Christian contemplation thrown into the muddy highways of the world : encouragement : experiences : resources
This past week, in the quotes posted to social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) I continued on the theme of Christian eco-spirituality for Earth Month, and I honoured Jacques Maritain, one of the biggest influences on me and on this blog, who died 51 years ago today: As a spiritual work of mercy, care for our …
Continue reading “Exigencies of Contemplative Love for Creation and People (Quotes Vol. 38)”
On social media (Facebook, Instagram, and X) this past week, the quotes moved through consideration of the confidence we have in God, onto the places where that confidence is lived—first among the Communion of Saints, also for most of us, in Nazareth: Confidence is the form that grace takes in the poor one who tends towards God. …
Continue reading “Confidence, Off to the Side in Nazareth (Quotes Vol. 27)”
In the Incarnation, God became vulnerable. He took on vulnerability which he didn’t have otherwise. The Humanity of Jesus introduced this feature of divine love, by letting the vulnerability of material creatureliness have a share in the Godhead. This is how we normally speak. But is it actually right? Does it manifest the truth about …
Continue reading “God the Most Vulnerable: Indigenous Baptist and Catholic Perspectives”
I’ve recently had cause to say to more than one person, as a way of explanation for why I think the way I do, “But I take Thomist metaphysics for granted.” Now, don’t run away. I’m not going to make this blog, or even this post, about philosophy or dogmatic theology. And I’m more than …
I don’t think my poems are especially good, and they are by far the least-viewed posts on this blog—but I publish them here anyway. Why is that? The reason for me is very simple. I have always had a skepticism—and I think it is a healthy skepticism—of anyone who would write about contemplation this much, …
Heading into the final week of my focus on clerical abuse, here are some quotes on different topics that were posted to Facebook, Instagram, and X recently: The Christian vocation is to walk on water, without any human support, in pure faith, in hope, and in pure charity, even without any feeling, keeping one’s gaze fixed on God. — …
Continue reading “Where to Find Christ among Us (Quotes Vol. 16)”
Below are the quotes posted to Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) this past week: The best antidote against this misuse of our common home is contemplation. — Pope Francis Contemplation is like a pump that pulls up water and makes it pass into canals. If contemplation were to entirely cease, hearts would be soon dried up. — Raïssa …
I expect that most readers have never asked where the title of this blog comes from. But occasionally, someone has asked. Less frequently, someone has wagered a guess themselves. The most creative conjecture came from a friend whom I’d known for quite a while before the blog started. She wondered if the source was the …
Continue reading “Meanings of the Mud to be Contemplative in, with Charles de Foucauld”
As I concluded my last post by noting, Pope Francis encountered Charles de Foucauld in the late ’60s. In the Holy Father’s own words: “when I was studying theology,” the spirituality of Saint Charles “came to me through Fr [Arturo] Paoli and through the books of [René] Voillaume which I read constantly.” It is a …
Continue reading “Pope Francis’ Charles de Foucauld Bookshelf: René Voillaume”
This blog has been going for five years now. Hopefully in that time I’ve learned how to write better. (Some of the first posts are dreadful in terms of style.) In that time, I’ve met many people thanks to this blog, and I’m very glad for that. It is important to “go to heaven together …
Contemplative in the Mud 