Christian contemplation thrown into the muddy highways of the world : encouragement : experiences : resources
This past week, all the quotes posted to social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) spoke of a Christian eco-spirituality for Earth Month, including a connection noted by Benedict XVI between contemplating nature and contemplating Christianized human nature: My soul, while enjoying the beauties of nature, was also tasting the sweetness of spiritual joys. — Marcel Văn …
Continue reading "Contemplating the Beauty of Nature and Transfigured Human Nature (Quotes Vol. 37)"
Yesterday, Pope Francis met with members of the Discalced Carmelite nuns and superiors who were gathered together with the purpose of revising their Constitutions. The remarks that he made are worth highlighting, at least in part. The Holy Father opens with a concern to “give greater impetus to the contemplative life” lived in the cloister …
Continue reading "Pope Francis’ Remarks on Contemplation to Discalced Carmelite Nuns"
Blessed John Soreth was a Carmelite of the fifteenth century who wrote an important commentary on the rule of that order. In it, he gives what I think is a good synthesis of a lot of pre-modern thought on Christian contemplation. I owe my knowledge of this summary to Saint Titus Brandsma: This treatment of …
Continue reading "John Soreth’s Three Loci of Contemplation in Perspective Today"
This past week, all the quotes posted to social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) all spoke of the Christian eco-spirituality for Earth Month, starting with a quote about the Annunciation (celebrated on Monday past) and continuing on to the connection between virtue and social justice with contemplation, as well as the virtues of moderation and contemplative …
Continue reading "Contemplation and Action in Earth Month (Quotes Vol. 36)"
Nothing brings out my passion more than talking about the place of Marcel Văn CSsR (1928–1959) in the ecclesial crisis of abuse. And at the same time, nothing causes me to boil over more than efforts which, intentionally or not, directly or indirectly, would put the light of his witness under a bushel basket. I …
This image hadn’t meant muchBut after yesterday I understand The Sun, the cynosure of my day sky,Can disappear—not o’er horizon,Nor cloud, nor any cause that’s close at hand;But because of reasons all celestial And a timing that I never could have planned.Without the shadows lengthened,Warmth is drained, the colours bland;After a momentary chaos, all birds …
This past week, all the quotes posted to social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) spoke of the Christian (i.e., Christic) character of contemplation, as well as transitioned into Earth Month, with a special focus on the silence of nature: There is no prayer, no contemplation, unless Christ be in the soul, and unless an imitation of …
Continue reading "Contemplation with Christ at the Start of Earth Month (Quotes Vol. 35)"
Randy Woodley, Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days Reconnecting with Sacred Earth (Minneapolis, MN: Broadleaf Books, 2022). As I announced at the beginning of Lent, I have taken on the project of reading one short two-page chapter (or reflection) from Indigenous Christian Randy Woodley’s book Becoming Rooted, first as part of a Laudato Si’ Lent but …
This is a post that I had planned to have up yesterday, but I reconsidered. It’s not the kind of thing that you put up on April 1st and expect to be taken as seriously as you intend it. As I was sitting in the Easter Vigil on Saturday night, I heard for only the …
This past week, all the quotes posted to social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) spoke of the time we are in: Holy Week and Easter. Contemplation is paradise on earth, a crucified paradise. — Jacques Maritain Contemplation is not anesthesia, imperturbability, deliverance from all that might agitate a person, an ascent to the Sea of Tranquility. …
Contemplative in the Mud 