The Center for contemplative practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Month: April 2019
THE POWER OF DISCERNMENT
As I approached the Lay Cistercians of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery (Trappist) with my petition and desire to be one of them, several professed members told me that our class of applicants would have to go through a period of discernment… Continue Reading “THE POWER OF DISCERNMENT”
GROWING DEEPER IN FAITH
If Lent is a time of cultivating the ground of our spirituality, to include watering our Faith with the renewal of our Baptismal covenant with God and our commitment to sustain our Faith, then Easter is the the product of God’s grace in us.… Continue Reading “GROWING DEEPER IN FAITH”
EXSULTET JAM ANGELICA, TURBA COELORUM…
You may not have heard of this Gregorian Chant melody. It is the Pascal Story, the WHY of why the Resurrection of Christ is at the center of our Faith. Easter is a time when we get to affirm that Resurrection Enigma (see my… Continue Reading “EXSULTET JAM ANGELICA, TURBA COELORUM…”
THE RESURRECTION ENIGMA
Blessed Easter. What follows is an excerpt from my newest publication, The Resurrection Enigma: A Lay Cistercian reflects on five consequences the Resurrection of Christ has for living Forever. St. Paul, as you will read, states that, if the Resurrection is false, our Faith… Continue Reading “THE RESURRECTION ENIGMA”
CHAPTER 4: To make peace with one’s adversaries before the Sun sets.
Chapter 4 – The Tools of Good Works 1. In the first place, to love the Lord God with the whole heart, the whole soul, the whole strength.2. Then, one’s neighbor as oneself.3. Then not to murder.4. Not to commit adultery.5. Not to steal.6.… Continue Reading “CHAPTER 4: To make peace with one’s adversaries before the Sun sets.”
SEVEN WAYS OF DIVINE LOVE
In wandering in the vast hinterlands of the Internet, I came upon writings of a Cistercian Beatrice of Nazareth, that I would like to share with you. This is not my material, having copied it from another website. I thought it compelling enough to… Continue Reading “SEVEN WAYS OF DIVINE LOVE”
A SIGN OF CONTRADICTION
The message of Christ does not make sense. Scripture says that it is folly to the Gentiles and a stumbling block to the Jews. That is another way of saying you won’t “get” what Christ is saying unless you use the Rule of Opposites.… Continue Reading “A SIGN OF CONTRADICTION”
REACHING PERFECTION
I have always had a problem with spirituality until very recently. In the last six years, since I began my discernment as a Lay Cistercian (which I am still doing) into what it means to transform myself from my false self to a new… Continue Reading “REACHING PERFECTION”
SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS
One of the things I have noticed about myself as I try to fulfill the promises I made as a Professed Lay Cistercian, namely to do have in me the mind of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5) by praying a daily Lectio Divina, daily Eucharist,… Continue Reading “SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS”
CHAPTER 4: A Great Horror of Hell
Each age looks at the principles Christ taught us using the prevalent, collective thinking of the World. Reflecting on Hell is one of those things I don’t like to do but am compelled to do as my Lectio Divina during Lent and whenever I… Continue Reading “CHAPTER 4: A Great Horror of Hell”
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