The late Pope John Paul II second wrote and spoke quite a bit about St. John of the Cross. St. John of the Cross was a part of the Carmelites.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmelites
To me, the contemplative prayer methods used (in both the past and the present) by Carmelites is a true, authentic, Catholic way of contemplative prayer.
Consider these other famous, respected Carmelite saints
–St. Teresa of Avila
–St. Therese of Lisieux
–St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (died in the Nazi Auschwitz camp).
St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, and St. John of the Cross have all be declared to be Doctors of the Church.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctors_of_the_Church#List_of_Doctors_of_the_Catholic_Church
The book “The Interior Castle” by St. Teresa of Avila seems to get more famous and popular all the time. Even non-Catholics are finding value in it.
Recently Pope Benedict XVI recommended the mystical, contemplative path taught by St. John Climacus, who wrote works such as “Ladder of Divine Ascent.”
One thing: Carmelites live in monasteries. They don’t live in the world. They don’t have wives or husbands. They don’t have or raise kids. They don’t have to go to work at an office or warehouse or whatever. So how do their methods apply to someone living out her in the world of sin and folly? That is a good question. I think plenty of Catholic writers have addressed this issue.
In my experience, inner holy paths to great perceiving, feeling, knowing, and loving God are worthwhile and relevant to a layperson living out in the frenetic, busy, clamorous world. I do think if one is reading books like “The Interior Castle” by St. Teresa that one must so of mentally adapt it to one’s state and condition of life. We lay people in the world have a very different daily life that do those living in monasteries.
Most Carmeline monasteries have meetings that are open to lay people. If you have such a monastery, you might check it out.
I also recommend this article by a Catholic priest:
christendom-awake.org/pages/calkins/biblanth.htm It may help you see what contemplation is all about.
Lastly, I would recommend that you not focus too much on finding or using any particular technique or method. To me, the most important thing is your DESIRE to perceive, feel, know and love God, your Heavenly Father. Your desire is what will lead to spiritual attainment.
Also important is that, as much as possible, find other people with this same desire, and have some association with them. Love for God and Love for Neighbor are inextricably intertwined, as all the teachers of spiritual ascent teach. Many people in the world rarely thing of God, or, if they do think of God, it is only in reference to help they want from God in attaining some worldly things or avoiding some worldly calamity. The spiritually-minded person thinks more about the Giver than about the Gifts. For your own good, and for the good of others, you need to periodically associate with others who are mostly seeking the Giver and not merely the Gifts.
Best wishes.
