Carmelite contemplation

[dbranch]

Hi @JimR-OCDS

I am reading Fire Within by Thomas Dubay. As I’m understanding it contemplation is entirely given. Why then read about it? It comes or it doesn’t… right?

I am certainly in the first mansion. I mean, I’ve only been Catholic for six months and free from habitual mortal sin for ten. Im not good at praying the rosary and much of the book I can’t understand, or if I understand it with my mind I can’t apply it.

I want deeper awareness of God.

Is Carmelite spirituality not for novices?

 

[Justin_Mary]

Is Carmelite spirituality not for novices?

Like everything else in life, there is a beginning. You can & should step into Carmelite Spirituality a little bit at a time.

Search Google for Brother Lawrence’s Presence of God. Practice what he suggests often, especially before & after prayer.

Contact the Third Order Carmelites & find a group near you.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Not sure what “entirely given,” means, but the way to usually receive the gift of contemplation, is through prayer. Without prayer, growth doesn’t usually happen, but that’s up to God, not me.

Also the “Interior Castle” is usually read after “The Way of Perfection,” and after some time with contemplative prayer, or "mental prayer: as St Teresa puts it.

Regardless if the method of prayer used, St Teresa emphasises that we keep ourselves in the presence of God and aware of who it is we’re praying to.

Carmelite Spirituality has a beginning as everything. It may be, it’s not where God wants you right now, which is why you’re not being spiritually fed by it right now.

The goal is to let go and let God.

Don’t try to force your spirituality, it’s not the way it works and you’ll end up frustrated. Just learn your verbal prayers by heart first and as I already posted, keep aware of who it is you’re praying to, Jesus Christ our heavenly King.

Jim

 

[Sirach2]

As Brother Lawrence taught, there is a manner of keeping one’s heart in the presence of God, and this is called “acquired” contemplation. One “acquires” the ability to focus on the indwelling God, with or without words, many times throughout one’s day. It is technically contemplation, but I think you may be referring to “infused” contemplation, which is truly God Himself infusing His presence into your spirit supernaturally. Yes, this is “given” (as you worded it), and cannot be acquired by willing it or by thinking it into one’s being.

At your initial stage of coming into relationship with God, it may not be time to think about contemplative prayer, for this is usually enabled at a later time in one’s spiritual development.