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Contemplative

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--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 2015

March 16, 2015

Social Media… and Silence

Hi. My name is Carl and I'm a Facebook addict. ("Hi, Carl!") This past weekend,...

March 06, 2015

Why We Need Contemplation

I am troubled by the idea that it's harder to be a child today than it...

March 06, 2015

Let’s go swimming.

God is an ocean of silence, mercy and love. Let's go swimming. pic.twitter.com/GMbPdqWK57 — Carl...

March 04, 2015

Sister Joan Chittister and the Way of Paradox

A mature spiritual life embraces paradox. And paradox lies at the heart of Sister Joan Chittister's newest...

February 2015

February 26, 2015

Meet the Newest Doctor of the Church: Saint Gregory of Narek

Vatican Radio announced earlier this week that Pope Francis has declared a tenth century Armenian...

February 25, 2015

Making (and Keeping) a Personal Rule of Life

Every January, lots of folks make New Year's Resolutions. This year I will lose weight,...

February 20, 2015

Just a Minute

Several months ago I joined Planet Fitness. I won't bore you with my adventures learning how...

February 19, 2015

The Dazzling Darkness

"There is in God (some say) A deep, but dazzling darkness" — Henry Vaughan “Truly,...

February 17, 2015

How to Keep a Holy Lent

Mardi Gras can be a lot of fun, but when Fat Tuesday ends, Ash Wednesday...

February 13, 2015

Concerning Emergence, Contemplation, and the Faith of the Future

It's been fifty years since Karl Rahner wrote his important book "The Christian of the Future."...

February 11, 2015

Seven Hopes for the Christian (and Church) of the Future

In his 1981 book Concern for the Church, Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner made his famous...

February 06, 2015

When Silence Rings

A reader named Nick writes: I am interested in the subject of meditation and...

February 05, 2015

Befriending Silence: My Book on Cistercian Spirituality

Dear friends, I'm excited to announce the title and subject of my forthcoming book. In...

February 03, 2015

Flannery O’Connor on the Church and Politics

I don't care what your political persuasion is, I bet you probably get frustrated from time...

February 02, 2015

Images from the Monastery of the Holy Spirit

Here is a gallery of photographs taken at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in...

January 2015

January 31, 2015

Seven Essential Thomas Merton Books

Today is the 100th anniversary of Thomas Merton's birth. To celebrate this day here is...

January 26, 2015

Following the Ancient Path Today

If you're anything like me, the first thing you'll notice about The Ancient Path: Old Lessons...

January 22, 2015

How to Stay in Touch

I recently received a very nice email from a reader in Canada, who ended her...

January 20, 2015

Christian Mystics to Celebrate in 2015

2015 is something of a red-letter year for Christian contemplatives. This is the 100th anniversary of...

December 2014

December 05, 2014

Do Contemplatives Need Bible Software?

Is the Bible a textbook, or a legal code, or a love letter? I suppose...

December 04, 2014

Silence Today

Today is a wonderful day to be silent. If you have never taken time to...

November 2014

November 17, 2014

Timothy Keller Gets Contemplation Wrong

Timothy Keller, the popular New York City Presbyterian pastor and author of several bestselling books,...

October 2014

October 28, 2014

Talking about Silence: An Interview with Patrick Shen

Indie filmmaker Patrick Shen has made several award-winning documentaries, including Flight From Death (2003), a...

October 26, 2014

Mary and Martha are Sisters

A sermon preached at First Baptist Church, Springfield, Ohio, on October 26, 2014 Scripture: Luke 10:38-42...

September 2014

September 28, 2014

Our Choices Determine Who We Are

A reflection given at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Artane, Dublin, Ireland, on September 28, 2014 Scripture: Ezekiel 18:25-28,...

September 18, 2014

Rhiannon’s Vigil and Funeral

On Thursday, September 11, a vigil for Rhiannon Gladelle Wilburn took place at Wages and...

September 16, 2014

Completing the Hospice Journey

Back in May, I wrote a post about my daughter's decision to enter in-home hospice...

August 2014

August 20, 2014

Mainline Neo-Monasticism?

Elaine A. Heath is a true friend of contemplation. She recognizes the vital importance of bringing...

August 14, 2014

“Empty yourself completely and sit waiting”

I sometimes get asked if contemplative prayer is "really Christian." When someone asks that question,...

August 08, 2014

A Beautiful New Bible and a Contemplative Request

Today I wrote a letter to Adam Lewis Greene, who is known for his wonderful...