The Center for Contemplative Practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
Tag: catholic
THE TWELVE PORTALS OF MY NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE NEW JERUSALEM.
MY NEW JERUSALEM AND MY NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH. I havecome to believe that Jesus is Lord, the Messiah, and that I must convert my inner self from false values to those which allow me to sustain myself as I continue to probe the depths… Continue Reading “THE TWELVE PORTALS OF MY NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE NEW JERUSALEM.”
MY NEW APPROACH TO AN OLD WAY TO PLACE MYSELF IN THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST, AND WAIT.
One of the phenomena of urban life in big cities is that they simply run out of room. No space anywhere. The only solution is to tear down the old and replace it with multi-storey buildings. That got me thinking about my situation at… Continue Reading “MY NEW APPROACH TO AN OLD WAY TO PLACE MYSELF IN THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST, AND WAIT.”
TEN OBSERVATIONS ABOUT CATHOLICISM FOR THOSE NEW TO CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE (8 of 10)
Brother Michael Lauteri, O.C.S.O., our Junior Lay Cistercian Moderator at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery (Trappist), taught us many valuable lessons about the contemplative way of life. In particular, I recall him saying, ‘Pray as you can.’ PRAY AS YOU CAN, NOT… Continue Reading “TEN OBSERVATIONS ABOUT CATHOLICISM FOR THOSE NEW TO CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE (8 of 10) “
ANTHROPOMORPHIC REPRESENTATION: What does God look like?
I read this article from USCCB about what humans create about God to be able to grasp what is beyond the capability or capacity to comprehend with human intelligence. If you notice, and I am not sure I even notice, I don’t synthesize or… Continue Reading “ANTHROPOMORPHIC REPRESENTATION: What does God look like?”
INTELLIGENT PROGRESSION III: Peering deeper into the mist of the human condition
My mind is a computer of unimaginable complexity and wonder. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), my capabilities and capacities have increased, but only because I create my World from those assumptions and trials and errors that my reason tells me are good… Continue Reading “INTELLIGENT PROGRESSION III: Peering deeper into the mist of the human condition”
SLOW DOWN II
One lesson that I have begun to be aware of as a direct result of Lectio Divina (Philippians 2:5) is my prayers, even my routine life chores have been noticeably slowing down. Awareness of these little hints at growth is all that I have… Continue Reading “SLOW DOWN II”
CHAPTER 4: DISTRACTIONS AND BAD THOUGHTS DURING CONTEMPLATION
Posted on May 20, 2019, by https://thecenterforcontemplativepractice.org This might seem like an odd topic for Lectio Divina, but I assure you, it is authentic, embarrassingly honest. It is natural because none of us practice prayer and hopefully contemplation without distractions and trying to avoid evil thoughts.… Continue Reading “CHAPTER 4: DISTRACTIONS AND BAD THOUGHTS DURING CONTEMPLATION”
Leonardo DaVinci Drawing of Life
To be fully human ourselves, we must make sure everyone has a chance to be Pro-Choice. We are the sum of our choices.
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”
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”
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”
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”
SHARING INTERNET SITES I USE
Every so often, I look around my house and think about all the nice but not necessary THINGS I have accumulated over the years. It seems I am a functional hoarder and not a dysfunctional one. Every so often, my wife says we should… Continue Reading “SHARING INTERNET SITES I USE”
TEARING DOWN RATHER THAN MAKING ALL THINGS NEW
Here are some thoughts to ponder. When we tear down something rather than reform it, we have nothing to replace it with except our self. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2a2fAEQaGo Any reform based on justice without mercy is not only doomed to fail but will fail its supporters.… Continue Reading “TEARING DOWN RATHER THAN MAKING ALL THINGS NEW”
STRENGTH TRAINING FOR BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST
One of the ways to approach the Sacred is to follow a daily routine. Some people call it a habit. Here is a challenge. Try to do these practices for 30 days, then sit down and think about it. If you are unable to… Continue Reading “STRENGTH TRAINING FOR BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST”
THE SIXTY-SECOND CATHOLIC
Here are some thoughts for Dads on their secular holiday. FIVE YES’S AND ONE NO THE BEGINNING Creation began as a YES (Let it be) from God. That which is created takes on the characteristics of the person creating it. THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN… Continue Reading “THE SIXTY-SECOND CATHOLIC”
LECTIO DIVINA: ENHANCEMENTS
During my Lectio Divina, I sometimes use enhancements to my lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio. I don’t know what else to call them. Some people use a mood to create an ambiance that will provide them with the best way to use their silence… Continue Reading “LECTIO DIVINA: ENHANCEMENTS”
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