Contemplation and Meditation

[GoodTony]

What is the difference between contemplation and meditation?

 

[Anathama_Sit]

Greetings GoodTony,

Please refer to the paragraphs 2705-2708 for Meditation and paragraphs 2709-2719 for contemplation in your Catechism of the Catholic Church. I hope this helps.

God Bless,
Anathama SIt

 

[Julia_Mae]

What is the difference between contemplation and meditation?

In meditation you are purposely focusing your mind on something - of a spiritual nature in this case.

In contemplation your are purposely … not … also of spiritual nature.

The CCC on contemplation isn’t bad, actually…

 

[Catherine_S]

Meditation is what we** do** in prayer*! We are in*** control!
Contemplation is a** gift!** It is what God does in us!
We can not make this happen!
It is about*** letting go** and** genuine surrender** to God.*

 

[Bookcat]

See the CCC quotes above.

As to Contemplation it is to be noted that there is acquired contemplation…and infused.

 

[Anathama_Sit]

See the CCC quotes above.

As to Contemplation it is to be noted that there is acquired contemplation…and infused.

Greetings Bookcat,

Care to elaborate on acquired contemplation and infused?

God BLess,
Anathama Sit

 

[Bookcat]

Greetings Bookcat,

Care to elaborate on acquired contemplation and infused?

God BLess,
Anathama Sit

First I should note that various authors and various schools use terms differently.

Basically acquired contemplation can be on the philosophical level (read Josef Pieper on “natural contempation”) or theological …or in the sense of a kind of contemplation in prayer where things become more of a intuitive gaze etc (such as prayer of simplicity).

The other is that which is given directly by God (infused contemplation such as prayer of quiet).

 

[Anathama_Sit]

First I should note that various authors and various schools use terms differently.

Basically acquired contemplation can be on the philosophical level (read Josef Pieper on “natural contempation”) or theological …or in the sense of a kind of contemplation in prayer where things become more of a intuitive gaze etc (such as prayer of simplicity).

The other is that which is given directly by God (infused contemplation such as prayer of quiet).

Greetings Bookcat,

What would wordless prayer that one turns themself to the Presence of God and rests there without thinking or saying anything, but merely resting in His Presence fall under?

I am wondering if you have any sources that I could read more about for these terms. I enjoy reading about contemplative prayer.

God Bless,
Anathama Sit

 

[Bookcat]

Greetings Bookcat,

What would wordless prayer that one turns themself to the Presence of God and rests there without thinking or saying anything, but merely resting in His Presence fall under?

I am wondering if you have any sources that I could read more about for these terms. I enjoy reading about contemplative prayer.

God Bless,
Anathama Sit

Spiritual Theology has a very long section in the card catalog.

(that is that strange box in libraries where books where listed Prior to the the Computer and internet).

And many many varied schools of thought and of spirituality and writers (complete with different uses of the same words ). And at times various disagreements between them! (there was in fact such a debate during the first part of the 20th Century on the very subject at hand…).

One could mention for example-- The Ways Of Mental Prayer by Dom Vitalis Lehodey OCR or the works of Garrigou-Langrange (Three Ages of the Interior Life and also Christian Perfection and Contemplation). Or that of Fr. Jordan Aumann (Spiritual Theology).

Here is one approach (drawing largely from St. Theresa and the Carmelites): domcentral.org/study/aumann/st/st12.htm (note he discusses acquired contemplation in the section before that marked “Contemplation” for St. Theresa used the term for infused contemplation). And : domcentral.org/study/aumann/teresasgr.htm

(here is his whole work there online domcentral.org/study/aumann/st/default.htm#contents)

Another work online: ewtn.com/library/THEOLOGY/LITCOM.htm#3 (from two who are very important to my wife and I --Jacques and Raissa Maritain. By the way in a later work he changes a few things they mentions there about masked contemplation).

Important for this topic: ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFMED.HTM

A short but very practical good work: scepterpublishers.org/product/index.php?FULL=557

etc etc etc…

 

[Bookcat]

Another very short book that can be of interest: scepterpublishers.org/product/index.php?FULL=680 Makes extensive used of the Catechism

(I have not finished this one…my wife and I started it on a road trip…but we had various things to read at the time…)

As I noted there are many many works over the centuries…