Month: February 2024

LISTENING FOR LENTEN TRANSFORMATION

What follows is a contemplative practice I am using this Lenten awareness. I try to answer three questions just by reading in the silence and solitude of the upper room of my inner self and listening with the ear of the heart. I share… Continue Reading “LISTENING FOR LENTEN TRANSFORMATION”

REFLECTIONS ON NEW WINE IN OLD SKINS I: New paradigms happen because of new assumptions.

In a much wider sense, the analogy of wineskins fits perfectly with what I consider a paradigm change that happens inexorably. The problem is, that we notice it and don’t learn from it, or we don’t learn it and continue to always do what… Continue Reading “REFLECTIONS ON NEW WINE IN OLD SKINS I: New paradigms happen because of new assumptions.”

YOUR CATHOLIC HERITAGE: Think deeper and grow exponentially.

What follows are some resources that have helped me appreciate the scope of the complexity and movement of the Catholic Church growing not only forward horizontally but deeper vertically. In my most recent Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5), I reflected on my Lay Cistercian vocation… Continue Reading “YOUR CATHOLIC HERITAGE: Think deeper and grow exponentially.”

THE POWER OF ONE WORD V: My one word Lectio Divina technique.

If Lectio Divina is the Lay Cistercian practice I use to place myself in the presence of Christ, then invoke the Holy Spirit to flood me with God’s energy, as I can assimilate it (capacitas dei), then the technique I use is one I… Continue Reading “THE POWER OF ONE WORD V: My one word Lectio Divina technique.”

THE ENIGMA OF THE EUCHARIST

A LENTEN ODYSSEY

Hell is one of those hot topics noone wants to handle. I thought I was immune to that thinking but the Holy Spirit has a way of making me humble, even when I shy away from confronting it. I was thinking of Lent and… Continue Reading “A LENTEN ODYSSEY”

THE SITUATIONAL CATHOLIC (or any other human)

This part of my Lectio Divina has to do with my usual core statement (Philippians 2:5), “Have in you the mind of Christ Jesus,” which I say repeatedly in the upper room of my inner self. This time my wheel of consciousness stopped at… Continue Reading “THE SITUATIONAL CATHOLIC (or any other human)”

HOW THE MAGISTER NOSTER HELPS ME GROW DEEPER IN MY HUMANITY: II.

An alternative title might have been, “Spiritual Weightlifting Exercises to increase stamina.” I do these three exercises from time to time and share them for what they are worth to you. They are worth “more than many sparrows” to me. I. STRENGTHEN YOUR SUSTAINABILITY… Continue Reading “HOW THE MAGISTER NOSTER HELPS ME GROW DEEPER IN MY HUMANITY: II.”

THE THREE MOST TERRIFYING WORDS OF SCRIPTURES.

Last night, or early this morning, my Lectio Divina was about the most terrifying words of Old or New Testaments. Words are important to humans for communicating. Words are not to be trifled with. As Aristotle says in his book of aZswqq, “Trifles are… Continue Reading “THE THREE MOST TERRIFYING WORDS OF SCRIPTURES.”

CONVERSIO MORAE: Growing from false self to true self

One of the most essential parts of my Lay Cistercian Way is growing (capacitas dei) and growing by doing penance to move from my false self to my true self as an adopted son (daughter) of the Father. It all sounds so theoretical. They… Continue Reading “CONVERSIO MORAE: Growing from false self to true self”

HOW THE MAGISTER NOSTER HELPS ME GROW DEEPER IN MY HUMANITY.

I challenge you to find out the answers to these questions. No trick questions or answers here. I used this methodology in my Lectio Divina to probe deeper into my faith. Most of my life. I just wanted someone to do the hard lifting… Continue Reading “HOW THE MAGISTER NOSTER HELPS ME GROW DEEPER IN MY HUMANITY.”

MORE BITS AND PIECES: Fragments from my basket of loaves and fishes.

As I read my scientific inquiry colleagues, science is the only permanent stability in a world of rationalism and opinions, as good as they might be. While theories and theorems are valid, they are only so until theoretical physicists discover new ones, which is… Continue Reading “MORE BITS AND PIECES: Fragments from my basket of loaves and fishes.”