NEW FOR 2019: Now available! An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom draws on myth, folklore, poetry, and the tales of Celtic saints and heroes, to explore the spiritual tradition of the Celtic peoples — a tradition rooted in hospitality, love of nature, and a mystical sense of the presence of God. The Celtic way is more important […]
Our conversation with contemplative author Martin Laird continues with this episode. To hear part one, click here. “What I mean by ‘Contemplative’ is ultimately overcoming the illusion of separation of God, and that illusion is sustained and maintained by inner noise in our head. And everything about our culture keeps our attention riveted there.” — … Continue reading Martin Laird: Silent Land, Luminous Ocean (Part Two) → … Read more at Encountering Silence
Martin Laird is the author of three highly-regarded books on Christian contemplative spirituality: Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation, A Sunlit Absence: Silence, Awareness and Contemplation, and An Ocean of Light: Contemplation, Transformation and Liberation. He is an Augustinian friar, and Professor of Early Christian Studies at Villanova University. He is also … Continue reading Martin Laird: Silent Land, Luminous Ocean (Part One) → … Read more at Encountering Silence
Mysticism is a notoriously squirrelly word to try to define. In The Big Book of Christian Mysticism I devote an entire chapter to defining mysticism, and even then I admit that defining this word is like trying to put love into a bottle. Not long after the book was published in…… Read more at Patheos
If silence could tell us a story about itself, what would it say? This could be the question that Jane Brox answers in her most recent book, Silence: A Social History of One of the Least Understood Elements in Our Lives (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019). Brox is the award-winning author of several acclaimed works of … Continue reading Jane Brox: The Social History of Silence → … Read more at Encountering Silence
A reader of this blog wrote to ask me this question: How does Centering Prayer differ from Christian Meditation as taught by John Main? In Centering Prayer you allow the prayer word to “fall away” on it’s own. And though, in Christian Meditation, you are meant to keep repeating the…… Read more at Patheos
I love a bargain. So I’m happy to announce that, through the “BookBub” website, one of my books, Answering the Contemplative Call, is available — for a limited time — for only 99¢! (Sorry, but this is just for USA residents). This sale only lasts for four days, which means you…… Read more at Patheos
Today’s episode is part two of a two-part interview. Click here to listen to part one. Sr. Mary Margaret Funk, OSB continues her conversation with Cassidy, recorded at Sr. Meg’s monastery in Beech Grove, IN. Toward the end of the conversation, Kevin, Carl (and Carl’s wife, Fran) joined the conversation via Skype. “In Mepkin Abbey we … Continue reading Mary Margaret Funk, OSB: Silence Matters, Part Two (Episode 53) → … Read more at Encountering Silence
My dear friends, it’s time to announce a new book that’s coming out this fall. It’s called Unteachable Lessons: Why Spirituality Can’t Be Taught… And Why That’s Okay. It will be published in September. To pre-order it now, click here. I’m very excited about this book for several reasons. Unlike my…… Read more at Patheos
Twice this month, the lesser-known English mystic Walter Hilton has shown up on this blog. First I wrote about a dream I had, and how I think Hilton inspired me to dream about a “Hilton Hotel.” Then I wrote about some of my favorite “mystical book covers” and one of…… Read more at Patheos
Click here to support Encountering Silence with your purchase from Amazon. We know that not everyone likes to shop at Amazon, but many people do. If you shop at Amazon, please consider using the link above when you need to make your purchase. If you use this link to visit Amazon, and then make a … Continue reading Make a Purchase from Amazon and Support this Podcast! → … Read more at Encountering Silence
Please join me at the Copper Beech Institute in West Hartford, CT for a “Holy Wells and Thin Places” Celtic spirituality retreat, May 17-19, 2019!
| Date: | May 17, 2019—May 19, 2019 |
|---|---|
| Event: | Celtic Retreat in Connecticut |
| Topic: | Celtic Spirituality |
| Sponsor: | Copper Beech Institute |
| Venue: | Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center |
| Location: | 303 Tunxis Road West Hartford, CT 06107 |
| Public: | Public |
| Registration: | Click here to register. |
| More Info: | Click here for more information. |
To invite me to speak to your community, click here.
| Date: | March 29, 2019—March 30, 2019 |
|---|---|
| Event: | Seeking Stillness Retreat in Tampa |
| Sponsor: |
Hyde Park United Methodist Church 813.222.2299 |
| Venue: |
The Portico 813.222.2299 |
| Location: | 1001 N Florida Ave Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Public: | Public |
| Registration: | Click here to register. |
| More Info: | Click here for more information. |
To invite Carl McColman to speak to your community, click here.
A reader of one of my previous blog posts sent me this question via Facebook messenger. I read your article about non dualism Nonduality in the Bible … and us. So what about scriptures about God hating sin, wickedness, evildoers etc… Or am I misunderstanding? Also there’s a lot of…… Read more at Patheos
Mary Margaret Funk, OSB, is a member of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Indiana. She entered this Benedictine community in 1961 and served as the prioress from 1985 to 1993. In 1994 Sister Meg became the Executive Director of the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue Board. She has been in formal dialogue with people … Continue reading Mary Margaret Funk, OSB: Silence Matters, Part One (Episode 52) → … Read more at Encountering Silence
The other day I wrote a post about a dream I had back in the 1980s. I mentioned in that post that I used to shop at an old Catholic Bookstore that used to carry the old Image Books editions of the mystics. That was back when you could buy…… Read more at Patheos
