Contemplative Corner

Welcome to our new page called "Contemplative Corner". Here we will provide information of the East and West side of Catholicism and the Mystical side. Think of this page as a primer for Contemplative. This also is a work, as I will build the new page website.

Note that this page may be using some files from many of the other pages here. For example, there is a PowerPoint for John of the Cross - as I will be writing about him.

Think of this as a beginning of for what you are reading now. I have dozens of books in my personal library.

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What is Contemplative?

What is Contemplative? Where does it come from? Consider two sides of a journey both with really great works. The journey of that traveling can be good or bad on both of these roads - yet providing wonderful gifts to each and the world. We are talking here about the two religious of the East and the West. Both have so much to offer the world in their journeys.

Even now there continues an East and West of Christian-Catholic religion. We know them as Roman Catholic and Orthodox Catholic (Greek, Russian), etc.

Among the Mystics of the Christian tradition, we find Spirituality - with roots from the early years of Christianity. The goal in our journey is not so much a goal, as to find ourselves in God. Sometime taking years for us as Christianity evolved.

In the evolving of Christianity, the East and West split apart around the 1100th century maintaining the core of Christianity with a few differences. The East church kept more of the spiritually. So this is where the Contemplative evolved.

The paradox of enjoying contemplative is that no matter who you are, is that all of us as contemplative is a beginner. This means that we are always learning.

Another paradox is that what I am saying for you is that I cannot teach being contemplative for you. Simply I can only lead you to contemplative. The rest is for you.

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What are some characterizes and practices?

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What about prayer?

Often prayer leads us to a higher level with God. Chose your own prayer. My favorite prayer that leads me to a presence to God, is Centering Prayer (CP), developed by Thomas Keating (1923-2018) a Monastic. Thomas wrote dozens of books - all still in print.

Contemplative means that we simply spend some time in silence. Centering Prayer includes 20 minutes in silence. I recommend that you look up CP with Keating to help you. Meditation is another aspect of growing in Contemplative.

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How to pray Centering Prayer (CP)?

The intent is to become closer to God while in Silence. A Sacred Word is usually chosen as we pray. The sacred word used when our thought may wonder. Simply we say the word and continue.

There are 3 steps in CP. Firstly one settles down, with closed eyes.

(1) Opening Prayer. One can his/her prayers, typically in Psalms. My favorite is Psalm 106.

Next someone may ring a bell to sound that 20 minutes of silence have begin, typically with closed eye.

(2) This signifies the 20 minutes have started.

(3) The bell rings after the 20 minutes time. A closing prayer - like Psalm like 25 concludes the session.

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What is a Mystic?

Contrary to what you might think, we do not mean magic. Mysticism is a time when a person feels especially close to God. A Mystic can be said as one being in love with God - which can be a beacon for those around us.

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Who are some of the Mystics?

In the 4th century Saint Gregory of Nyssa wrote "The life of Moses". He speaks of the mystery and Christion spiritual.

One of my favorites in the 12th century is, John of the Cross who writes the mystical "The Ascent of Mount Carmel" and "The dark night of the soul". His comrade Teresa of Avila writes about "The Interior Castle" Both were powerful mystics. John's poems are touching (see below for sample).

In more modern times Thomas Merton (xxx-1962), a Trappist Contemplative wrote his auto biography "The Seven Storey Mountain" and dozens of other books.

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A few Books I recommend are:

Answering the Contemplative Call
The Practice of the Presence of God
Invitation to Love - Thomas Keating
Intimacy with God - Thomos Keating
No Man is an Island - Thomas Merton
Everything is Sacred - Richard Rohr

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A sample of some Contemplative poems.

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What Matters

Only the Divine matters,

And because the Divine matters,

Everything Matters

By Thomas Keating

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O Guiding Night

O guiding night;

O, night more

lovely than

the dawn;

O, night that

hast united

The Lover, with

His beloved.

By John of the Cross

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TIME IS PRESCIOUS

Time is a companion,

Always with us,

That goes with us,

On the Journey.

Sometimes with good,

Others with challenges,

To remind us,

How important live is,

To cherish,

To always,

Every moment.

Because it will never,

Come again.

What we leave behind,

Is not as important,

As how we have lived.

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The Journey

It is a warm day with a light breeze,

A sky filled with birds in song,

God’s creation is everywhere.

A country with a winding two lane road,

Lining beautiful trees on both sides,

Quiet with no traffic – man or machine.

A lone Lady walks along,

With beautiful butterflies flitting around her,

Her long hair flowing in the soft wind,

Carrying nothing not even a purse.

She walks slowly in her journey - a pilgrimage,

Seeking answers and direction.

Admiring every step she sees,

Her Beloved is her Guide.

God carries the Lady when she is weary,

The Lord laughs with her when she is happy,

Her Beloved protects her during every step,

She is not alone.

One fine day the Lady,

Awakes to joyous music and gaiety,

The Lady has achieved her goal,

The Lady has found her Home,

She is now at peace and with loved ones.

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AN ODE TO RITA

I think that I shall never see,

One more kind than thee.

With the heart of Love,

That flies like a Dove.

With Compassion that flows to all,

Like a Devine Waterfall.

Hidden in the Beloved’s Wings,

Her blessings are peace and other things.

A Spiritual Journey like a dart,

Gifts a Soul Friend’s Heart.

Wooed by Him,

To truly know the love of Him.

Our Beloved knows her well,

In the Secret Garden of Eden.

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God Walks With Me

One night feeling blue,

As the warm rays of sun,

Begins its fall in the horizon,

God asked me to walk with Him.

My Son, my Beloved says,

Look about you to see,

All that I have done for you,

And for your brothers and sisters.

I have given you light that you can see,

The dome that separates the,

Water from the land,

I have given you every kind of plant or fruit,

And an abundant of living creatures.

You and your brothers and sisters,

Are made in My image,

God said, come walk with me and see

What I have done for you.

Man stepped into the Secret Garden,

Marveling in its beauty,

The trellis alive with Hummingbirds,

Floral and all kinds of trees.

Falling to his knees,

Man thanks God for what He has done for him,

Filled with joy Man continues to walks with God.

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I have given you a beginning of Contemplative here.

Use it Wisely.