The Cloud of Unknowing & Contemplative Prayer

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The Cloud of Unknowing & Contemplative Prayer

How do the two connect? Father Meninger discusses the ancient mystical masterpiece the Cloud of the Unknowing, which so well exemplifies the apophatic tradition of the Church, and contemplative prayer, aka “resting in God” :heaven:

Fr William Meninger The Cloud of Unknowing & Contemplative Prayer

See CCC 2700-2724 for more information about contemplative prayer.
 
I’m sure people will have great things to say on this subject, but I just wanted to say that human language will fall short when describing the Cloud of Unknowing.
 
Contemplative prayer. Yes such is very important (and expansive topic…acquired contemplation…infused contemplation…). And yes the Catechism - excellent read.

And yes the Cloud of Unknowing for those who approach it correctly (and not something for “beginners” really–heck the writer expressed as much in the opening of the book…) - understanding it as it was written and in the wider context of Spiritual Theology and the history of Contemplation and the Spiritual Life.

(setting aside the link there…my comment here is not to recommend such)
 
Perhaps the most joyful of all religious experiences is to feel like a bloodhound in finding a path in one’s life that contains religious meaning. Different hound dogs are bred to seek different scents, and thus follow different trails. To feel like a bloodhound is to feel the joy and excitement- - of knowing that we have picked up on that scent that we have been specially “bred” to follow not knowing exactly where our trail will lead us, but knowing that something “delicious” awaits us at our destination.

(Using a bloodhound as an analogy for finding spiritual direction in life is, I think, resourceful; however, it also has severe limitations. For example, I need to emphasize that it is not the pride and reckless rambunctiousness of the bloodhound that I mean to convey here, but rather that joy and excitement which is consistent with humility, faith, and patients.)
 
Michael_Mayo said:
catholicspiritualdirection.org/cloudunknowing.pdf
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Oh, thank you! I didn’t know where there was a decent version online, and I was just considering looking for one. 🙂

The edition my SD recommended, and I subsequently bought the hard copy, was the version by William Johnston: The Cloud of Unknowing: and The Book of Privy Counseling

Since I haven’t read the one you mentioned, or the one I just linked for a long time, I won’t try to compare the two. I also saw there was one version on amazon for Kindle, for 99 cents. Also I noticed there is an Audible version of the Johnston edition for $14.95 or one credit – and I happen to have some credits I need to “use or lose,” so I’m going to get that right now before I submit this post. There, done. :cool: The chances of my listening to an audio book are usually greater than if I just have the same in writing. :rolleyes:

MS
 
Bookcat said:
Contemplative prayer. Yes such is very important (and expansive topic…acquired contemplation…infused contemplation…). And yes the Catechism - excellent read.

And yes the Cloud of Unknowing for those who approach it correctly (and not something for “beginners” really–heck the writer expressed as much in the opening of the book…) - understanding it as it was written and in the wider context of Spiritual Theology and the history of Contemplation and the Spiritual Life.

(setting aside the link there…my comment here is not to recommend such)
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I agree, and though it’s been 15 years since I read it, I remember the author was adamant that this book will speak to some people and not others. He would rather a person to whom it doesn’t speak, not to read it at all rather than read it and have some sort of problem with it.

For me, after a few pages I felt drawn into but I can see how it could be “gibberish” if I had read it at a different point in my life, or to other people.
 
I consider the author of Cloud to be one of my best friends. I truly love him.
 
Mystical_Seeker said:
I agree, and though it’s been 15 years since I read it, I remember the author was adamant that this book will speak to some people and not others. He would rather a person to whom it doesn’t speak, not to read it at all rather than read it and have some sort of problem with it.

For me, after a few pages I felt drawn into but I can see how it could be “gibberish” if I had read it at a different point in my life, or to other people.
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I have the William Johnston edition as well. I went on a seven day silent retreat back in 2007, and before going I asked the Carmelite Friar who led the retreat if there was a good book or way to prepare for it. He recommended the Cloud, and I’m glad he did!
 
We’re discussing this rather openly, which is against the author’s explicit directions.
 
The book is one of my favorites.

The author wrote that it was not for beginners, because when he wrote it, there were few people involved in contemplative prayer, even inside monasteries and convents.

Today, we have a wealth of information and spiritual directors who can help an individual who is called to deeper levels of prayer, which contemplative prayer is.

Fr Meninger along with Fr Thomas Keating and Fr Basil Pennington wrote much about prayer based on the Cloud of Unknowing.

I prefer Fr Keating’s teaching over Fr Meninger’s, but both arrive at the same place.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
The book is one of my favorites.

The author wrote that it was not for beginners, because when he wrote it, there were few people involved in contemplative prayer, even inside monasteries and convents.

Today, we have a wealth of information and spiritual directors who can help an individual who is called to deeper levels of prayer, which contemplative prayer is.

Fr Meninger along with Fr Thomas Keating and Fr Basil Pennington wrote much about prayer based on the Cloud of Unknowing.

I prefer Fr Keating’s teaching over Fr Meninger’s, but both arrive at the same place.

Jim
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It is not for beginners…per se. Not due to only when he wrote it or who would have been interested in it. Such remains the case. Not something for beginners.

As for the other authors noted…I do not recommend them to readers.
 
Bookcat said:
It is not for beginners…per se. Not due to only when he wrote it or who would have been interested in it. Such remains the case. Not something for beginners.

As for the other authors noted…I do not recommend them.
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It’s for whomever God calls to it.

Jim
 
Bookcat said:
Yes and God knows it is not for beginners…😉
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Not for you to decide, but for God.

St Bernadette was just a stupid girl in the eyes of the experts around her.

Heaven saw differently.

Try and tell us that St Bernadette had not experienced contemplation.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Not for you to decide, but for God.

St Bernadette was just a stupid girl in the eyes of the experts around her.

Heaven saw differently.

Try and tell us that St Bernadette had not experienced contemplation.

Jim
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Yes and as I said - God knows the Cloud of Unknowing is not for beginners.

St. Bernadette received Apparitiona - such has nothing to do with reading a 14th Century text. And such were Apparitions. Quite different.

That she later became a Contemplative - that is not in question.

(such is not to say that a Child cannot be a contemplative…they can…but I would never hand them the Cloud).
 
Bookcat said:
Yes and as I said - God knows the Cloud of Unknowing is not for beginners.

St. Bernadette received an Apparition - such has nothing to do with reading a 14th Century text. And such were Apparitions. Quite different.

That she later became a Contemplative - that is not in question. By then she was no a child (that a Child cannot be a contemplative…they can).
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God knows the Cloud is for those souls ready for it, whether they be beginners in your eyes or experts.

God feeds us where we are able to be fed.

It’s not up to you to discourage people who feel called to deeper levels of prayer and reading, such as the Cloud of Unknowing.

If they are not ready for the Cloud of Unknowing, they’ll have a hard time understanding it.

If they’re ready, it will feed them as God intends.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
The book is one of my favorites.

The author wrote that it was not for beginners, because when he wrote it, there were few people involved in contemplative prayer, even inside monasteries and convents.

Today, we have a wealth of information and spiritual directors who can help an individual who is called to deeper levels of prayer, which contemplative prayer is.

Fr Meninger along with Fr Thomas Keating and Fr Basil Pennington wrote much about prayer based on the Cloud of Unknowing.

I prefer Fr Keating’s teaching over Fr Meninger’s, but both arrive at the same place.

Jim
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That’s what I’m into, too, Jim.🙂 It’s my life.
 
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