sometimes nothing works, even Melatonin. My thoughts go to Lectio… Continue Reading “SIMPLICITY”
PROGRESS
I don’t remember it always being this way, but it seems we have developed a corporate mentality that says results are not good unless they are immediate. There is a time for everything. As Scriptures points out: Ecclesiastes 3 NRSVCE – Everything Has Its… Continue Reading “PROGRESS”
SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
I recommend that you consider asking someone to be your spiritual director. This should be a person of great integrity in things spiritual, especially as it pertains to the contemplative approach. One of the reasons that an outside person is helpful to give you… Continue Reading “SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR”
THE LIFE OF A HERMIT
Read about Sister Mary Beatrice Raphael, a hermit living on the grounds of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery, Conyers, Georgia. https://georgiabulletin.org/news/2014/10/devout-doctor-chooses-hermitage-focus-just-jesus/ That in all things, God be glorified. –St. Benedict
MAKING SENSE OF THE SACRED
I have discovered four questions that have caused me to sit up and take notice of the world around me. In my Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5) last week, I thought of how reality fits together, even if I don’t see any connection at the… Continue Reading “MAKING SENSE OF THE SACRED”
WAYS TO LOOK AT SIN
Lent is a time of penance and prayer, a time to examine your collective consciousness to see if you are on the right track or not. Lent is also a time to reflect on how you increase your capacity to love Christ by loving… Continue Reading “WAYS TO LOOK AT SIN”
FAST AND PRAY
Lent is a time of repentance for our sins of the past, plus asking God for the grace to be more focused on Christ for the future. Ashes are an ancient sign of repentance. Ash Wednesday is a time to remember, O Human, that… Continue Reading “FAST AND PRAY”
SIC TRANSEAT GLORIA MUNDI
What goes around comes around eventually. Consider this example. We are all born without our consent, alone, from darkness into the light of the world. We live our unique lives at birth confined to a crib and would not exist without the help of… Continue Reading “SIC TRANSEAT GLORIA MUNDI”
FIVE TIPS TO HELP WITH PRAYER
There are five things about prayer that I have learned from my time going to Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery (Trappist), Conyers, Georgia. Without editorializing too much, I offer them for your consideration for those times you find yourself approaching the Sacred… Continue Reading “FIVE TIPS TO HELP WITH PRAYER”
THE CONTEMPLATIVE APPROACH TO SPIRITUALITY
Some people have difficulty relating to a spirituality that is contemplative. Some people have difficulty comprehending the meaning of spiritual versus religion. Not all that is contemplative is Cistercian, but all that is Cistercian is most definitely contemplative. Here are some of my ideas… Continue Reading “THE CONTEMPLATIVE APPROACH TO SPIRITUALITY”
THE SIXTY SECOND CATHOLIC
Many people are afraid to recite the Liturgy of the Hours because they find it difficult to master. Like everything else in life, there is a learning curve. We don’t master something in one day. Our impatience sometimes causes us to avoid certain practices… Continue Reading “THE SIXTY SECOND CATHOLIC”
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