The Center for Contemplative Practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Month: March 2023
YOUR CHURCH HISTORY HERITAGE: The insights of Eusebius
Here is an early church writer before there was a bible as we know it. I offer you what I myself read and you can make your own conclusions. Church History (Book I) Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full… Continue Reading “YOUR CHURCH HISTORY HERITAGE: The insights of Eusebius”
THE INDEFATIGABLE NATURE OF TRUTH
My current preoccupation in my Lectio Divina is on the nature of truth. Having sat on a couch with Christ next to me, my thoughts seem to drift towards very esoteric thinking no one wants to hear or read. It is the nature of… Continue Reading “THE INDEFATIGABLE NATURE OF TRUTH”
THE KEY TO EVERLASTING JEOPARDY
If you are facing the Gates of the Kingdom of Heaven and Michael and Alex Trebek are there, one with a flaming sword to keep out those that don’t belong, what would be the one question asked and what is the correct answer? The… Continue Reading “THE KEY TO EVERLASTING JEOPARDY”
MENTAL GYRATIONS ON WHY WE CANNOT PROVE GOD’S EXISTENCE
When watching the latest movie the film, Wednesday, I had this feeling of wondering why I am filling time watching some bizarre series of stories about Ghouls and Goblins, other than I really like it. Is there more to life? Of course, I told… Continue Reading “MENTAL GYRATIONS ON WHY WE CANNOT PROVE GOD’S EXISTENCE”
FALLACIES THAT TERRIFY ME
I like to watch the odd movie that comes out of the myriad of flicks produced these days. The Harry Potter movies are ones that I enjoy, not because I espouse witchcraft at all, but because it has a remarkable insight into good and… Continue Reading “FALLACIES THAT TERRIFY ME”
CONTEMPLATION IS THE CONCENTRATED ORANGE JUICE TO WHICH YOU MUST ADD THE WATER OF YOUR LIFE TO BE ABLE TO DRINK IT PROPERLY
Heavy title, don’t you think, with an even heavier implication for contemplative practice? Here are some rapid responses to the question of absolute truth (only found in the divine nature). They are linked together unless I get a senior moment and go off the… Continue Reading “CONTEMPLATION IS THE CONCENTRATED ORANGE JUICE TO WHICH YOU MUST ADD THE WATER OF YOUR LIFE TO BE ABLE TO DRINK IT PROPERLY”
NEW IDEAS IN NEW SKINS: Twenty things I no longer do as part of my religious regime.
My Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5) meditations take the form of looking at the totality of my life from the viewpoint of The Christ Principle. When I do that, old behaviors that I still practice, have not been excised (not exorcized, although I am an… Continue Reading “NEW IDEAS IN NEW SKINS: Twenty things I no longer do as part of my religious regime.”
YOUR CHURCH HISTORY: Eusebius, Book III
Church tradition is not looking back and guessing what people actually said, but rather looking forward and reading the primary sources. I offer this section from http://www.newadvent.org for your spiritual reading and edification without my comments. It has helped me. Church History (Book III)… Continue Reading “YOUR CHURCH HISTORY: Eusebius, Book III”
WHY NOT?
To find out what makes humans fulfill their humanity as nature intended, I focused my Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5) on nature, as in animal nature, human nature, and divine nature. These are my assumptions as I move forward and ask the following questions. Is… Continue Reading “WHY NOT?”
THAT’S THE HELL OF IT: Improbable thoughts about an illusive topic
Perhaps it is due to what I drink in the water, but I have had an inordinate number of short, intense bursts of insights into Hell. Rather than psychoanalyze them ad nausea, I just offer them here. All of my Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5)… Continue Reading “THAT’S THE HELL OF IT: Improbable thoughts about an illusive topic”
THAT’S THE HELL OF IT
Hell is one of those elephant-in-the-room topics that humans would rather not discuss. It is easier to dismiss Hell than Faith, although humans know sparsely little of both. Here are my thoughts, limited as they are, about why there is a hell as the… Continue Reading “THAT’S THE HELL OF IT”
FIVE GIFTS THE HOLY SPIRIT GAVE ME AT BAPTISM
When I was baptized on September 29, 1940, I became an adopted son(daughter) of the Father. Naturally, I did not know what was happening, but, consistent with my human nature, I received seven gifts from the Holy Spirit, gifts I still use to this… Continue Reading “FIVE GIFTS THE HOLY SPIRIT GAVE ME AT BAPTISM”
CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES OF A BROKEN-DOWN, OLD LAY CISTERCIAN
Growing old has its own set of peculiarities that seem to infiltrate my Lay Cistercian Way. Here are some observations from an old, temple of the Holy Spirit.
LENTEN READING: Sirach
Sirach Pagination 1Do not be a foe instead of a friend. A bad name, disgrace, and dishonor you will inherit. Thus the wicked, the double-tongued!* Unruly Passions 2Do not fall into the grip of your passion,a lest like fire it consume your strength. 3It… Continue Reading “LENTEN READING: Sirach”
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