Simpleness of contemplative prayer

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Just how simple is contemplative prayer, surely there mus be many ways of being contemplative then why is it simple?
 
littleone said:
Just how simple is contemplative prayer, surely there mus be many ways of being contemplative then why is it simple?
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It’s like walking - most everyone can do it, but everyone does it a little differently and if you got each one to tell you how it’s done you’d get answers that were quite different from each other.
 
littleone said:
Just how simple is contemplative prayer, surely there mus be many ways of being contemplative then why is it simple?
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It is simple because it is God’s action within us; we may tend to contemplation through the work of meditation and recollection, but only in contemplation proper does God “take the controls”. Contemplation isn’t something we do, but what God does within us, raising us to an experiential encounter of Him. Because God is Simple, we enter into that simplicity the more we are transformed in Christ.
 
FCEGM said:
It is simple because it is God’s action within us; we may tend to contemplation through the work of meditation and recollection, but only in contemplation proper does God “take the controls”. Contemplation isn’t something we do, but what God does within us, raising us to an experiential encounter of Him. Because God is Simple, we enter into that simplicity the more we are transformed in Christ.
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Exactly!

Good post!

Jim
 
FCEGM said:
It is simple because it is God’s action within us; we may tend to contemplation through the work of meditation and recollection, but only in contemplation proper does God “take the controls”. Contemplation isn’t something we do, but what God does within us, raising us to an experiential encounter of Him. Because God is Simple, we enter into that simplicity the more we are transformed in Christ.
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Both of you your answers are very valid and informative. Jim I had you in mind while making the thread because of something you said earlier. I wanted your involvement on the word contemplation in relation to St Therese as to how you relate her to the word in"the little way" of hers, anyone can relate from your own point. Please Thanks

God bless
littleone
 
littleone said:
Both of you your answers are very valid and informative. Jim I had you in mind while making the thread because of something you said earlier. I wanted your involvement on the word contemplation in relation to St Therese as to how you relate her to the word in"the little way" of hers, anyone can relate from your own point. Please Thanks

God bless
littleone
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Well, I’m not well read on St. Theresa. I read Story of a Soul years ago, and the Mother and Father of The Little Flower. I even visited her home and convent in Lisieux France.

However, I was drawn more to St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila.

In all, I would say the answer to your question is, humble submission to the will of God, in all things.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Well, I’m not well read on St. Theresa. I read Story of a Soul years ago, and the Mother and Father of The Little Flower. I even visited her home and convent in Lisieux France.

However, I was drawn more to St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila.

In all, I would say the answer to your question is, ***humble submission to the will of God, in all things.***Jim
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simply said Jim. Now you may know the simpleness of my thinking nothing like that seems to make sence to me and yet your answer to the question is infact very simple as simple as contemplation realy is from what you say and I can take that to my heart with joy.
The books I have read of St Therese are firstly A retreat with St Therese, story of a soul, littlewhite flower and oneIcan’t remembr.
To me they are the most simple ways of relating to Jesus, a life finding ways to deny self even to as Therese put it to the folloy. I can relate with ease to that life but St John and St Terese I would have to relook, why I don’t know.

I only know that the "little way " is my life and I flow to an extent there. Not saying I am good at denying at all there is always more. Maybe I applied my life to the little way and so can’t seem to do the same to other ways, I don’t know.
Thank you

God bless
littleone
 
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