The Center for Contemplative Practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Ways to pray, whenever you can, from wherever you are. Each link opens in a new tab.

Retreat Readings

Five Meditations for the Anawim as They Await the Coming of the Lord.

The End That Is the Beginning: Five Meditations for the Anawim as They Await the Coming of the Lord.

  My dear friends, we have come to the quiet threshold. Listen to these words, “With the ear of your heart.” The rain has done its gentle work. The air is fresh with ozone. These meditations reflect not an ending, but a deeper beginning. These five meditations are offered as anchors for your heart while […]

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Meditation 2. Knowing Jesus: Five Meditations for the Anawim as They Await the Coming of the Lord.

In this second meditation for your listening with the “ear of your heart,” take some time and rest your spiritual self, that place of refuge where each of us goes to recharge our batteries. This is a collaboration between Grok AI and me. I approve of this meditation. It reflects my thoughts. “My dear friend, […]

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Meditation 3: Participation in the Beatific Vision. Five Meditations for the Anawim as They Await the Coming of the Lord.

When thinking about God, the big mistake humans make is to think of him as being made in their image and likeness. To see Jesus, or to refer nothing to the love of Christ, is only possible because we are made in the likeness of God. That means any description or attempt to know God […]

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Stone-walled, dim room with warm light and large text: “Come and Rest” above a verse inviting weary souls to find rest in Me.

Meditation 4: The Anawim Who Put Jesus There; Filling the Void Left by Being Merely Humanistic

This is the fourth in the series about the Anawim of God, all of us. Relax and listen to ideas about what is authentic about being human and where we get the energy to combat the demonic forces that beguile the innocent into thinking humanity is limited to the Physical and Mental Universes (humanism). My […]

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Meditation 5: Anawim Are Eucharistic in Heaven

This is the final meditation, but hopefully, not the last of the meditations on various aspects of my Lectio Divina with Christ through the Holy Spirit. I don’t offer anything other than sharing what I myself received. What you do with anything you read from me is meant to provoke thoughts within you that may […]

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Books

These helps are for those who cannot travel. They do not replace the parish altar when you can go.
Book cover for 'The Christ Principle' by Michael F. Conrad, Ed.D.; man seated in a leather chair by a lit fireplace on a blue-and-gold design.

THE CHRIST PRINCIPLE

A Lay Cistercian reflects on six paradigm shifts that help to clarify how all reality fits together.
Notice to the Anawim:
This ebook may be lengthy. Please stop whenever you feel tired or when a visitor comes to the door, and take it up again later where you left off.

Notice to the Anawim: This ebook may be lengthy. Please stop whenever you feel tired or when a visitor comes to the door, and take it up again later where you left off. All scriptural references were taken from USCCB. org This book may not be reproduced by photocopying without permission in writing from the […]

Other Books

Two libraries worth keeping. Each opens in a new tab.

www.ebook2000.org

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www.newadvent.org

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