THE CENTER FOR CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Category: Jesus
WHOSE CHURCH IS IT?
WHOSE CHURCH IS IT? The Church is the visible manifestation of God whom we cannot see. The Church, or gathering of believers, is the living Body of Christ on earth, but also those living in heaven, and also those awaiting purification. Many humans only… Continue Reading “WHOSE CHURCH IS IT?”
WAKING THE SPIRIT
As the saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.” Contemplation is all about the resignation of self to let the Holy Spirit overshadow you. In reality, the term, “waking the Spirit” is a misnomer, an attempt by human words… Continue Reading “WAKING THE SPIRIT”
poetry in the silence and stillness of winter
As I usually do each morning, and today is no exception, I sit down to my computer, recite my Lectio phrase to begin my practice of contemplation, “have in you the mind of Christ Jesus,” then wait. Whatever comes my way, I try to… Continue Reading “poetry in the silence and stillness of winter”
HOW TO PLAY IN GOD’S PLAYGROUND
HOW TO ORGANIZE AND FOCUS ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST SEEKING GOD EACH DAY IN ALL THAT COMES MY WAY The following pages are samples of the horarium (hourly agenda) and Internet sites that I use to organize my day as a Lay Cistercian.… Continue Reading “HOW TO PLAY IN GOD’S PLAYGROUND”
MONASTERY AND LAY CISTERCIAN PONDERINGS
I share with you what I have received via the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, Georgia, and also from the Lay Cistercians (with permission). Blessings on you this day. Remember, peace is not the absence of conflict but rather the… Continue Reading “MONASTERY AND LAY CISTERCIAN PONDERINGS”
WHICH POLITICAL PARTY DO YOU TRUST THE MOST?
Granted that both political parties are not beacons of truth and both tell their share of obfuscations, in this last week before elections, I am asking these pointed questions to find out where my mind and heart are. I do not presume to tell… Continue Reading “WHICH POLITICAL PARTY DO YOU TRUST THE MOST?”
YOU MUST SEE THIS WEBSITE
I share my joy with you about a website that I discovered by Father Luke Dysinger, O.S.B. with very rich contemporary subjects and also patristic and other primary sources. You can read the actual texts of the ecumenical councils, plus other great writers. Father… Continue Reading “YOU MUST SEE THIS WEBSITE”
make a virtual retreat at Our lady of the Holy spirit monastery
Think you are all alone and cut off from your Church as you ponder the inscrutable happenings of the COVID 19 virus? There are two ways to look at Church: one is a place where you go to pray, and the second one is… Continue Reading “make a virtual retreat at Our lady of the Holy spirit monastery”
THREE SOURCES OF INSPIRATION
In my quest to seek God daily wherever I am and however I am, my Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5) jangled my roots with the thought that I m sometimes caught up with the externals of Cistercian practices and charisms (making sure that I pray… Continue Reading “THREE SOURCES OF INSPIRATION”
ON THE ENDURING INFLUENCE OF AIDAN KAVANAUGH, O.S.B.
To a great extent, all of us are, in large part, the result of people we have bumped into during our solitary sojourn down whatever paths life has taken us. People and sometimes events have shaped who we have become and that process continues… Continue Reading “ON THE ENDURING INFLUENCE OF AIDAN KAVANAUGH, O.S.B.”
WHY IS THAT?
I have used the question WHY more in these last five years than in all of my previous time on earth. Why is that? Here are some of my reflections from my Lectio Divina meditations on the Mystery of Faith. Perhaps the WHY question… Continue Reading “WHY IS THAT?”
god’s hall of fame
Now that football has returned to the television, many commentators give very interesting breakdowns of the game so that neophytes like me can understand the intricacies of the strategy. Just playing the professional game is an accomplishment, but a few rise above this to… Continue Reading “god’s hall of fame”
anticipation
I like the idea of anticipation, meaning I look forward to something happening that has not yet arrived. I bring this up because my Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5) meditation today presented me with the notion of longing for the courts of the Lord. Rather… Continue Reading “anticipation”
SILENCE AND SOLITUDE: iT MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU THINK
In one of my Lectio Divina meditations (Philippians 2:5), the thought presented itself to me that there was a certain depth of meaning which I heretofor had not noticed about silence and solitude. SILENCE – If I use my three universe template to look… Continue Reading “SILENCE AND SOLITUDE: iT MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU THINK”
MUSIC TO LISTEN TO WHEN SITTING ON A PARK BENCH IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER LONGING FOR CHRIST
I love music that elevates and transforms me from self to God. All music does not do that for me. I share what I have found that inspires my contemplative soul. Agnus Dei by Samuel Barber. One such piece is Samuel Barber’s Adagio for… Continue Reading “MUSIC TO LISTEN TO WHEN SITTING ON A PARK BENCH IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER LONGING FOR CHRIST”
What have you learned?
I am counting on God asking me two questions when I approach the Throne of the Lamb for my particular judgement. Matthew 25 gives all of us pause to stop and reflect on these questions. Here are my two: What did you learn? Notice… Continue Reading “What have you learned?”
waiting for the master
This is a story I wrote many, many blogs ago but I think it needs repeating. WAITING FOR THE MASTERImagine yourself seated on a park bench in the dead ofwinter. Jesus has told you that He will be passing by thebench sometime soon. You… Continue Reading “waiting for the master”
HATERS ANONYMOUS
Almost everyone has heard of Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 Step Plan. I thought about what is going on in our country now and how all of us could use the 12 Step Plan that Christ gave us to quell the hatred of others… Continue Reading “HATERS ANONYMOUS”
POWER AND GLORY
Who is the most powerful person you know? My answer is, my wife! To make it more specific, “What is the most powerful object in the universe?” I had to look it up on Google Search. Turns out that there is a Youtube video… Continue Reading “POWER AND GLORY”
moving from self to god…slowly but surely
Here is a blog post I made over a year ago. I had been thinking about using and applying Cistercian practices and seeking charisms. I had the thought that my monastery is not just the world, but confined to the limits I discover each… Continue Reading “moving from self to god…slowly but surely”
CHAPTER 4: rENOUNCE YOURSELF IN ORDER TO FOLLOW CHRIST
You would think that a person who has tried to follow the teachings of The Master for all these years (80, to be exact), would have mastery over his mind and body to be able to reach a state where he did not struggle… Continue Reading “CHAPTER 4: rENOUNCE YOURSELF IN ORDER TO FOLLOW CHRIST”
I HAVE HEART PROBLEMS
In keeping with seeking God daily in everything in every way, I have an appointment today at 2:20 p.m. with my Cardiologist to check my recently installed pacemaker. This discipline is now called electrophysiology and it looks at the heart from the viewpoint of… Continue Reading “I HAVE HEART PROBLEMS”
