CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
St. Teresa of Avila describes contemplative prayer as “nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him whom we know loves us.” It is different from meditation, which is an activity of one’s spirit through reading and thinking. Contemplation, on the other hand, is “the soul’s inward vision and the heart’s simpler response to God.” It is like the difference between working and enjoying the fruit of our work.
In the words of Thomas Dubay, “It is wordless awareness and love that we ourselves cannot initiate or prolong.”
In short, contemplative prayer is sitting quietly with God and experiencing God’s great love for us. No words are necessary. It is simply a “long, loving look” at God and allowing God to look back at us.
For further information, see:
Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton. Image Books, 1996.
Active Meditations for Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Keating. Continuum International Publishing Group, 1997.
Open Mind, Open Heart: the Contemplative Dimension of the Gospels by Thomas Keating. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2002.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church has a subsection on contemplative prayer.
St. Teresa of Avila describes contemplative prayer as “nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him whom we know loves us.” It is different from meditation, which is an activity of one’s spirit through reading and thinking. Contemplation, on the other hand, is “the soul’s inward vision and the heart’s simpler response to God.” It is like the difference between working and enjoying the fruit of our work.
In the words of Thomas Dubay, “It is wordless awareness and love that we ourselves cannot initiate or prolong.”
In short, contemplative prayer is sitting quietly with God and experiencing God’s great love for us. No words are necessary. It is simply a “long, loving look” at God and allowing God to look back at us.
For further information, see:
Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton. Image Books, 1996.
Active Meditations for Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Keating. Continuum International Publishing Group, 1997.
Open Mind, Open Heart: the Contemplative Dimension of the Gospels by Thomas Keating. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2002.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church has a subsection on contemplative prayer.