CONTEMPLATION
We Christians in the Western world have a great and rich tradition of Contemplative Prayer yet few Christians today are aware of this and some, because of their felt need, seek it in Eastern traditions.
The twelfth, and thirteenth centuries in Europe experienced a great flowering of Contemplative Prayer and in consequence a high level of spirituality. Through various abuses of pseudo contemplatives it started to wane. In the fifteenth century the Christian Church was faced with the Reformation, which caused great divisions in many European countries. The Council of Trent was held to correct abuses of the day. It discouraged Contemplative Prayer and encouraged devotional and vocal prayers.
In Vatican 11, Pope John XX111 encouraged Christians to go back to the Contemplative way of praying. At the same time,
Thomas Merton, America’s great prophet of the Twentieth century wrote in one of his books “Unless the Western World returns to Contemplative Prayer Christianity will die.” A stern warning! Pope John Paul 11 has several times encouraged a return to this form of prayer.
St. Teresa of Avila, the first woman to hold the title ‘Doctor of the Church,’ has written extensively on the stages of prayer one goes through on our spiritual journey to God. The stages are outlined in her teaching on the “Seven Mansions”. We at the Spiritual Enrichment Center will hold in autumn a series of teachings on her writings.
Does one have to be a contemplative to take this course?
The answer is no. Anybody interested in knowing more about prayer or wishing to grow in their own prayer life would enjoy and benefit from this series.
Check our calendar to see the dates!
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Thomas Merton lived from January 13, 1915 to December 10, 1968. He was
one of the most influential Catholic authors of the 20th century. He was
raised by artist parents and spent his early years in Europe. He briefly
attended Cambridge University before moving to the United States and
enrolling in Columbia University. At Columbia, Merton became interested in
Catholicism after reading Etienne Gilson's book "The Spirit of Medieval
Philosophy"--where he encountered a culture embued with a profound sense of
a caring God. Merton converted to Catholicism on November 16, 1938 and began
to feel called to a monastic life. After being turned down by the
Franciscans, Merton believed his monastic vocation would not come to
fruition. However, in 1941 he visited the Cistercian Abbey of Gethsemani in
Kentucky and was later accepted as a Trappist novice. Recognizing his
talents as a writer, Merton was urged by his abbott to write his biography
which became a best seller entitled "The Seven Storey Mountain." Merton
continued to write prolifically on many topics including: monasticism,
spirituality, art, war, race and inter-religious dialogue. His books
continue sell and are read by all races and religions because his appeal is
universal and truly catholic in nature.
