Showing results for "Contemplative prayer" in All Categories

There comes a moment when words are no longer enough. You’ve read the books. You’ve said the prayers. You’ve tried to quiet your mind—only to find it louder than ever. And somewhere beneath all the effort, a quiet question remains: Is there more to prayer than this? The Cloud of Unknowing for Beginners opens the door to a deeper way—one that has guided seekers for centuries, yet remains almost hidden in plain sight. This is not another book of spiritual theories or complex theology. It is a clear, practical introduction to one of the most powerful and misunderstood approaches to ...

How do you find God? When your soul longs for the spiritual, how do you find the time to turn within? Now, this profound series invites you to look to the contemplative tradition for inspiration and answers. Prayer is one of the most essential acts of the Christian life. In this spiritually edifying 24-lecture series, you will join celebrated author and Pauline sister Kathryn James Hermes, F.S.P., in exploring the tradition of contemplative prayer.

This popular and best-selling book from a renowned Franciscan challenges people to move beyond the comfort of a settled life toward an understanding of themselves that is rooted in their connection to God. Only when they rest in God can they find the certainty and the freedom to become all that they can be.

Discover Christianity's own unique tradition for experiencing God directly through meditation with The Beginner's Guide to Contemplative Prayer. Author James Finley, who as a young monk lived and prayed with Thomas Merton for six years at the Abbey of Gethsemani, shares the fruit of this...

Practitioners of Centering Prayer are known for the great enthusiasm they bring to the practice of this ancient discipline. Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening is a complete guidebook for all who wish to know the practice of Centering Prayer. Cynthia Bourgeault goes further than offering an introduction, however. She examines how the practice is related to the classic tradition of Christian contemplation, looks at the distinct nuances of its method, and explores its revolutionary potential to transform Christian life.

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274), one of the greatest philosophical minds of the church, has left us no formal treatise on mystical theology. Instead, his teachings on this subject have been collected from his various works. No such synthesis has been attempted in this book. Rather the editor has simply taken from the Summa Theologica the treatises on religion, on devotion, prayer, and the contemplative life, and presented them in an English dress.

"The Cloud of Unknowing" is one of Christianity's enduring mysteries—a meditative state where God is experienced on the deepest interior level. On Contemplative Prayer, Father Thomas Keating introduces you to the uplifting system of Centering Prayer, a revival of the contemplations practiced...

A Praying Life is an honest look at the difficulties of prayer, unanswered prayers, and successes in prayer. Readers will appreciate Paul Miller's down-to-earth approach and practical nature. Parents will find his family-life experiences especially helpful.

Estamos perdiendo nuestra capacidad de no hacer nada. Nuestra existencia está completamente absorbida por la actividad y, por lo tanto, completamente explotada. Dado que solo percibimos la vida en términos de rendimiento, tendemos a entender la inactividad como un déficit, una negación o una mera ausencia de actividad cuando se trata, muy al contrario, de una interesante capacidad independiente.

Everything changes. For Buddhist priest and meditation teacher Lewis Richmond, this fundamental Buddhist tenet is the basis for a new inner road map that emerges in the later years, charting an understanding that can bring new possibilities, fresh beginnings, and a wealth of appreciation and gratitude for the life journey itself.

You are invited to sit at the feet of a contemplative master. In the words of renowned theologian Fr. Lawrence Cunningham, Thomas Merton was perhaps "the greatest spiritual writer and spiritual master of the 20th century". With a poet's sensibility, an intellectual's inquiring mind, and a prophet's courage, Merton has captured the hearts of readers and listeners around the world.

Since the time of the Desert Fathers in the third century, Christian mystics have practiced meditation as a way of opening to the presence of God in daily life. James Finley, a friend of Thomas Merton and his fellow monk for six years at the Abbey of Gethsemani, introduces us to this direct...

Thomas Keating was a Cistercian monk who founded the worldwide 'Contemplative Outreach', teaching people the art of meditation. This is a compilation of quotes from his books, to be perused in times of peace as well as crisis. His distinct voice offers solace and wise teaching on the method of Centering Prayer and how it can affect one's daily life. An inspiration and a guide for busy people, who wish to find a moment in their hectic days to reflect in peaceful prayer.

"Lewis presents an intimate view of his centering prayer journey. He helps us discover the contemplative life and who we are in the deepest sense, made in God’s image." — Fr. Carl Arico, founding member of Contemplative Outreach Ltd., and author of A Taste of Silence "This work offers a friendly and accessible approach to centering prayer that will be of great benefit to those new to the practice. Rich has a lovely way of inviting the reader in through honest reflections on his own experience, both struggles and graces. These stories offer comfort and gentle encouragement on the way." ...

Do you long for depth and authenticity in your relationship with God? Do you want purpose and daily direction but can't seem to find the right prayer to receive it? When the Soul Listens will guide you away from formulas and step-by-step prayer plans toward contemplative prayer, "the lifestyle that allows you to experience God's presence", writes author Jan Johnson. Learn to find rest and guidance in God, opening yourself to God's presence and direction through this practical approach.

All fruitful doing must begin with being. For many Christians, it's easy to be swept up into the fast pace of modern life, desiring to do much for God. But we struggle to slow down and be with God. According to pastor, Enneagram teacher, and author AJ Sherrill, being with God is what empowers doing for God. Sherrill shares his own journey from "busy" Christianity to the ancient paths of contemplative practices. He equips listeners to integrate rhythms of stillness, silence, and solitude, offering step-by-step guidance and examples of finding solitude both personally and on retreats.

Modern English Version with Notes and Commentary A masterpiece of Christian spirituality and one of the great landmarks of universal mystical literature, The Interior Castle by Saint Teresa of Ávila has, for centuries, illuminated the inner journey of those who long for a living and transformative relationship with God. This edition, carefully rendered into contemporary Spanish, allows today’s reader to access the profound symbolism of this spiritual itinerary toward divine union with clarity and depth. The accompanying commentaries aim to bridge the five-hundred-year cultural gap ...

A masterpiece of Christian mysticism and a literary jewel of Spain’s Golden Age, Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross has inspired spiritual seekers for centuries. This edition, carefully rendered into modern English, allows contemporary readers to enter its depth without stumbling over archaic language or obscure expressions. The accompanying commentary aims to bridge the 500-year cultural divide between the 16th century and today’s reader. It not only clarifies the symbolism and implicit theology in each verse but also offers insight into the spiritual experience that the...

In the darkest hour of the darkest age, Christian monks developed a meditation tradition unique in the Western world. A 14th-century author described their profound mystical experience as entering the cloud of unknowing. Yet during the 500 years after this great monastic flowering, this precious...

A vivid and deeply human account of the inner journey of Teresa of Ávila—mystic, reformer, and one of the most inspiring spiritual figures of the Christian tradition. The Book of Her Life is the spiritual autobiography of Teresa of Ávila, written under obedience in the mid-16th century. In these pages, she recounts her passage from religious mediocrity to a life of profound prayer and interior transformation, guided by grace and marked by mystical experience. This New Edition in Modern English offers a fresh, accessible version of the original text, free from theological commentary or ...