Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Contemplative

Archives

--Year-- 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2004 --Month-- December November October September August July June May April March February January

March 2017

March 20, 2017

Talking to Christine Valters Paintner about the Wisdom of the Body

My friend and colleague Christine Valters Paintner has recently released a book called The Wisdom of the...

March 17, 2017

A Closer Look at the Scrutinies: How an Ancient Rite Remains Relevant Today

On the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent, Catholic Churches with adults preparing to be...

March 15, 2017

Why Silence Matters (Video)

Silence is the heart of the spiritual life, and especially of the Christian contemplative...

March 13, 2017

How to Cultivate Your “Contemplative Ecosystem”

Recently I had a wonderful conversation with Kevin Johnson, who contributes to the Inner Room blog...

March 10, 2017

What is Contemplation? (Video)

So what is contemplation? In this video I talk about contemplation, beginning with the definition...

March 08, 2017

Sharing Your Faith with Someone Who is “Spiritual But Not Religious”

This post may get me in trouble with a few folks. Well, so be it. I...

March 06, 2017

A Prayer for Observing a Holy Lent

Let us pray... God, we ask for your blessing during this Holy Season of Lent....

March 03, 2017

Why Evelyn Underhill Remains Required Reading After Over 100 Years

A Book for All Time: Why Evelyn Underhill’s Mysticism Still Matters For pretty much...

March 01, 2017

Three Essential Elements of Christian Conversion

What is Christian conversion? In other words, what does it mean to truly respond to...

February 2017

February 27, 2017

It’s Not Too Late to Select Your Lenten Reading!

In chapter 48 of his Rule for Monasteries, St. Benedict instructs monks to read a...

February 24, 2017

What is Christian Mysticism? (Video)

Last week I posted a video about Julian of Norwich which is the first of...

February 22, 2017

One Step Christians Must Take To Receive the Gift of Illumination

In his wonderful book about the present and future of Christian mysticism, "Arise, My Love...", author...

February 20, 2017

Five Ideas that Shape Contemplative Prayer

I recently listened to the audiobook version of Chris Anderson's TED Talks: The Official TED Guide...

February 17, 2017

Who is Julian of Norwich?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPkdHMdtMw4&t=29s Here is a video filmed about a year and a half ago in which...

February 15, 2017

Seven Important Bible Verses About Silence

Catholics (and other Christians) can be a noisy bunch. I'm always a bit surprised when I...

February 13, 2017

Taqiya, Suspicion, and the Sermon on the Mount (What happened when a Catholic Church invited a Muslim grandmother to visit)

The other night a Muslim woman spoke at my church. Her name is Moina Shaiq,...

February 10, 2017

Seven Essential Books on the Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers

The headwaters of the Christian contemplative and mystical tradition — aside from the Bible, of...

February 08, 2017

Seven Tips for Returning to Church (After Being Away for Awhile)

Have you been away from parish life for a while, but now feel like returning?...

February 06, 2017

Why do Mystics Love the Church?

For a long time now, I've been fascinated by people who self-define as "spiritual but not...

February 02, 2017

A Candlemas Meditation

Today is the feast of the Presentation, traditionally known as Candlemas. It's a time when...

January 2017

January 12, 2017

Andrew Garfield and Stephen Colbert talk about Silence, Jesuits and Humility…

Are you as eager to see Martin Scorsese's film adaptation of Shusako Endo's Silence as I...

January 11, 2017

“Constantly Seek His Face”

Today’s Mass Readings (Hebrews 2:14–18, Psalm 105:1–9, and Mark 1:29–39) offer an interesting insight into the role...

January 06, 2017

Encountering Jesus through Questions in the Gospels

Saint Teresa of Ávila, one of the greatest of Christian mystics, understood clearly that the...

January 04, 2017

How to Think About Angels

Here is a wonderful description of angels from the anonymous Syrian monk who is now...

January 02, 2017

Seven Ideas for a Contemplative New Year’s Resolution

Happy new year! 'Tis the season for making a resolution for a positive change in...

January 01, 2017

A Christian Mystics Bibliography

In my books The Big Book of Christian Mysticism and Christian Mystics: 108 Seers, Saints and Sages, I suggest...

December 2016

December 22, 2016

St. Teresa’s Advice for Dealing With People Who Cannot or Will Not Engage in Christian Contemplation

Some things never change. Here's a little quote from Teresa of Ávila's classic book about...

December 14, 2016

Cats in the Cloister!

Here's your silly cat video for the day: filmed at the Optima Orthodox Monastery in...

December 06, 2016

Why I Still Recommend Verbum Software for Catholics… and for all Contemplatives

Two years ago this week, I wrote a glowing review of a Bible Software program...

December 03, 2016

Books to Give Away this Christmas

It's that time of year again... Advent! And if you're like me and many other...