The Center for Contemplative Practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Month: September 2022
MAGISTER NOSTER PART I: TEN LESSONS JESUS GIVES YOUNG CHRISTIANS TO FOCUS ON HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN
I. The -s-s-s-serpent s-s-s-seduces the Innocents when you least expect it. You won’t even see it coming. Be on guard. TIP: Be careful what you place at your center; this is your God. Be on guard, for Satan is like a “roaring lion seeking… Continue Reading “MAGISTER NOSTER PART I: TEN LESSONS JESUS GIVES YOUNG CHRISTIANS TO FOCUS ON HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN”
THE WONDER I FEEL IN THE PRESENCE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Sometimes words fail to capture what is real about how I feel. Here are some expressions of love for Christ through the Holy Spirit. I am nothing in the presence of the nothingness of God.
FOUR LEVELS OF CHURCH: Keep my commands
Disclaimer: What follows is not authorized by Cistercians, Lay Cistercians, or Roman Catholic Church but is solely the opinion of a broken-down, old temple of the Holy Spirit. During one of my Lectio Divina meditations (Phil 2:5), I asked what Christ did to ensure… Continue Reading “FOUR LEVELS OF CHURCH: Keep my commands”
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BE A LAY CISTERCIAN?
The world has seduced us into thinking that everything is measured by how much some things cost. I ran into a similar situation when I had the affrontery to suggest that science is a closed system. The words we use to describe what is… Continue Reading “HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BE A LAY CISTERCIAN?”
LECTIO DIVINA FRAGMENTS: Original Sin
When I apply my Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5), then sit back and wait, here is what I received. You judge its value for you. That was a big basket.
STAGES OF CONTEMPLATION
From a sermon by Saint Bernard, Abbot The stages of contemplation Let us take our stand on secure ground, leaning with all our strength on Christ, the most solid rock, according to the words: He set my feet on a rock and guided my… Continue Reading “STAGES OF CONTEMPLATION”
LECTIO DIVINA FRAGMENTS: What will heaven be like?
Being nearly 82 years of age, the one thought that keeps popping up in my Lectio Divina meditations is unlikely. If I die, where will I go? What will it be like? If my focus is to be more like Christ and less like… Continue Reading “LECTIO DIVINA FRAGMENTS: What will heaven be like?”
TOP TEN FAVORITE: Photos
In keeping with my Top Ten Favorites theme, here are my top ten photos with a twist. They are the focus of contemplation in various Lectio Divina (Phil 2:5) sessions I have used. Photos add richness and a touch of realism to my Lectio… Continue Reading “TOP TEN FAVORITE: Photos”
THE THREE LANGUAGES I USE TO SIT NEXT TO GOD AND THRIVE
To solve the Divine Equation correctly, I must use the correct language. This language does not come from human nature because the questions and their correct answers originate from pure knowledge (beyond our pay grade). To solve anything about God, we must use the… Continue Reading “THE THREE LANGUAGES I USE TO SIT NEXT TO GOD AND THRIVE”
RESOURCES THAT HELP LIFT MY MIND AND HEART TO GOD
Q & A Question: Do I need contemplative prayer to be a practicing Catholic? Answer. Catholics have a rich heritage of prayer, dating back to Apostolic times. As you read from the section on contemplative prayer, prayer means a way we communicate with the… Continue Reading “RESOURCES THAT HELP LIFT MY MIND AND HEART TO GOD“
JESUS AND I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM: How does one communicate with God, who has divine nature?
It seems that the most complex problems always have the most straightforward answers. Actually, God and I do not have precisely the same problem. Jesus had to learn how to communicate his mission as the ransom for many humans. My problem is to try… Continue Reading “JESUS AND I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM: How does one communicate with God, who has divine nature?”
Lectio Divina Fragments: Three Principles emerging from The Divine Equation
If you have been following my meanderings, I write around a core of The Divine Equation in my Lectio Divina meditations on The Christ Principle. Mainly, I just listen to what is said and try to keep my mental mind open. It doesn’t always… Continue Reading “Lectio Divina Fragments: Three Principles emerging from The Divine Equation”
THE CHRIST PRINCIPLE TEMPLATE
I use a template to create the exact product each time I make it. This could be a furniture template to turn out lamps that look exactly alike. I thought about the notion of a template when I thought of the Christ Principle, one… Continue Reading “THE CHRIST PRINCIPLE TEMPLATE”
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