Hesychasm in Catholicism?

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I have recently done a little private study into the early roots of Contemplation in the Christian Tradition. Out of the three early monastic/contemplative forms, I have only found Cennobitic and Eremitic Monasticism extant in modern Catholicism. Does anyone know what happened to Hesychasm in Catholic Tradition that led to its disappearance? Is Hesychasm still allowed in Eastern Catholic Rites?

I haven’t really been able to find an answer in my literature available in the seminary library and the priests I have talked to about this are unfamiliar with Hesychasm. Any information would be appreciated. This has been itching at the back of my mind for a while.

Thanks,
Br. Ben
 
Look for works on the Jesus Prayer, or the Prayer of the Heart, and there will often be references to Hesychasm. The late Fr. George Maloney, S.J., wrote “Prayer of the Heart; The Contemplative Tradition of the Christian East” (Ave Maria Press,1980), and the first chapter is on Hesychasm. I also have an anthology of Thomas Merton’s writings called “Merton and Hesychasm; The Prayer of the Heart” (Fons Vitae, 2003). There are several other Catholic authors who address this topic, mostly from the Cistercian and Benedictine traditions.

I have found, however, that several CAF contributors get wary when this topic comes up, because they fear it will lead to Quietism or what they consider to be New Age kinds of prayer, so I usually don’t participate in these threads here, but know that interest in this type of prayer also exists in the Catholic tradition.
 
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