Among readers of Catholic spiritual books terms like consolation and desolation are often referred to. Consolation is referred to usually as something that keeps beginners interested in the path of seeking God through prayer and contemplation. But, so the story goes, more advanced pray-ers are going to experience more desolation because it is a deeper […]
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Mindfulness of Breathing In contemporary culture the ancient Buddhist technique of mindfulness of breathing has been mainstreamed in the past 20 years. Secularized versions of it are found in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). These practices are rooted in Buddhist teachings about Right Mindfulness or Sati. Right Mindfulness is the 7th
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Introduction To approach a discussion about solitude and intimacy it is necessary first to define solitude as something other than loneliness. Loneliness is an experience that can happen when a person is in isolation from others, or with others. Being with others doesn’t necessarily cure loneliness. Loneliness is a painful human experience that also can
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In Chapter 28 of The Way of Perfection St. Teresa of Avila explains the practice of recollection in reference to the 2nd article of the Lord’s prayer, Who art in heaven. It seems that she sees in this article in particular a way in to interior recollection. The method seems such: Dwell on the article,
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As I was scrolling through #CatholicTwitter today I noticed a number of tweets about intrusive thoughts. It seemed that one person’s disclosure of struggling with intrusive thoughts prompted others to identify and come forward with theirs. I take a position that, in general, American Catholic piety is by-and-large focused on exterior acts that promise rewards:
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A little context: when I was working for the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Catechesis another peer and I were talking about prayer and I began to speak of meditation as a necessary step to, support for, and component of prayer. She was alarmed to even be speaking of meditation in the context of Christian
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Part One A. Introduction This essay is a catechetical response to the debate about Centering Prayer that has taken place within some sectors of the Catholic Church, and to some extent in Protestant ecclesial communities. There is a debate as to whether Centering Prayer is orthodox Christian prayer or whether it is New Age or too
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In Sacred Scripture we read that we must not let the sun go down while still angry, that to do so gives the devil a foothold (Eph. 4:26-27). The book of James speaks in many places about the virtue of patience and gentleness and warns that anger leads to unrighteousness. The Proverbs are full of
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In the Indo-Tibetan philosophical tradition, there is a teaching known as rigpa or knowledge of the ground. This teaching is in particular a feature of the Bon and Nyingma schools of Indo-Tibetan philosophy. Rigpa can be viewed also as a psychological experience, or an experience of mind where there non-duality becomes an experiential reality. Non-duality
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I started a new group to study and practice the art and science of contemplation. I was able to choose what participants of the group would be called. I initially chose the term Practitioners. It is a term I picked up from meditation groups I was a part of when I was younger. I liked
From Practitioners to Friends Read More »