Best books on contemplative prayer

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Writer_for_God

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Hi,
Lately I have been reading the works of St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross. I would like to read more about contemplative prayer, something which ironically has been quite a mystery for me. I read St Teresa and John of the Cross many years ago and had no idea what they were talking about at the time. Today, it interests me more. I would like to read the best books there are on contemplative prayer and could use a little help. When I search for contemplative prayer I find a lot of books written about centering prayer, New Age and Eastern forms of “contemplation” which I know are totally different from what the Catholic saints and doctors were talking about when they spoke of contemplation.

Could anyone recommend the best Catholic writings on the subject of contemplative prayer. Also, please pray that I get to know what is meant by contemplative prayer. I can’t say I have ever experienced it, so I am baffled, but it interests me more now. I also think I know some people who may become interested in the faith through learning about contemplative prayer.
Thank you all for any reading suggestions and prayers. God bless you. Amen.
 
Thomas Merton’s “The Inner Experience” might be a good book to start with.

How-to books: “Christian Meditation: Experience the Presence of God” and “The Contemplative Heart”, both by James Finley.

Also, the classics “The Sacrament of the Present Moment” by Jean-Pierre de Caussade and “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence.

The Cloud of Unknowing is a classic but I’ve heard it’s not for beginners.
 
If you want to read an “over the shoulder” example of marvelous contemplative prayer, read Gabrielle Bossis’s “He and I”, it’s her prayer journal.

Look at the Amazon Reviews.
 
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Hidden Mountain, Secret Garden: A Theological Contemplation on Prayer Paperback – November 23, 2012
by Dr. Anthony Lynn Lilles STD (Author)

The Fulfillment of All Desire July 1, 2006
by Ralph Martin

The Science of the Cross (The Collected Works of Edith Stein Vol. 6)Feb 3, 2003
by Edith Stein and Josephine Koeppel (Translator)

Fire Within: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and the Gospel-On PrayerJun 1, 1990
by Thomas DuBay

Peace
 
Thomas Merton’s Contemplative Prayer or New Seeds of Contemplation.
M. Eugene Boylan’s Difficulties in Mental Prayer.
 
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I learned a lot from The Cloud of Unknowing, and I practice this kind of contemplation for brief periods.
 
Dear Writer_for_God,

I also recommend as did hazcompat, these two books:

The Science of the Cross (The Collected Works of Edith Stein Vol. 6)Feb 3, 2003
by Edith Stein and Josephine Koeppel (Translator)

Fire Within: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and the Gospel-On PrayerJun 1, 1990
by Thomas DuBay

Both can help, since you’ve already begun with two Carmelite “stars”:
St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila
  1. Edith Stein entered the Carmelite order as a convert from her Jewish upbringing and her book on St. John of the Cross is one I’ve read and re-read as well as her essays on women.
  2. I was grateful to read Father DuBay’s book because he related the works of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila to the Gospels in particular, showing that we are ALL called to holiness and that the gift of infused contemplation is intended to be asked for and received not only by extraordinary persons but is within the range of ordinary persons as well, by God’s Grace.
I’d add - Excellent one for Beginners whether they are lay persons, seminarians, religious brothers, sisters, deacons or priests. It is written by a layman for lay persons primarily but all can profit from it, Catholics especially, but even non Catholics. The title is:
The Ordinary Path to Holiness. The Introduction was written by the late Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR and I loved his concluding words:
This is one of those rare books that is to be lived as well as read. But read it with your soul as well as your mind, and with your heart, as well as your eyes.
Click to expand...
 
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What about Introduction to the Devout Life by St Francis de Sale …
 
I would suggest nearly anything concerning Trappist spirituality. Their modern writers seem to be at the forefront of contemplative instruction in our current era. I would, however, try to stay away from centering prayer. It can very easily lead to quietism and can be detrimental if experimented with without close supervision.

I would suggest Basil Pennington, OCSO; Hubert van Zeller, OCSO; Thomas Merton, OCSO; Eugene Boylan, OCR (also Trappist, just uses a different abbreviation)

Dom Pennington and Dom Boylan are great starting points for Contemplative Prayer.

Dom van Zeller is great for contemplative prayer with regards to suffering and in a penitential context.

Fr. Merton is excellent in his contemplative works for the depth to which he penetrates the topic of contemplation. The only problem with some of his contemplative works is that for many they can be too deep. Some, especially Contemplative Prayer are meant to be taken in the context of one spiritual master speaking to another. So much is taken for granted that to the beginner it could be confusing at best and misleading at worst.
 
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I see some very good books and authors mentioned above. To those I would add:

“Into The Silent Land; A Guide To The Christian Practice of Contemplation,” by Martin Laird, O.S.A.

“Time For God; A Guide To Mental Prayer,” by Rev. Jacques Philippe
 
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Thank you for all these suggestions. I created a document just to list all the works mentioned by all of you here. Thank you again.
 
I recommend that you stick with the basics, St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, Thomas a Kempis, Contemplative prayer is a gift from God. It is not something that is brought about by techniques, breathing exercises, or anything like that.
 
I am not looking for any technique to achieve contemplation. I can honestly say I don’t really understand what contemplation is. It interests me though. I don’t really know why. Maybe it is the mystery of it. I just feel like God wants me to learn more about it, even if I don’t ever get it.
 
I recommend reading a prayer journal, notes taken from periods of regular prayer.

A priest of Opus Dei recommended that I read Gabrielle Bossis’s He and I, which is her journal taken down over decades.

What I find is that just listening to her back and forth helps me learn how to pray conversationally, how to contemplate the points that God chooses for me to ruminate over.

Here’s a sample.

April 7 - In the train between Paris and Grenoble. A young married couple were talking tenderly in the dining car. “If only you talked to Me with the same joy… It would be so simple… so wonderful…” Watching the high Alps, their peaks white with snow, their foothills flushed with the rose of peach trees, I was adoring His power and tenderness. I invited Him to come down into these wild regions, and so that the ice might not freeze His feet, I laid down a carpet of love. “From now on spend your life delighting Me. You will feel transformed. Please Me. Live for Me. This is the true meaning of your godhood.”

April 14 - In the desert before the mirages I said to Him, “Perhaps I’ll see You, too, in a mirage?” And He replied, “Seek truth above everything else.”

April 17 - Visiting the White Fathers. “Ask Me for every grace. Don’t ever think That’s impossible. He couldn’t give me that’.”

April 19 - In the desert, on the way to El-Golea. “Plant seeds: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit - so that these places may be sanctified in honour of the Father. . . our Father.”

April 23 - In the desert. Oued Ouaouseur. “Ask Me to give you a love for what is eternal.” “You remember when you were little you said to Me, ‘If some day there is anything good in me, please keep it from showing, and keep me from knowing anything about it’.”

April 29 - Carthage. - As I kept myself in spirit in His heart I wondered how I should find the time to be as near to the Blessed Virgin, and He said to me, “Be in this heart formed in My mother’s womb.”

May 2 - Tunis. My mother lived for God alone. There was no selfishness in her, no egotism. Her life was a perfect response to the purpose for which the Creator had fashioned her. Imitate her."

May 9 - From Tunis to Constantine I was looking at thousands of prairie flowers. “Daily multiply your ‘acts of love’ with the thought of giving joy to My eyes.”

May 22 - Algiers. Notre-Dame d’Afrique, after Communion. “I am the Living Heart.” At the Station where Christ is stripped of His garments. “Keep a careful watch on your words. Possess your poverty.” After a little suffering. “I must recognize Myself in you.”

May 30 - “When you devoted a whole day to a dear and intimate friend, do you remember how happy you were? Give Me your times of solitude with still greater joy” (…) “Live in the home of your Lord and Bridegroom (His heart). Do you believe in Him?.. Ask Me for love. Ask Me, I am burning with desire to give it to you.”

June 8 - As I was asking the Blessed Virgin for a conversion. “A soul is costly. It takes time, sacrifices. Suffer for it. Unite your sufferings with Mine so that they may be more pleasing to the Father.”
 
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