introduction rediscovering contemplative

books:

The Human Condition: Contemplation and Transformation (Wit Lectures.)

10 reviews
Thomas Keating

Paulist Press, 1999

Spirituality and Psychology
Very engaging and readable discussion of deepening one's awareness of and response to God that combines spiritual tradition with psychological insights. I've given several as gifts.

Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer

28 reviews
Richard Rohr

The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2003

Great eye opener
Growing up in a fundamental Christian home and attending a conservative church,I was at first hesitant to read such a "out there" book by a catholic none the less. But it being recommended to me by my counselor as the middle road between the eastern way and the western, I was intrigued. I was so refreshed and renewed in my walk with Jesus to see Him as one who loves all and wants to be ...

Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening

11 reviews
Cynthia Bourgeault

Cowley Publications, 2004

A Comprehensive Examination of Centering Prayer and Contemplation
Bourgeault does a very good job of introducing the practice of Centering Prayer and placing it within the framework of contemplation. She links experience to insight which reveals the tremendous power of this simple yet profound practice. Bourgeault expands this practice with additional chapters on the practice of the Welcoming Prayer - a means of extending the practice of Centering Prayer to ...

Intimacy With God: An Introduction to Centering Prayer

8 reviews
Thomas Keating

Crossroad Publishing, 1996

An excellent introduction to a very valuable practice
This is another excellent book from Father Thomas Keating and signifies a solid introduction to the theory and practice of Centering Prayer. I encourage anyone who has immersed themselves in any of the wonderful eastern meditational practices, but who have always longed for something similar in a Christian context, to pick this book up and give Centering Prayer a try. This recommendation, ...

Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Prayer with Scripture (Crossroad Book)

1 review
Timothy M. Gallagher

The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2008

A practical and reliable spiritual guide
This volume is a practical, experience-based guide to the twin Ignatian practices of meditation and contemplation. Distilling from years of spiritual direction and retreat work, and drawing freely from the insights of well-known figures in the Catholic mystical tradition, Fr. Gallagher walks the reader through the various moments in Ignatian spirituality. The use of actual stories helps keep ...

Letter & Spirit, Vol. 4: Temple and Contemplation: God's Presence in the Cosmos, Church, and Human Heart (A ...

Emmaus Road Publishing, 2008

This is the fourth annual volume of the remarkably popular journal of biblical theology edited by Scott Hahn and his St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. This volume features important new works by Hahn, Gary Anderson, John Cavadini, Brant Pitre, among others. Inspired by the ground-breaking work of Yves Congar and Jean Danielou, this volume includes original and thought-provoking contributions on such topics as: the Tabernacle and the ...

Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus (Youth Specialties)

7 reviews
Mark Yaconelli

Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2006

Extraordinary Resource
This is a stunning book. It's grounded in a seven year Lilly Endowment study of youth ministry. The power of the book is in its authenticity, its deep reality. We lived in a speeded-up, multi-tasking society. A richer life lies in a real connection with God and deep relationships with others. Youth yearn for real conversations with loving adults, they need and respond beautifully to ...

Open Mind Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel

7 reviews
Thomas Keating

Continuum, 2006

I am enjoying this book.
This book has opened up a whole new path to prayer for me. It is what I was looking for. Centering Prayer,Contemplative Prayer, is explained well inThomas Keating's book.

Too Deep for Words: Rediscovering Lectio Divina

7 reviews
Thelma Hall

Paulist Press, 1988

An intimate book with prayer and lectio divina as goal...
For some time now I have owned the title, "Too Deep for Words: Rediscovering Lectio Divina" by Thelma Hall. I have used it for prayer, and I have used it for lectio. The hallmark use I have put the book to is its selections of scripture readings for prayer. This is not to say that the purpose of the book, lectio divina and its prayer form, its reading form of the scriptures is to be ignored. No, ...

New Seeds of Contemplation

45 reviews
Thomas Merton

New Directions, 2007

An Excellent Gateway to Merton and the Contemplative Life!
Seeds of Contemplation is a great gateway to Merton's many profound and enriching works on prayer and spirituality. It contains many short chapters which deal with the basics of the contemplative life - solitude and community, silence and words, distractions and dark nights, faith and doubt, etc. It is a helpful and essential guide for any who aspires to be a 'contemplative' - that is, to grow in ...

Armchair Mystic: Easing into Contemplative Prayer

10 reviews
Mark E. Thibodeaux

Saint Anthony Messenger Press, 2001

Useful Instructional Tool
Fr. Mark Thibodeaux is a spiritual director and retreat leader. When reading this book one gets the impression that he has taken a course on prayer and put it into book form. As such this book is exactly what the sub-title claims, a class on "Easing Into Contemplative Prayer." This book doesn't delve as deeply into the contemplative life as some, but it makes an excellent beginning text, ...

Walking With Kathleen Norris: A Contemplative Journey

6 reviews
Robert Waldron

Paulist Press, 2007

Attending Within
Walking with Kathleen Norris: A Contemplative Journey By Robert Waldron Walking with Kathleen Norris: A Contemplative Journey is Robert Waldron's third volume in the "Walking with" series published by Paulist Press. His book examines the interior journey of award winning poet and writer Kathleen Norris. Waldron spent three seasons with Norris, reading and contemplating her poetry and ...

Modern Spiritual Masters: Writings on Contemplation and Compassion (Modern Spiritual Masters)

2 reviews

Orbis Books, 2008

"I will give you a talisman..."
In the Introduction to his Modern Spiritual Masters: Writings on Contemplation and Compassion, Robert Ellsberg reminds us that there's no set formula for the cultivation of the spirit and that we should resist "the temptation to identify the gospel with sound doctrine, codes of behavior, liturgical rubrics, and ritual purity" (p. 2). But this doesn't mean that we can't be instructed and ...

Contemplative by Design: Creating Quiet Spaces for Retreats, Workshops, Churches, and Personal Spaces

1 review
Gerrie L. Grimsley, Jane J. Young

Upper Room, 2008

Not what I expected
I originally purchased this book because it was recommended in a magazine as a book for designing creative altars. But that isn't what this is about. What the book is actually about is creating what I have generally called "prayer stations." That is, some table (or "space") with objects or scriptures to interact with in a prayerful way. For example, in chapter 1, "All of Life," a table is ...

Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation

11 reviews
Martin Laird

Oxford University Press, USA, 2006

contemplative
I have read many books on contemplative prayer practice and I beleive this book is the most concise and well written one I have read. It is difficult to describe spiritual realities with spoken language but the author does a good job of doing this.

Growing Souls: Experiments in Contemplative Youth Ministry

1 review
Mark Yaconelli

Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2007

An excellent book putting contemplative youth ministry into practice
This book is written in acknowledgement that youth ministry culture has often become increasingly frantic, consumerist, dull, formulaic and spiritually stunted. However much of the thought in the book is applicable to other aspects of church life and it's a helpful read for those who don't play any part in youth ministry as well as for those for whom it is primarily written. The explanation of ...

Prayer

6 reviews
Hans Urs von Balthasar

Ignatius Press, 1986

A richly textured treatment of prayer
For American Christians lazily accustomed to psychospiritual pap, this book might seem overwrought and inaccessible. But don't get the wrong idea: this is not a book for arm-chair intellectuals either. Rather in this book we witness how a "kneeling theologian" savors the theological bouquet that is released in the vital practice of prayer. Doctrinally meticulous the way a lover is attentive to ...

Centering Prayer: Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form

4 reviews
Basil Pennington

Image, 1982

Slipping silently into Center
It is with great joy that I accompany the author into the communion of those saints who have mentored both of us; Thomas Merton, to whom he attributes the term, "Centering", Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, Thomas Keating, Edward Hays, the unnamed author of the ancient classic, "The Cloud of Unknowing", among others. His broad acquaintance with spiritual persons sharing the blessing of ...

The Shattered Lantern: Rediscovering a Felt Presence of God

4 reviews
Ronald Rolheiser

The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2005

Spiritual reading at its best
In this first book by Father Rolheiser he writes a clear and concise guide for those of us walking the contemporary and contemplative path. He contends that "today we, the children of Western culture, post-modern, adult children of the enlightenment, struggle with practical atheism. Our consciousness is clouded with narcissism, pragmatism, and unbridled restlessness so much so, that we are ...

Invitation to Love: The Way of Christian Contemplation

8 reviews
Thomas Keating

Continuum, 1994

Invitation to Deeper Prayer
INVITATION TO LOVE is the third of Father Keating's books to deal with Christian Comtemplation, centering prayer and developing a deeper understanding of our relationship to God. This type of prayer, unlike more active forms, enables us to "rest in God's presence" and can help us in our journey toward God. In this book, the author discusses the many false programs for happiness and levels of ...

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