C
catholicgirl201
Guest
What is the Church’s stance/position on meditation?
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J
Jeffe
Guest
It depends on your definition of meditation, if you’re meditating on the Lord, Eucharist, the trinity, etc. than you’re on the right track. Also, just simple breathing exercises to help calm oneself is alright too.What is the Church’s stance/position on meditation?
Example: Meditation is used while praying the rosary, while we focus on the prayers and the great mysteries of our faith.
From my understanding if you start meditating/praying for self-enlightenment than you’re straying of the correct path.
C
CountrySteve
Guest
i would say buddhist mediation would not be acceptable
J
Jesus_123
Guest
:bible1:
I have understood more than all my teachers:
because
thy testimonies
are my
meditation.
+ Psalms 118:99
+Pray
er is essentially the heart of one’s soul “talking” to its God . . . on the other hand . . . meditation is taught in Sacred :bible1: Scripture and by Holy Mother Church as essentially being the heart of one’s soul “listening” to its God . . . the ultimate goal of these actions of the soul being that at the center . . . of the deep interior quiet within the heart of the soul . . . the soul enters into . . . *constant holy conversation and communion with its God *. . .
Lectio Divina (divine reading) is perhaps the clearest most well lit holy pathway for the soul to “listen” to its God . . . essentially it is encountering God in the reading of a literary level of holy writings in Christendom believed to be especially blessed and anointed of God . . . first order and always primary of which is God’s **Holy Word **. . . Sacred :bible1: Scripture . . . and which group of writings can also include The Holy Rule of St. Benedict . . . The Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . writings of the Fathers and Saints of the Church, etc., . . . and as such . . . when prayerfully read the . . . **Holy Spirit **. . . Wonderful Counselor of Our God . . . is abundantly available to help regarding the reading and understanding of same . . .
The holy Benedictine monk Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki , O.S.B. of the Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania here in the United States . . . recommends that we . . . *slow down radically *. . . when reflecting on inspired material . . . so as to . . . ***open up freely ***. . . to the treasury of insights contained therein . . . he goes on further to share with beautiful simplicity:
I have understood more than all my teachers:
because
thy testimonies
are my
meditation.
+ Psalms 118:99
+Pray
er is essentially the heart of one’s soul “talking” to its God . . . on the other hand . . . meditation is taught in Sacred :bible1: Scripture and by Holy Mother Church as essentially being the heart of one’s soul “listening” to its God . . . the ultimate goal of these actions of the soul being that at the center . . . of the deep interior quiet within the heart of the soul . . . the soul enters into . . . *constant holy conversation and communion with its God *. . .Lectio Divina (divine reading) is perhaps the clearest most well lit holy pathway for the soul to “listen” to its God . . . essentially it is encountering God in the reading of a literary level of holy writings in Christendom believed to be especially blessed and anointed of God . . . first order and always primary of which is God’s **Holy Word **. . . Sacred :bible1: Scripture . . . and which group of writings can also include The Holy Rule of St. Benedict . . . The Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . writings of the Fathers and Saints of the Church, etc., . . . and as such . . . when prayer
fully read the . . . **Holy Spirit **. . . Wonderful Counselor of Our God . . . is abundantly available to help regarding the reading and understanding of same . . .The holy Benedictine monk Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki , O.S.B. of the Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania here in the United States . . . recommends that we . . . *slow down radically *. . . when reflecting on inspired material . . . so as to . . . ***open up freely ***. . . to the treasury of insights contained therein . . . he goes on further to share with beautiful simplicity:
Lectio Divina (divine reading)
Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki , O.S.B. (Order of St. Benedict)
Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki , O.S.B. (Order of St. Benedict)
“It is the **monastic insight **that reading, if it be authentic, cannot be undertaken simply with the eyes and the mind. Rather it must involve the whole person: mind, heart, body and spirit. It is reading not so much for information as for formation, that is, for encounter with the living God in this moment in such a way that one’s heart 
catches fire and one’s life is transformed … In St. Benedict’s day reading a sacred or spiritual text was practiced not so much for the sake of ‘information,’ but rather in order to be ‘formed’: that is, to be inwardly changed or shaped. …
Thus the aim of lectio divina (divine reading), i.e., pondering the material in a slow, prayerful way, is to dispose ourselves to welcome God’s ever-present grace and His efforts to conquer our hearts and transform us more and more into a holy people . . . ”
catches fire and one’s life is transformed … In St. Benedict’s day reading a sacred or spiritual text was practiced not so much for the sake of ‘information,’ but rather in order to be ‘formed’: that is, to be inwardly changed or shaped. …Thus the aim of lectio divina (divine reading), i.e., pondering the material in a slow, prayer
ful way, is to dispose ourselves to welcome God’s ever-present grace and His efforts to conquer our hearts and transform us more and more into a holy people . . . ”
:bible1: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. - Psalm 19:14
. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Dear Lord+
. . . Sweet Spirit of Our Holy God+
. . . guide and direct+
. . . thank You Dear Lord+
. . . Sweet Spirit of Our Holy God+
. . . guide and direct+
J
Jesus_123
Guest
+Just to clarify a bit . . . there is a . . . vast difference . . . between Christian meditation . . . which focuses upon God and the truths and things of our Holy Triune God . . . and eastern meditation techniques of other religions which focus on the emptying of the mind . . . and often use self-hypnosis inducing mantras . . . many of which invoke other religions’ false gods . . . which is incredibly dangerous . . .
As one of our wise teachers of the Faith generously shared during a study on Christian meditation . . . there is nothing the devil loves more than an “empty” mind . . . a blank canvas which he can use to influence and fill the soul with subtle . . . and not-so-subtle . . . evil . . . through devious lies, insinuations and deceptive leadings . . . which draw the soul away from the one true God and truth . . .
Below are two excellent well documented links regarding the subject of meditation from a Christian and Catholic perspective . . .
:compcoff: Link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_meditation
:compcoff: Link to Vatican Information:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspects_of_Christian_meditation
As one of our wise teachers of the Faith generously shared during a study on Christian meditation . . . there is nothing the devil loves more than an “empty” mind . . . a blank canvas which he can use to influence and fill the soul with subtle . . . and not-so-subtle . . . evil . . . through devious lies, insinuations and deceptive leadings . . . which draw the soul away from the one true God and truth . . .
. . . :coffeeread: . . .
Christian meditation is different from the style of meditations performed in Eastern religions (such as Buddhism) or in the context of the New Age.[21][3][4][22][23] While other types of meditation may suggest approaches to disengage the mind, Christian meditation aims to fill the mind with thoughts related to :bible1: Biblical passages or Christian devotions.[24] Although some mystics in both the Western and Eastern churches have associated feelings of ecstasy with meditation, (e.g. St. Teresa of Avila’s legendary meditative ecstasy),[25][26] St. Gregory of Sinai, one of the originators of Hesychasm, stated that the goal of Christian meditation is “seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit, beyond the minor phenomenon of ecstasy”.[27]
Modern Christian teachings on meditation at times include specific criticism of the transcendental styles of meditation, e.g. John Bertram Phillips stated that Christian meditation involves the action of the **Holy Spirit **on :bible1: Biblical passages and warned of approaches that “disengage the mind” from :bible1: Scripture.[28] According to Edmund P. Clowney, Christian meditation contrasts with cosmic styles of oriental meditation as radically as the portrayal of **God the Father **in the :bible1: Bible contrasts with discussions of Krishna or Brahman in Indian teachings.[21] Unlike eastern meditations, most styles of Christian meditations are intended to stimulate thought and deepen meaning. Christian meditation aims to heighten the personal relationship based on the love of **God **that marks Christian communion.[3][4] According to E. P. Clowney it is the search for wisdom, not ecstasy, that marks the path of Christian meditation, a wisdom sought in the “Christ of :bible1: Scripture and the Scripture of Christ”.[29]
A 1989 [Vatican] document generally known as Aspects of Christian Meditation set forth the position of the Holy See with respect to the differences between Christian and eastern styles of meditation. The document, issued as a letter to all Catholic bishops, stresses the differences between Christian and eastern meditative approaches. It warns of the dangers of attempting to mix Christian meditation with eastern approaches since that could be both confusing and misleading, and may result in the loss of the essential Christocentric nature of Christian meditation.[30][31][32] The letter warned that euphoric states obtained through Eastern meditation should NOT be confused with prayer or assumed to be signs of the presence of God, a state that should always result in loving service to others. Without these truths, the letter said, meditation, which should be a flight from the self, can degenerate into a form of self-absorption.[33]
Christian meditation is different from the style of meditations performed in Eastern religions (such as Buddhism) or in the context of the New Age.[21][3][4][22][23] While other types of meditation may suggest approaches to disengage the mind, Christian meditation aims to fill the mind with thoughts related to :bible1: Biblical passages or Christian devotions.[24] Although some mystics in both the Western and Eastern churches have associated feelings of ecstasy with meditation, (e.g. St. Teresa of Avila’s legendary meditative ecstasy),[25][26] St. Gregory of Sinai, one of the originators of Hesychasm, stated that the goal of Christian meditation is “seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit, beyond the minor phenomenon of ecstasy”.[27]
Modern Christian teachings on meditation at times include specific criticism of the transcendental styles of meditation, e.g. John Bertram Phillips stated that Christian meditation involves the action of the **Holy Spirit **on :bible1: Biblical passages and warned of approaches that “disengage the mind” from :bible1: Scripture.[28] According to Edmund P. Clowney, Christian meditation contrasts with cosmic styles of oriental meditation as radically as the portrayal of **God the Father **in the :bible1: Bible contrasts with discussions of Krishna or Brahman in Indian teachings.[21] Unlike eastern meditations, most styles of Christian meditations are intended to stimulate thought and deepen meaning. Christian meditation aims to heighten the personal relationship based on the love of **God **that marks Christian communion.[3][4] According to E. P. Clowney it is the search for wisdom, not ecstasy, that marks the path of Christian meditation, a wisdom sought in the “Christ of :bible1: Scripture and the Scripture of Christ”.[29]
A 1989 [Vatican] document generally known as Aspects of Christian Meditation set forth the position of the Holy See with respect to the differences between Christian and eastern styles of meditation. The document, issued as a letter to all Catholic bishops, stresses the differences between Christian and eastern meditative approaches. It warns of the dangers of attempting to mix Christian meditation with eastern approaches since that could be both confusing and misleading, and may result in the loss of the essential Christocentric nature of Christian meditation.[30][31][32] The letter warned that euphoric states obtained through Eastern meditation should NOT be confused with prayer or assumed to be signs of the presence of God, a state that should always result in loving service to others. Without these truths, the letter said, meditation, which should be a flight from the self, can degenerate into a form of self-absorption.[33]
- Wickipedia
Below are two excellent well documented links regarding the subject of meditation from a Christian and Catholic perspective . . .
:compcoff: Link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_meditation
:compcoff: Link to Vatican Information:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspects_of_Christian_meditation
. . . all for Jesus+
. . . thank You Lord+
. . . thank You Gracious Heavenly Father+
. . . thank You Sweet Spirit of our Holy God+
. . . thank you Blessed Virgin Mary our Mother+
. . . thank you Holy Mother Church+
. . . thank You Lord+
. . . thank You Gracious Heavenly Father+
. . . thank You Sweet Spirit of our Holy God+
. . . thank you Blessed Virgin Mary our Mother+
. . . thank you Holy Mother Church+
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