The Center for contemplative practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Category: contemplative prayer
DON’T BE AFRAID
Several years ago, I was part of a discussion at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit (Trappist) centered around humility. St. Benedict has twelve steps to achieve humility which is Chapter 7 of his Rule. Humility does not come automatically. Like… Continue Reading “DON’T BE AFRAID”
THE SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENTS
While trolling through the various YouTube streamings on my television, I came upon some topics that I would like to comment upon in terms of what I consider a dangerous temptation for those whose faith is not grounded in Christ Jesus. It is difficult… Continue Reading “THE SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENTS”
MAGISTER NOSTER: With God, there is always a profound dimension.
Reading becomes so familiar and casual that we sometimes don’t reflect on the deeper meaning contained in words. The Sacred Scriptures, early writings of the Church Fathers, and subsequent Cistercian writers, such as the late Dom Andre Louf, O.C.S.O., are not just to be… Continue Reading “MAGISTER NOSTER: With God, there is always a profound dimension.”
INTELLIGENT PROGRESSION: Cosmic integration of all reality
My most recent Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5) this very morning makes absolutely no sense, in terms of the core theme: “…have in you the mind of Christ Jesus.” How do you go from that core theme to a series of thoughts about “the devolution… Continue Reading “INTELLIGENT PROGRESSION: Cosmic integration of all reality”
LOOKING DEEPER INTO MEANING: Jesus as Redeemer
I have wondered what it means for Jesus to be my Savior, My Redeemer Lives. There are a couple of ways to grow deeper with this phrase as Lectio Divina. I share with you what I did to move to a deeper level of… Continue Reading “LOOKING DEEPER INTO MEANING: Jesus as Redeemer”
SPIRITUAL READING: Sayings of the Desert Fathers
I offer you what I use as spiritual reading. Remember, reading Sacred Scripture is the deepest part because you become what you read. With these readings and all spiritual readings, you gain wisdom and perspective. Both are necessary, but one is essential. These readings… Continue Reading “SPIRITUAL READING: Sayings of the Desert Fathers”
COSMIC INTELLIGENT PROGRESSION
I have adopted the model of a cosmic universe from the Jesuit Paleontologist Henri Pierre Teilhard de Chardin as how I look at intelligent progression on a cosmic scale. I offer you his URL and some quotes from AZ Quotes. “We are not human… Continue Reading “COSMIC INTELLIGENT PROGRESSION”
WHAT IS TRUTH?
As one who can only aspire to be a Lay Cistercian, my purpose is to seek God by moving from self to God. That word, moving, is actually key to my attempts. Here are some of my reflections on moving from self to God.… Continue Reading “WHAT IS TRUTH?”
DOCTOR MELLIFLUUS
Here is a reading from the http://www.newadvent.org website in the top right-hand corner under the category of Library. It is a treasure trove of source materials for those wanting to delve deeper into contemplation. Doctor Mellifluus His Holiness Pope Pius XIIEncyclical on St. Bernard… Continue Reading “DOCTOR MELLIFLUUS”
WHAT IS CONTEMPLATION ACCORDING TO ST. BERNARD
Contemplation is not a word exclusive to Benedictine, Carthusian, and Cistercian monks. Other religions practice it. My emphasis will be limited to what I know about Cistercian, and even more selectively, Lay Cistercian contemplation. I always like to offer you the same resources I… Continue Reading “WHAT IS CONTEMPLATION ACCORDING TO ST. BERNARD”
NEW SKINS FOR NEW WINE: The Lay Cistercian commitment to seek God every day.
The Lay Cistercian Way is more about how the individual Lay Cistercian crafts what it means to take Cistercian spirituality as they know it and live it out each day, simply seeking God in whatever happens. For me, that means doing the Lay Cistercian… Continue Reading “NEW SKINS FOR NEW WINE: The Lay Cistercian commitment to seek God every day.”
LAY CISTERCIAN PRACTICES: The transforming power of Sacred Scripture.
I am not the person I once was, not just because my cells regenerated, but because my spirit reconstituted itself due to the power of Sacred Scripture. I read and then tried to penetrate the Word’s purpose with the Holy Spirit’s aid. (John 20:… Continue Reading “LAY CISTERCIAN PRACTICES: The transforming power of Sacred Scripture.”
TOM O’BEDLAM READS….
I offer you some of the YouTube readings on my favorite topics as read by Tom O’ Bedlam. I do so without commentary.
I WONDER…: THE SCHIZOPHRENIC CATHOLIC
I wonder if there is such a thing as a schizophrenic in religion, such as a person that has two personalities and exists in two sets of behaviors within that personality type. I do not refer to the duality that exists when Baptism makes… Continue Reading “I WONDER…: THE SCHIZOPHRENIC CATHOLIC”
FIVE MINDSETS THAT HAVE HELPED ME SEE WHAT CAN’T BE SEEN WITH EYES ALONE
Assumptions are those ways of thinking that are the foundation of why we believe what we do. When an atheist says “There is no god,” it is because of the assumptions that they hold. It is the god that they assume NOT to be… Continue Reading “FIVE MINDSETS THAT HAVE HELPED ME SEE WHAT CAN’T BE SEEN WITH EYES ALONE”
WHERE ARE THOSE OLD WEDDING PICTURES, NOW?
Anniversaries are part and fabric of what it means to be human. Mine are no different, and I mark them (celebration is a bit too over the top for me) each year with the sober realization that I am now one year closer to… Continue Reading “WHERE ARE THOSE OLD WEDDING PICTURES, NOW?”
FIVE HABITS EVERY LAY CISTERCIAN SHOULD TRY TO UNCOVER
In keeping with my daily theme of digging deeper into reality using Lay Cistercian practices and charisms, I noticed that there are levels of habits available to me, depending on how deep I go in my capacitas dei and conversio morae (growing more in… Continue Reading “FIVE HABITS EVERY LAY CISTERCIAN SHOULD TRY TO UNCOVER”
EXPANDING YOUR FAITH: Angels
I have selected this section on angels from http://www.newadvent.org for your reading. I do not provide comment. I would encourage you to sign up for New Advent as a site to use frequently. Angels Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the… Continue Reading “EXPANDING YOUR FAITH: Angels”
LISTENING TO THE HEARTBEAT OF CHRIST
For all the theologies and descriptions of the Scriptures, it can all be reduced to the simplicity of me, sitting in the back bench of the Church, eyes lowered (custos occuli), repeating over and over the prayer of penitence, “Jesus, Son of David, have… Continue Reading “LISTENING TO THE HEARTBEAT OF CHRIST”
THE TERRIFYING POWER OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
It seems that when introducing humans to God in evermore intense encounters, there is always that admonition of “Don’t be afraid.” Human reasoning, and the ability to authentically choose what is good for them, seems to have presented itself to selected humans by God… Continue Reading “THE TERRIFYING POWER OF THE TRANSFIGURATION”
THE WAY: Four Inscrutibles
In this series of blogs on Chapter 14 of John’s Gospel, I will share with you what I received from my Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5) meditations on the significance of THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. Each of these three elements of my… Continue Reading “THE WAY: Four Inscrutibles”
THE GOLDEN THREAD: Spiritual Kinship through The Christ Principle.
Jesus called those he loved and who loved him back as friends. Read this most eloquent of texts in their entirety, so you get the context. Note that Jesus calls us friends, in this passage. He has chosen us, we have not chosen Him.… Continue Reading “THE GOLDEN THREAD: Spiritual Kinship through The Christ Principle.”
THE IMPROBABLE POWER OF THE INCARNATION: The divine archetype.
You can’t make this stuff up, even in Hollywood. The Incarnation Moment is so beyond the ability of humans to put it out of that hat that is so improbable that such an event could occur within normal limits of human experiences. Where does… Continue Reading “THE IMPROBABLE POWER OF THE INCARNATION: The divine archetype.”
THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST: The hero comes home.
If you have not read the works of Joesph Campbell or Mircea Eliade, not only are you missing a big chunk of how to look at being human with a systematic approach to intelligent progression, but how the Ascension of Christ completes the classic… Continue Reading “THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST: The hero comes home.”
A LAY CISTERCIAN’S BEATITUDES
As a result of my Lection Divina, and having reflected on where I am in the process of believing in The Christ Principle, here are some Beatitudes that come to my mind. If you are a Catholic, practicing your faith may not always be… Continue Reading “A LAY CISTERCIAN’S BEATITUDES”
THE UNIMAGINABLE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION
This Easter Sunday, some will hunt Easter eggs, some will eat a wonderful Easter meal with their families, and some will disavow Easter altogether as a conspiracy of Jesus’ followers to justify his death by making up a fantasy story about rising from the… Continue Reading “THE UNIMAGINABLE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION”
WONDERFUL RESOURCES
And just when you thought the world was going to Hell… here are resources to give Hope. https://www.scotthahn.com/about-dr-hahn https://www.youtube.com/@word-on-fire
HERESY OF THE INDIVIDUAL: NEO-IDOLATRY
To be clear, this is not a heresy as defined by the Catholic Church, but rather one that I observe to be so insidiously pervasive in society that whole nations and their Judeo-Christian moral compasses have been recalibrated based on a new North. It… Continue Reading “HERESY OF THE INDIVIDUAL: NEO-IDOLATRY”
YOUR CHURCH: The Kingdom of Heaven on earth
What follows is inspirational reading about the notion of the Church. Your heritage has been won by the blood of the Lamb. Your own blood is the price you pay to die to yourself each day and reaffirm God’s will be done on earth… Continue Reading “YOUR CHURCH: The Kingdom of Heaven on earth”
SEEING JESUS
In this recent Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5), I asked myself, “How can I see Jesus daily?” Here are some thoughts. When I go to Church, I see Jesus: There are many more ways to see Jesus in Church, but I am running out of… Continue Reading “SEEING JESUS”
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