The Center for Contemplative Practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Month: September 2020
ON THE ENDURING INFLUENCE OF AIDAN KAVANAUGH, O.S.B.
To a great extent, all of us are, in large part, the result of people we have bumped into during our solitary sojourn down whatever paths life has taken us. People and sometimes events have shaped who we have become and that process continues… Continue Reading “ON THE ENDURING INFLUENCE OF AIDAN KAVANAUGH, O.S.B.”
WHY IS THAT?
I have used the question WHY more in these last five years than in all of my previous time on earth. Why is that? Here are some of my reflections from my Lectio Divina meditations on the Mystery of Faith. Perhaps the WHY question… Continue Reading “WHY IS THAT?”
god’s hall of fame
Now that football has returned to the television, many commentators give very interesting breakdowns of the game so that neophytes like me can understand the intricacies of the strategy. Just playing the professional game is an accomplishment, but a few rise above this to… Continue Reading “god’s hall of fame”
TENACITY AND SINGLEMINDEDNESS
These two words are ones which I have never used together, but yet are quite logical when describing the events in the life of Father Vincent de Paul Merle, O.S.C.O., Trappist missionary to Nova Scotia in the early 1800s. You can read all about… Continue Reading “TENACITY AND SINGLEMINDEDNESS”
SILENCE AND SOLITUDE: iT MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU THINK
In one of my Lectio Divina meditations (Philippians 2:5), the thought presented itself to me that there was a certain depth of meaning which I heretofor had not noticed about silence and solitude. SILENCE – If I use my three universe template to look… Continue Reading “SILENCE AND SOLITUDE: iT MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU THINK”
MUSIC TO LISTEN TO WHEN SITTING ON A PARK BENCH IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER LONGING FOR CHRIST
I love music that elevates and transforms me from self to God. All music does not do that for me. I share what I have found that inspires my contemplative soul. Agnus Dei by Samuel Barber. One such piece is Samuel Barber’s Adagio for… Continue Reading “MUSIC TO LISTEN TO WHEN SITTING ON A PARK BENCH IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER LONGING FOR CHRIST”
What have you learned?
I am counting on God asking me two questions when I approach the Throne of the Lamb for my particular judgement. Matthew 25 gives all of us pause to stop and reflect on these questions. Here are my two: What did you learn? Notice… Continue Reading “What have you learned?”
vatican observatory
I read this article from the Vatican Observatory on all creation praising the Lord. I thought you might like it. https://www.vofoundation.org/blog/sun-moon-bless-lord-understanding-part-hymn-creation/
WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
There is nothing wrong with thinking about what is in it for me, when I do Cistercian practices and charisms. We humans have two characteristics that other animals don’t: we have the ability to reason and to act on that reasoning by choosing what… Continue Reading “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?”
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