New Here? Let Me Show You Around

Last week I was introduced to smart phones.

I know. Astonishing, isn't it, for someone to be so far behind in the world of technology?

One thing I've learned through this educational experience is that blog sidebars and stand-alone-pages may never be seen by phone and tablet viewers. If the first post you see here speaks of "viewing life through the grille" or "living enclosed in the will of God" with no real clue to what is meant by these phrases, you are entitled to be confused.

Or... well... you were. I will now attempt to withdraw that entitlement by providing a few explanations. And in view of the fact that new people arrive here often (thanks be to God, and welcome!), I hope to do a semi-regular post with links to explanatory pieces. Each such post will have a link to basic terms, as well as a few links to our archived posts and "series" (different each time) in case anyone would like to poke around a bit.

Want to see how this works? Me too!

So here goes...

For a quick overview of what we mean by "a cloistered heart," click this line.

For a quick look at a cloistered heart "habit," click this line.

For posts illustrating what I call The Path Between (illustrating "cloister" in the midst of the world), click this line.

Your Sacred Oratory

"Choose the 
Divine Heart 
for your 
sacred oratory, 
wherein 
to offer to 
God your 
petitions 
and prayers."

St. Margaret Mary

In My Deepest Wound

Painting: Circle of Rembrandt, Old Man in Prayer

Revisiting Contemplative Renewal

I have long believed there is a kind of contemplative renewal occurring in the Church. From where I sit, I've seen an ever growing body of evidence that this is the case. An increase of Eucharistic adoration, a re-focus on the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, an emphasis on Divine Mercy, interests in contemplative prayer and monastic life and silent retreats. So many things make me think this has all been growing, hidden, in the darkness of a world increasingly confused about Truth.

This renewal has not arrived with the fire and exuberance of some other movements.  It is growing in a quiet, hidden way. 

One cannot make this sort of thing happen here or there or anywhere; one can only be a yes to God and make oneself available.  And one "yes" - one unconditional, unqualified yes to the will of God - can reverberate throughout the whole earth.  I believe we are seeing fruits of some of these yeses, this very day.

Tough times produce tough yeses. These yeses may not be spoken in the midst of great emotion.  They may be uttered in the pain of darkness, or with the sting of aridity, or with the apprehension of knowing that those who stand for the Truth of Christ are often scorned and looked down upon.  This in itself makes the yeses unconditional. I think the blooms of contemplative renewal are being spotted here, and there, across the earth.  They have been growing hidden, their roots spreading deep under the soil.

It is a struggle to get these words down, for I suspect they sound a bit dramatic.  But in 1995 I made an attempt to speak of this to a priest, a man (now deceased) who traveled the world teaching the Truth of Christ.  He responded:  "you write of a 'contemplative renewal.'  Yes.  We are shoots of a larger growth - of the Spirit - coming up everywhere.  There is hope.  It is He."  

Those looking for fanfare and accolades for their opinions don't pay much attention to little clumps of flowers here and there.  But little clumps of pray-ers, rooted securely in the Church, are the ones God has always used to hold the fertile soil of His world together.    

Yes, there is hope.  It is He.



This is a repost from our archives. It is linked to Reconciled To You and Theology Is A Verb for 'It's Worth Revisiting Wednesday.'  



Text not in quotes © N Shuman.
thecloisteredheart.org

No Wicked Thing

"He who does not wish the enemy to force 

his way into the fortress must keep the gate closed."

St Francis de Sales

"I will set no wicked thing before my eyes." (Psalm 101:3) 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8)