Something for beginners to learn (and practice) Christian meditation

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Dear friends on Catholic Answer Forums:

I am a Taiwanese living in Taiwan. Although I only begun seriously exploring Christian faith and Catholicism in this year, and am currently also attending RCIA(-like) programs in my living city, I can still in a few circumstance find a few (not necessarily Catholic) Christian friend (online or in real life) facing adversities and negative emotions. I myself may already am dealing with adversities and negative emotions. Therefore, I think in addition to prayers, learning (and practicing) Christian meditation may also help us beginners withstand adversities and negative emotions in life more successfully.

On Christian meditation, I only know a Catholic priest Laurence Freeman and the World Community for Christian Meditation he directed. I know he authored many books, but I may need someone recommend one (not necessarily by Freeman) for beginners.

So could someone recommend something for beginners to learn (and practice) Christian meditation for helping withstand adversities and negative emotions in life?

(This question is also asked on Reddit’s r/Catholicism)
 
I would recommend the Rosary. It is a beautiful prayer and leads you through the life of Jesus. Praying the Rosary allows you to see Jesus with the eyes of His Blessed Mother Mary. Whenever I am hurting or feeling down, I can pray the Rosary and find peace and joy in Her Love and the Love of Her Son.

Welcome home to the Catholic Church.
 
For more in depth study of Catholic Contemplation there is St. Teresa of Avila or St. John of the Cross. But probably not easy for a beginner.
 
longnprosper said:
Dear friends on Catholic Answer Forums:

I am a Taiwanese living in Taiwan. Although I only begun seriously exploring Christian faith and Catholicism in this year, and am currently also attending RCIA(-like) programs in my living city, I can still in a few circumstance find a few (not necessarily Catholic) Christian friend (online or in real life) facing adversities and negative emotions. I myself may already am dealing with adversities and negative emotions. Therefore, I think in addition to prayers, learning (and practicing) Christian meditation may also help us beginners withstand adversities and negative emotions in life more successfully.

On Christian meditation, I only know a Catholic priest Laurence Freeman and the World Community for Christian Meditation he directed. I know he authored many books, but I may need someone recommend one (not necessarily by Freeman) for beginners.

So could someone recommend something for beginners to learn (and practice) Christian meditation for helping withstand adversities and negative emotions in life?

(This question is also asked on Reddit’s r/Catholicism)
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The book “Divine Intimacy” may help. It’s pretty serious. It’s a collection of hundreds of short meditations about various aspects of our faith and the interior life.

topics such as “finding God in activity” “seeking God in others”…etc.

It teaches as well as it gives you “fodder” for prayer.

The main idea to help you here is a difficult one to accept, but it must be accepted for you to gain ground in the interior life with God.

It is this: EVERYTHING that happens to you is allowed by God. Everything that comes your way, comes from the hand of God.

Everything that happens to you can thus be “used” to draw you closer to God, daily.

Annoyance, ill mannered or intending people, accidents, illnesses, setbacks.

All of these things can be converted into prayer, with the help of God. All of these things thus can help you…they can stretch your virtue, increase your faith, humble us, etc.

Taking these setbacks to prayer daily is recommended. Take the complaint to God.

“Why do you think I have the strength to handle this, My Father, I am nothing but a little child, struggling. Don’t trust me so much, or give me more grace now”.

That can become part of your prayer.
 
If you want to meditate, the Rosary and the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours or the shorter version, Christian Prayer) might be good places to start. Daily Mass can also be very meditative.
 
Mother Teresa’s Meditations on Spiritual Life of All People of All Faiths, by Anthony Stern, M. D.

It’s about 100 pages with a Bibliography and Recommendations of other books in the back.
The forward contains a brief description of her faith and doubt she encountered.
Here is a sample:
How do you pray?
You should go to God like a little child. A child has no difficulty expressing his mind in simple words that say so much. If a child is not yet spoiled and has not yet learned to tell lies, he will tell everything. This is what I mean by being childlike.
Mother Teresa
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Contemplative prayer can help. Here is a video Father Groeschel. It is very good. It can lead to a much deeper relationship with God. It is something that I currently trying to work on.

youtube.com/watch?v=oeMheOdUjd8
 
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