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June 2018

June 08, 2018

Secrets of the Sacred Heart

The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus occurs every year on the Friday...

June 01, 2018

Discover the Stories of the Sufis — Wisdom for Today

Today's guest post is by Neil Douglas-Klotz, author of The Little Book of Sufi Stories. What’s...

May 2018

May 26, 2018

Learning to Love the “Habit” of Spirituality

We human beings are creatures of habit. We brush our teeth in the same direction,...

May 22, 2018

Mysticism, Separation, and Unity

A friend on Facebook a few weeks back asked me what is the relationship between...

May 18, 2018

We Need to Find the Silence Within — Even in the Midst of a “Joyful Noise”

Check out this insightful, evocative quotation from Barbara A. Holme's wonderful book Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices...

May 16, 2018

Just What is Contemplation, Anyway? And Why Should I Care?

A Jesuit priest, a Trappist monk, and a Tibetan buddhist walked into a bar. (No,...

May 07, 2018

Why Christian Social and Political Activists Need Contemplation and Mystery — and Now More Than Ever

Last week I attended a book signing here in Atlanta, in which Jon Sweeney promoted...

May 02, 2018

What’s the difference between Ignatian Spirituality and Centering Prayer?

What is the difference between centering prayer and Ignatian spirituality? To answer this question, let's...

April 2018

April 25, 2018

A Conversation with Richard Rohr, OFM

Richard Rohr — author of numerous books on the contemplative dimension of spirituality, including Everything Belongs and The...

April 13, 2018

Talking About Mysticism in Manhattan (April 22, 2018)

There are still a few openings in the class I'm teaching in Manhattan on April...

April 09, 2018

The Heart of the Gospel is Love (and Richard Rohr is an Expert Guide)

I have spent the last several days simply devouring Richard Rohr's newest book, Essential Teachings on...

March 2018

March 26, 2018

Meet Julian of Norwich

I created this video using photographs that Fran and I took in Norwich, along...

March 23, 2018

On the Contemplative Role of the Ear… and the Tongue (Lectio Divina Diligens for Palm Sunday)

Here is the final installment of my Lenten series on Lectio Divina I'm calling Lectio Divina...

March 20, 2018

What to Do When Prayer Gets Dull

A reader writes: Hi Carl, hope you're well. Just wanted to pick your brain again!...

March 15, 2018

God’s Guidance, Engraved on Our Hearts (Lectio Divina Diligens for the Fifth Sunday of Lent)

Our Lenten journey continues with a twist on Lectio Divina I'm calling Lectio Divina Diligens. Click...

March 12, 2018

Three Evelyn Underhill Anthologies To Inspire Your Contemplative Practice

It's no secret that I consider Evelyn Underhill one of the most important Christian mystics...

March 12, 2018

The Little Book of Christian Mysticism is Now Available!

I'm pleased to announce that The Little Book of Christian Mysticism has been published. If you have...

March 08, 2018

God’s Love is a Gift (Lectio Divina Diligens for the Fourth Sunday of Lent)

We continue our journey through Lent with a twist on Lectio Divina I'm calling Lectio Divina...

March 06, 2018

Periodicals That Contemplatives Will Enjoy

Yesterday I received this message: Hi, Mr. McColman, Quick question. Are there any periodicals, journals,...

March 05, 2018

Here’s an Idea for Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day (That Doesn’t Involve Green Beer)

This year, for St. Patrick's day, why not take a Celtic spirituality e-course? Alternatively, give...

March 02, 2018

Love Matters More Than Logic or Experience (Lectio Divina Diligens for the Third Sunday of Lent)

We continue our journey through Lent with a new approach to Lectio Divina that I...

March 01, 2018

A Retreat at a New York Monastery… and a Class in Manhattan

Update: this blog post from March 2018 features events that have already happened. If you'd...

February 2018

February 26, 2018

Hospitality, Heart-to-Heart

What is Christian hospitality? What does it mean to receive guests, strangers, travelers, pilgrims, refugees,...

February 23, 2018

What is a “Mountaintop Experience” Really Like? (Lectio Divina Diligens for the Second Sunday of Lent)

Our journey through Lent continues with my experiment in Lectio Divina Diligens. Click on the link...

February 16, 2018

What Does It Take To Follow God’s Path? (Lectio Divina Diligens for the First Sunday of Lent)

I am using the Psalm selection for the first Sunday of Lent (Psalm 25:4-9) for...

February 13, 2018

How Lent is All About Love (Lectio Divina Diligens for Ash Wednesday)

I am using the Ash Wednesday Gospel reading (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18) for my Lectio Divina Diligens...

February 12, 2018

A First Look at My Christian Mysticism Trilogy

This photo appeared on Twitter a few days ago: I got the goodie package @CarlMcColman...

February 08, 2018

What Does Holiness Look Like When You’re Disabled?

A reader wrote the following question to me. My son has a very rare developmental...

February 05, 2018

Will You Join Me for A Prayerful “Experiment” this Lent?

We're just over a week away from Ash Wednesday! Which means it is time to...

February 01, 2018

The Ethics of Sharing Mystical Knowledge: Meister Eckhart and the Cloud Author

Pick up any edition of The Cloud of Unknowing, and you are likely to find...