The Center for contemplative practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Month: April 2021
THE JOSEPH FACTOR
In business, politics, and yes, even in religion, there are abrupt changes that occur, ones that alter the trajectory of history and completely overturn existing patterns of stability and routine. A new manager comes in and the organization stops to catch its breath as… Continue Reading “THE JOSEPH FACTOR”
CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE IN NINETY SECONDS
I can explain to you what I know about contemplative practice that comes from the Cistercian spirituality of the monks and nuns from the year c.1090 AD in ninety seconds. However, it takes more than a lifetime to know, love, and serve God using… Continue Reading “CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE IN NINETY SECONDS”
THE EFFECTS OF ORIGINAL SIN ON MY CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE
One of those lessons I have had to learn over and over is struggling against my human nature (the world) when I attempt to attain mastery over my struggles to be an adopted son of the Father. I wish is was not a struggle… Continue Reading “THE EFFECTS OF ORIGINAL SIN ON MY CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE”
HUMILITY: FEAR OF THE LORD
When I think of humility, I try to be humble about it. Realizing who I am in the sight of God reinforced my personal center, “Have in you the mind of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5). At the same time, I am so insignificant in… Continue Reading “HUMILITY: FEAR OF THE LORD”
PERUSING THE OBITUARIES
Old people do weird things. At least in my case, I like to look at the obituaries on my St. Meinrad Alumni website. http://www.saintmeinrad.edu It beats watching the plastic flowers grow in my office. This may be morbid, but I like to look up… Continue Reading “PERUSING THE OBITUARIES”
PERFECT UNION WITH GOD
During our Gathering Day for Lay Cistercians of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery (Trappist) last month, new Lay Cistercian novices were asked to profess their desire to enter the Novitiate while old novices were asked to make one year promises to be… Continue Reading “PERFECT UNION WITH GOD”
MOMENTS WITH ST. MICHAEL
THE BACKSTORY Although it has been over two years ago, I still remember it vividly as though it were yesterday. A group of us gathered together to say Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, Rosary, then then Eucharist at 9:00 a.m. We came together as… Continue Reading “MOMENTS WITH ST. MICHAEL”
THE ART OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE: Waiting
Maybe you do not, but I keep wondering why I have to continue my practice and practice of trying to love God each day with all my heart, with all my strength, and with all my mind, plus my neighbor as myself, and nothing… Continue Reading “THE ART OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE: Waiting”
TAKE TIME TO BE ONE SENTENCE
I may be making a grand assumption that you have read my blog on TAKE TIME TO READ TEN SENTENCES. I want to see if you can read ten sentences that may be life changing, then you might take time to read JUST ONE… Continue Reading “TAKE TIME TO BE ONE SENTENCE”
TAKE TIME TO READ TEN SENTENCES
One of my more reckless endeavors in Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5) is to say to the Holy Spirit “I am here, what is on your mind?” This has a risk associated with it because my the capacity and the capability for me to assimilate… Continue Reading “TAKE TIME TO READ TEN SENTENCES”
THE CHRIST PRINCIPLE: RESURRECTION MOMENT
May you experience the joy of Christ being raised from the dead as did the Apostles and followers on that moment in time that opened to our adoption as sons and daughters of the Father. Although this event happened or didn’t happen, if you… Continue Reading “THE CHRIST PRINCIPLE: RESURRECTION MOMENT”
CREEPING TOWARDS THE PAROUSIA
Three things we humans are conditioned to do because of Original Sin are: expect immediate results; become restless and anancy when we are not doing something, anything to fill up dead time; become compulsive about filling in the hole in our lives. I have… Continue Reading “CREEPING TOWARDS THE PAROUSIA”
THE LITANY OF REDEMPTION
On this Good Friday, my reflections wander through the great love Christ had for us to lay down his life for us, we who can’t even keep watch with him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Humans, wounded by Original Sin, are redeemed by God… Continue Reading “THE LITANY OF REDEMPTION”
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