It’s that time of year again… Advent! And if you’re like me and many other Catholics, you’re devoting some energy into trying to honor the deeply contemplative spirit of the season, while at the same time keeping up with all the demands on your time: parties, planning, gifts to buy, presents to wrap, and so forth. Well, hopefully this blog post can be a wee bit of help. Here are seven ideas for books you might want to give to... Read more
The late Kenneth Leech used to tell the story about giving a lecture at a seminary in America on the topic of race relations, and afterwards a seminarian seemed surprised to learn that he was the “same Kenneth Leech” who wrote books on spirituality. Apparently, the mind of this seminarian couldn’t equate a social-justice Christian with a contemplative-prayer Christian. But yes, Leech-the-expert-on-racism and Leech-the-expert-on-mysticism were one and the same. I often have a similar conversation with people who read my writing or attend one... Read more
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines contemplation like this: A form of wordless prayer in which mind and heart focus on God’s greatness and goodness in affective, loving adoration; to look on Jesus and the mysteries of his life with faith and love. I emphasized “wordless prayer” because that is often what people struggle with the most. Critics of contemplation attack it because they see it as “emptying the mind” which they think makes it too similar to eastern... Read more
“I’m speechless,” remarked Brother Elias Marechal, OCSO, after a congregation of several hundred young evangelicals vigorously applauded his visit to their worship service last month. But then he quipped, “We don’t talk in the monastery much.” Grace Fellowship in Athens, GA (home of the University of Georgia) recently invited this deeply contemplative Trappist monk to come and speak to the congregation, comprised mostly of students. Grace’s pastor, John Raymond, has for the past decade received spiritual direction from Elias. When he led his... Read more
When Peter Gabriel came to Atlanta in 2003, my wife Fran and I were able to get tickets to the concert through a friend who works in the music business. Not only did we have the best seats in the house (right behind and above the soundboard), but we were seated next to a row of VIPs. In fact, the man sitting right next to Fran had a copy of the setlist, so obviously he was connected with the band.... Read more
For if there is no dark night of the soul anymore that isn’t lit with the flicker of the screen, then there is no morning of hopefulness either. The above quotation comes from a fascinating, and I believe vitally important, article by Andrew Sullivan, called I Used to Be A Human Being. Originally published in New York magazine, it’s long for an internet article (7000 words) — but read it anyway. Take the time. Savor the beautiful language, the keen insight, but... Read more
I’m happy to announce that my latest book — Christian Mystics: 108 Seers, Saints and Sages — has been published. The first printing has been delivered to my publisher’s warehouse, and they are now in the process of being shipped out to bookstores (both online and brick & mortar). So your favorite bookseller should have stock any day now. I got my first copies yesterday, and even though this is hardly my first book, it’s as exciting as if it were. Kudos... Read more
I’m happy to announce that my latest book — Christian Mystics: 108 Seers, Saints and Sages — has been published. The first printing has been delivered to my publisher’s warehouse, and they are now in the process of being shipped out to bookstores (both online and brick & mortar). So your favorite bookseller should have stock any day now. I got my first copies yesterday, and even though this is hardly my first book, it’s as exciting as if it were. Kudos... Read more
In Delphi, in ancient Greece, at a famous pagan temple these words were carved above the entrance: γνῶθι σεαυτόν (Gnothi Seauton), which in English means “Know Yourself.” It’s a universal spiritual principle, not just something the Greeks thought up. For example, in 12-Step Programs, the first step to recovery involves admitting to yourself that addiction has made your life unmanageable. Without that self-knowledge, the rest of the program is a non-starter. In the Bible, St. Paul makes this exhortation to the believers in Corinth: “Examine... Read more
Next month, Mother Teresa of Calcutta will be canonized — the process by which the Church formally recognizes that a person is a saint. Saint Teresa of Calcutta will join Saint Pope John XXIII and Saint Pope John Paul II as one of the most popular of contemporary saints. Indeed, it has been less than twenty years since her passing — just a few days after the untimely death of Princess Diana (I rather like to think that Mother Teresa... Read more
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