July 28, 2009

Retreat Notes: Prayer and Intention

The "practice" of contemplative prayer can be an obstacle to prayer--if, consciously or not, we come to it and execute it wrong-headedly as one more project, one more task. Dismiss thoughts! Form intention! Desire God!

No! This is not a job or another task! "You have only to keep still." (Exodus 14:14) Let go of thoughts not as a project in itself, which only reinforces religion as agonistic self-involvement, but to sit still and hear God calling within. It is not a strenuous reaching up to God, but the practice of noticing that he delights to descend and live within you.

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7 comments:

  1. Gannet Girl8:09 AM

    Delurking to say that I'm very much enjoying your notes as I prepare to go on retreat in a few days!

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  2. Brother Charles9:32 AM

    Thanks for delurking, and have a blessed retreat!

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  3. Adoro11:04 AM

    It's helpful to me too, as I prepare to visit the Cistercians. Will be a lot of time of quiet...

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  4. Julia7:19 PM

    And I'll be going on a week long silent retreat next month.


    Father, you're basically acting as our study guide in these posts. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Brother Charles7:20 PM

    Don't worry; tomorrow I turn positive!

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  6. J.A. Seeker2:59 PM

    Thanks for this wonderful post. Also wanted to make sure you saw this story about some from your Order in the Wash. Post. Great images too!

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/28/AR2009072803220.html?hpid=sec-religion

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brother Charles3:04 PM

    Great story! Thanks for the link!

    ReplyDelete

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