This document discusses the spirituality of Thomas Merton and other Christian mystics including Karl Rahner, Teilhard de Chardin, Henri Nouwen. It provides insights into their views on topics such as solitude, contemplation, spiritual direction, peace, and the search for the true self. Merton saw solitude as necessary for compassion and spoke of accepting imperfections. Nouwen emphasized openness to conversion and saw solitude as the place of conversion. Teilhard viewed evolution as movement toward consciousness in Christ. Rahner believed in finding God in everyday experiences through living a mysticism of ordinary life.
Looks at different ways of looking at Pastoral Counseling in terms of such things a coaching, discipleship, mentoring, spiritual direction, and historical and clinical pastoral care.
Looks at different ways of looking at Pastoral Counseling in terms of such things a coaching, discipleship, mentoring, spiritual direction, and historical and clinical pastoral care.
THE CHALLENGE FOR MODERN-DAY UNITARIANS AND UNIVERSALISTS: RECLAIMING THE SAC...Dr Ian Ellis-Jones
An Address Delivered on 4 October 2009 at the Biennial Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association (ANZUUA) held at The Centre, Randwick, New South Wales - Copyright Ian Ellis-Jones 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
Dadaji, the living embodiment of Satyanarayan, awakens us to Mahanam, to the Truth within. That is, whether we meet Dada in person or through a book such as this. And, the time approaches when the whole world accepts Eternal Religion. Dadaji's Love, Divine Fragrance and His revelations of Truth within as Mahanam usher in the Golden Age of Truth.
THE CHALLENGE FOR MODERN-DAY UNITARIANS AND UNIVERSALISTS: RECLAIMING THE SAC...Dr Ian Ellis-Jones
An Address Delivered on 4 October 2009 at the Biennial Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association (ANZUUA) held at The Centre, Randwick, New South Wales - Copyright Ian Ellis-Jones 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
Dadaji, the living embodiment of Satyanarayan, awakens us to Mahanam, to the Truth within. That is, whether we meet Dada in person or through a book such as this. And, the time approaches when the whole world accepts Eternal Religion. Dadaji's Love, Divine Fragrance and His revelations of Truth within as Mahanam usher in the Golden Age of Truth.
Slides supporting a message by Mike Popovich, Freedom Ministries, Church, Colorado Springs, CO.
Topic: When You Rest God Works
Date: 7/13/2014
Link to full Message:
http://freedomministries.tv/media-library/2014-messages/7-13-14/werestgodworks/
10 Content Creation Tactics For When The Well Runs DryAutomated Insights
Everyone knows content is king – but when you’re faced with deadlines and writer’s block, content can seem like a tyrant. It’s time to put the monarchy back in its place. This webinar covers 10 essential tactics you can use to generate new content ideas, fast.
Learn how to get your creative juices flowing even when you don’t feel like writing a word. Explore new ways to approach your content.
Pope Francis and The Joy of the Gospel: Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii GaudiumEnrique Soros
The doctrine, the principles of the Church, don't change, but since the world changes constantly, the Church must find pastoral ways to reach out to the world accordingly.
Are we open to the signs of the time?
Are we open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?
The Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis presents to us a giant challenge: embracing all human beings, to bring them closer to the redemption of Jesus Christ.
The author of this power point, Enrique Soros, offers presentations of this work at institutions.
This presentation may be downloaded for free.
Changes are not authorized without consent of the author.
This power point may be sent for free by email in its primary version, which keeps animations and characteristics of the original show. They are not active on this web page.. You may request it to e@schoenstatt.biz.
About the author:
Enrique Soros is Argentinean and lives for 17 years in Washington, D.C. He is a member of CLAdeES, Latin American Center for Evangelization, institution that with CELAM, Latin American Bishops Council, offers several web courses, among them, one on the Apostolic Letter The Joy of the Gospel. Enrique is responsible for this course in the United States.
He is Press Liaison between CELAM and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, he coordinates the digital project of CELAM Migrantes Hoy www.migranteshoy.celam.org and works with other CELAM projects.
He is the author of the book Conquering all Hearts and as a journalist he contributes articles to several international news agencies, like Zenit, AICA, Catholic.net and Aleteia.
He is a member of the Informatic Network for the Church in Latin America, a joint project of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and CELAM and of Press People Club. He is Vice-chair of the Association of Ecclesial Movements and New Communities in the Archdiocese of Washington.
Enrique belongs to the Schoenstatt Movement, coordinates the International Schoenstatt Communicators Association, is a member of the Washington Archdiocesan Catechetical Leaders Association, and works in several mission and pastoral projects in the United States and Latin America.
Enrique's email address is: e@schoenstatt.biz
The women of Proverbs 31 Ministries understand what it means to search for encouragement and perspective during the everyday moments in life.
Now you can uncover God’s truth on good days or hard days, in the car pool line or the doctor’s office with devotions designed to meet you where you are.
This 14 day reading plan is built from the NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women by Zondervan.
Melalui Spiritual Check-Up, Donald Whitney meminta kita untuk memeriksa hati kita untuk mengetahui seberapa sehat jiwa kita. Daftar evaluasi yang diberikannya tidak hanya menolong kita dalam memeriksa kesehatan rohani, tetapi dengan cara yang mendalam juga memberikan nutrisi ilahi bagi jiwa kita.
Bagi orang-orang percaya yang merindukan kebangunan rohani pribadi, inilah pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang harus selalu kita tanyakan. Sungguh merupakan alat yang tepat untuk menyiapkan hati jemaat bagi Perjamuan Kudus, atau pertemuan-pertemuan raya!
The natural friendship between science and spiritualitySuzanne Yada
Presentation given by David Brett Richardson of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley's Personal Theology series, December 4, 2011. Uploaded here with his permission.
Harmony: The joy of 'unity in diversity' beyond apparent duality Divyanshi Chugh
This is the output of a year-long yoga-based research project on Harmony. It consists a literature review from the works of an Indian yogi and psychologist, Sri Aurobindo, as well as the findings from a deep personal inquiry on "harmony" within oneself.
"Go boldly forth!" (EG261) says Pope Francis, and we can do this in our parish community - but where do we start? The power of taking action in our local community to reach out to meet those who are poor, vulnerable and oppressed and discover Christ in them is an inspiring for every person who experiences this. Jesus Christ and Pope Francis inspire us with examples of being "border-crossers" of going to 'the margins' of society and loving those we meet. We can follow their example, and doing so as a parish community is a transformational experience of God's evangelising love for the world. In this workshop you will explore how to engage with your local community, the practical steps of beginning a local outreach program and gain an understanding how your Catholic parishioners can grow in their faith through taking action in your community with people and families who are in need of support.
Jenny Collins-White is the National Program Manager for Advocacy and Mission Formation at Catholic Mission. She has studied mission, scripture and theology extensively and holds a Bachelor Degree in Social Work.
Jenny is married and has 2 children and has been involved in leading her parish choir for more than 20 years. Today, the choir boasts more than 45 members and the outreach through music to community of people with disabilities and the elderly bring great joy to all involved. Additionally, Jenny has led Catholic Mission's outreach and advocacy programs for more than 15 years. Jenny's national and local programs engage thousands of children, women and men in outreach and a considered transformational and a powerful tool for evangelisation. They include Village Space, "Get-Involved-Locally" (a homework support and community relationship program with Sudanese refugees), and the campaign to 'End Child Detention.'
An overview of the positive role of anxiety, and how the work of modern European philosophers can inform a unique approach to helping people face up to, and therefore work through, their fear of fear
It's best to avoid anxiety, or is it? In this presentation, originally given in September 2010 at the Vingsted conference centre in Denmark, Professor Emmy van Deurzen, from the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling, draws on a philosophical tradition and her own experience as a psychotherapist, to show when anxiety can be a guide to what needs to be fixed in one's life to reach greater wellbeing.
Veil of Mysticism - Paths to enlightened Faith - Monika PetryMonika Petry
Published by FROMM-Verlag
on 09th Nov. 2011
ISBN 978-3-8416-0236-7
You may read this book gratis, print out the text and load down the MP3-Files. Any modification of the text and the book is illegal as well as using this book for commercial purposes. The Copyright and related rights of FROMM publishes are to be respected. Thank you!
3. THOMAS MERTON
Born in France
Autobiography: Seven Storey Mountain
He met a Hindu Brahmachari during the
World Congress of Religions. He suggested
to him to read „The Imitation of Christ‟ and
„The Confessions‟ of Augustine.
By profession he was a journalist. Later he
joined the Cistercian order.
5. Solitude is a necessity to grow in
compassion. According to him, solitude is a
necessity – a way to compassion.
He also invites us to rejoice in our
imperfections.
“My task is to be what I am” - Merton
6. Self-acceptance is a necessary thing
for self-integration. It is a way to the
real self.
For him, the moment of self-acceptance
was the moment of healing.
In his book „The New Man‟ he discusses
about the false self and actual self.
“Letting go off false self is important to
be in search of the new self.” – Merton
7. False self = Non-acceptance of
one‟s self
True self = Realization of Christ
within oneself.
“The Christ we seek is within us, in
our innermost core.” – Merton
8. “The ability to accept oneself leads
one to accept others.” – Merton.
-According to him, the task of a
Christian is to accept ourselves as
we are in the moments of
difficulties, disloyalties etc.
9. HIS IDEA OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
He was it as the growth in interior freedom.
According to Merton, it is the way to union
with God.
According to him, Spiritual Direction (S.D) is
a continuous process of formation and
guidance. It is not something merely
psychological.
10. to penetrate beneath the surface of
our lives and to evoke our inner
freedom and truth.
to discern the movements of the
Spirits and to sort out which comes
from the Holy Spirit and which
comes from evil spirit
11. Peace is the touchstone of spirituality
He worked for the peace movements. He
vehemently wrote against the second World
War.
He was very compassionate and peaceful at
his core.
According to him, the root of war is FEAR.
-His life was a life of non-violent
resistance. He was also influenced by
Gandhian ideas.
12. Contemplation is seeking God’s Will and
finding God’s mercy. It is something very
basic to Merton.
-God‟s will is connected with something of
our own identity. So our vocation is to realize
our true self.
-In his „Contemplative Prayer’, he uses
desert as the image for contemplation.
-Merton gives importance to the prayer of
Heart. It helps one to be rooted in the
grounded of our being. Prayer of Heart is the
yearning for the simple presence of God.
13. Our union with God depends on twofold
movements i.e. We enter into ourselves &
We transcend ourselves. That is, we shift
from living out of our isolated ego to the living
out of our liberated true self which is
dependent on others and God in the Spirit.
Here Merton, as a spiritual guide, leads us
beyond the intellectual and psychological
analysis of our problems to the integrating
acceptance of mystery at the heart of our
lives. So prayer operates at a deeper level –
deeper than our consciousness and psyche.
14.
15. TO SUM UP….
Thomas Merton speaks to us of
personal integrity to search for God. His
life portrays the necessity of solitude in
nurturing the interiority and enabling us
to live at the core of our being.
16. HENRI NOUWEN (1932 – 1996)
Born in Holland.
From 1957 to 1964, he was in Nijmegen and
was educated in Menninger Clinical-Pastoral
education centre. Later he taught at Yale
university and Harvard Divinity School
Towards the end of his life, he was in L‟Arche
Day Break Community, a community of the
physically and mentally challenged people.
He is called as the „prophet of conversion‟
17. Five points, spread in his books:
Openness to conversion
Solitude as the place of conversion
Ministry as fostering conversion
A sense of identity
A sense of mission as fruit of
conversion.
18. OPENNESS TO CONVERSION
In his famous classic „Wounded healer’
he says that it is our unhealed
woundedness that poses a danger to
real conversion. At the same time, our
own woundedness can be a source of
healing to others, if we accept these
very painful wounds in our lives, without
denying or neglecting it.
19. We need to create a space within ourselves
where we can welcome others as guests in
the home of our hearts. This hospitality
implies self-emptying i.e. our presence is no
more threatening, but inviting.
When I am open to others, I am open to
myself.
20. SOLITUDE AS THE PLACE OF CONVERSION
Nouwen refers to Thomas Merton who found
solitude as the source not only for self-
knowledge but also for experiencing empathy
in their brokenness.
In „The Way of the Heart’, he speaks of
compulsive ministers. They cannot but serve.
They are afraid of solitude. They constantly
look for affirmation outside of themselves.
21. He speaks of 4th century desert fathers. For
them, desert was not just a therapeutic
place, but a place of conversion. It can
transform us into loving people. “Charity, not
silence, is the purpose of the spiritual life and
ministry.”
For him, purpose of solitude is to discover
the way of the heart. This process of
discovering is simple, yet demanding and
humbling.
22. For Nouwen, ministry is faith-seeking healing
– both for the ministry and the one who is
served.
He says that conversion is to move from
professionalism of ministry to spirituality of
ministry. This demands both self-affirmation
and self-sacrifice. In other words, it is a
movement from role-definition to careful and
critical contemplation.
23. In the „Monk and the Cripples’, he speaks of
powerlessness of the ministers. In such a
situation, we need to be in solidarity with the
powerlessness of the people.
It means that we need to resist the tendency to
DOMINATE. This approach to ministry is
possible, only if contemplative prayer is seen as
the basis and centre of our ministry. It helps us
see those whom, we serve, reveal to us by their
suffering. It also helps to see God‟s face in the
lives of people. It frees us to let go of our need
to control.
24. SENSE OF IDENTITY AS A FRUIT OF CONVERSION
In „Make All Things New’, he writes
about the sense of identity in God
as the fruit of conversion. Our
spiritual life is real when we live it
out in our joys and sorrows.
25. We need to have a renewed
sense of mission. This gives us
a scope to live like Jesus.
Conversion touches the every
fiber of our being.
26.
27. STAGES OF EVOLUTION ACCORDING TO
TEILHARD
: Evolution of Cosmos.
: Evolution of Life
: Movement of universe to self-
consciousness. According to Teilhard, there
is an element of consciousness in
everything. In human beings, it is fully
present.
: Christ is seen as the organic
and physical centre of the universe in the
further process of evolution.
28. TEILHARD DE CHARDIN’S CONTRIBUTION
TO SPIRITUALITY AND MYSTICISM
Teihard was basically a mystic.
His mysticism is the mysticism of action
and satisfaction. We can call him as the
global prophet.
29. His concept of Christogenesis is something
very original. It is the convergence in a
universal and powerful sense of universal
and Cosmic Christ.
He advocated „pan-Christian monism‟. In his
book „the Divine Milieu‟ he frequently
discusses of Christ-centered mysticism.
30. To sum it, for him, contemplation is the
perfect integration of outer activities with
inner life.
His basic theological principle: To be is
to be united.
31. He is called as the “Quiet Mover of
the Church.”
The Father of the Catholic Church
in the 20th century.
One of the very prominent
theologians of the Vatican II.
32.
33.
34. FAITH IN GOD: TRUSTING THE MYSTERY
“To speak of God is to speak of human
person and vice versa.” – Karl Rahner.
He described God as a mystery in human
experience. God is nothing but the depth
dimension in such experiences as solitude,
friendship, community, death and hope.
God is not one object among many. He is the
Ultimate Ground..
35. LIVING THE MYSTICISM OF EVERYDAY
LIFE(EXPERIENCE OF GRACE ALL THE TIME)
To the field of spirituality, his famous
contribution is „EVERYDAY
MYSTICISM‟. I.e. Sanctification of every
moment. It is nothing but finding God in
all things. Here Rahner was inspired by
St. Ignatius.
Everyday mysticism is responding to the
self-communication of God.
36. In drinking a cup of coffee, and in
talking with a friend, I should experience
God‟s grace. We are invited to discover
God‟s action in the simple acts of life.
This approach also expands the scope
of religious experience beyond the
practice of daily life.
37.
38.
39. LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR AND LOVE OF GOD: BOTH
ARE SAME.
Loving those, who have done
injustice to us, is important.