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Contemplation

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April 2017

April 19, 2017

How to be a Contemplative in a “Toxic” Community (Part Two)

This is a continuation of a post I began yesterday — click here to read...

April 18, 2017

How to be a Contemplative in a “Toxic” Community (Part One)

A reader wrote the following message to me recently: Hi Carl. I'm a contemplative in...

April 14, 2017

Richard Rohr on the Spirituality of Unknowing (Video)

Here's a treat for all you Richard Rohr fans (and if you're not a Rohr...

March 2017

March 31, 2017

A Contemplative Conversation (Video)

Is God hidden? How do we see (or behold) the presence of God? What...

March 29, 2017

Is it possible to “fail” at contemplative prayer?

Anyone who has ever trained with weights knows that form is important. If you lift...

March 27, 2017

Building Contemplative Community Online: An Interview with Jeff Genung

A common complaint I hear from contemplatives — especially people new to contemplative practice —...

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...

February 2017

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 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...

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...

October 2016

October 03, 2016

Instructions on Prayer from a Trappist Monk

"I'm speechless," remarked Brother Elias Marechal, OCSO, after a congregation of several hundred young evangelicals vigorously applauded...

February 2016

February 29, 2016

John Cassian: The Leap Year Contemplative

February 29 is the feast day of St. John Cassian — who, in addition to...

December 2015

December 27, 2015

Emptiness and Non-Attachment

Last week I wrote about the difference between how Catholics understand meditation and contemplation, based...

December 18, 2015

Catholic Meditation and Contemplative Prayer: What’s the Difference?

A reader of my blog wrote to me and asked this question: What do you...

November 2015

November 09, 2015

Why Trappists Make Great Spiritual Guides

If you want access to a living Catholic contemplative tradition, look to the Trappists. In...

August 2015

August 28, 2015

Creative Conversation Begins with Contemplative Compassion

A friend of mine, who is the executive director of a progressive Christian ministry, told me...

July 2015

July 06, 2015

Do You Need a Spiritual Teacher?

A reader of my blog wrote the following message to me: I have been meditating...

April 2015

April 24, 2015

When Contemplation Feels Like Dying

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3)....

April 17, 2015

What To Do When Your Prayer Doesn’t Get ‘In The Zone’

A reader named Kevin wrote the following comment to me on Facebook, in response to...

April 02, 2015

What Good is Religion? A Contemplative Perspective

Bloggers on Patheos have been asked to reflect on the question "What Good is Religion?"...

February 2015

February 20, 2015

Just a Minute

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

August 2014

August 14, 2014

“Empty yourself completely and sit waiting”

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

February 2014

February 18, 2014

Concerning Contemplative Prayer and Spiritual Xenophobia

Contemplative spirituality is a spirituality in which, in the words of Richard Rohr, "everything belongs."...

February 03, 2014

Sometimes When I Sit in Silence…

Contemplative prayer — the prayer of sitting in silence, waiting in faith and trust on...

October 2013

October 18, 2013

Deep Listening

The other day when several folks gathered at a church in Atlanta to participate in...

October 08, 2013

Sharing in the Passion of Christ (Why Contemplation is Revolutionary)

In September and October 2013 I wrote a series of blog posts called "Why Contemplation...

October 04, 2013

Chaos, Crisis, and the Pursuit of the Vision of God (Why Contemplation is Revolutionary)

In September and October 2013 I wrote a series of blog posts called "Why Contemplation...

October 03, 2013

Exploring the “Inner Wasteland” (Why Contemplation is Revolutionary)

In September and October 2013 I wrote a series of blog posts called "Why Contemplation...

September 2013

September 27, 2013

Why Contemplation is Revolutionary

In September and October 2013 I wrote a series of blog posts called "Why Contemplation...