What is contemplation? Part I
ontemplation for Carmelites is the summit of the spiritual life on earth. It is (or should be) the goal of all Christians. It is what we prepare our kids for in our homeschool. But there is a lot of...
View ArticleWhat is contemplation? Part II
There are three major categories of contemplation. The first, which I wrote about last week, is natural contemplation. The second is the contemplation practiced in non-Christian religions. The third is...
View ArticleSt. Therese’s astonishing trust in God
The other day, I read this passage from one of St. Therese of Lisieux‘s letters, in Jacques Philippe’s The Way of Trust and Love: “[A child who has sinned] throws himself into his father’s arms,...
View ArticleFr. Barron at the tomb of St. John of the Cross
Today, December 14, is the feast of St. John of the Cross. Watch this video Fr. Robert Barron made about the saint a few years ago. Filed under: Saints, Video Tagged: Carmelite, Catholic, John of the...
View ArticleYOU are your child’s model of prayer
Why do I talk so much about prayer on a homeschool blog? First, because prayer is the way we communicate with God on earth. Although it is not the only aspect of the spiritual life, it is the “one...
View ArticleSilent night, silent God
Silence can be beautiful at Christmas. Picture the quiet of a night with new-fallen snow, or the hush in which only the breathing of an infant can be heard. But silence, when unwanted, can also be...
View ArticleChristmas greetings from our contemplative homeschool
(This is an edited version of my annual Christmas letter to friends and family.) A few years back, the boys would sing their own versions of familiar songs, with original rhymes. That Christmas, D...
View ArticleResolve to grow closer to Christ in 2013
How did your spiritual life fare in 2012? Would you like to do better in 2013? Let’s each choose one virtue to work on throughout this year. Keeping in mind my post on St. Therese a few weeks ago, I’m...
View ArticleSeven ways to make time for prayer
Are you having trouble finding time for prayer every day? Here are some suggestions. 1. Ask yourself whether daily prayer is your top priority. If you don’t see the need for prayer, you won’t be...
View ArticleDomestic monastery: living by the bell
I had never heard the term “domestic monastery until Jennifer Fulwiler recently blogged about it in a post I linked to. To me, domestic monastery and contemplative home(school) are 2 ways of...
View ArticleStart your prayer with this image
Are you tired of your prayer being a shopping list read to God? Are you yearning for something more meaningful? Use this image of John the Apostle leaning on Christ’s heart to place yourself in God’s...
View ArticleHow to choose beauty… not luxury
I’ve always loved beauty. I’ve often dreamed of being an interior decorator. So it’s no surprise that I used to subscribe to House Beautiful and pick up copies of Better Homes & Gardens at the...
View ArticleMary pondered all these things–do you?
There are many types of devotion to Mary. Carmelites honor Mary by imitating her. In particular, they imitate her way of meditating on the great things that God has done. Luke’s Gospel tells us twice...
View ArticleBeg, borrow, or steal buy: Fire Within
In this occasional series of posts, I recommend resources for you and your family in 100 words or less. More detailed reviews may come later. By Fr. Thomas Dubay. Thorough, understandable explanation...
View ArticleFine-tune your spiritual focus for Lent
Did you choose a specific virtue to cultivate for a New Years’ resolution? Try making a concrete step in that direction a focus for Lent, which starts tomorrow. In January, I wrote how I was working on...
View ArticleWhat is mental prayer and how you can do it?
Catholics divide prayer into 2 broad categories – vocal and mental. Vocal prayer includes prayers written for recitation. Mental prayer is prayer in one’s own words. St. Teresa of Avila wrote, “Mental...
View ArticleYou can’t lose, unless you give up
How is your Lent going? Did you accidentally eat meat today? Did you give in and eat chocolate, drink coffee, or indulge in whatever else you promised to give up? Have you missed your prayer time,...
View ArticleChristian prayer is much more than Eastern meditation
A few years ago at Mass in another diocese, the priest began a homily on the importance of daily prayer. I was elated. We hear this far too seldom from the pulpit. My elation soon turned to...
View ArticleCan you become a saint by sheer willpower?
Fr. Thomas Dubay used to tell this anecdote: The sister of St. Thomas Aquinas once asked him, “How can I become a saint?” St. Thomas answered, “Will it.” This story came back to me recently. Trying to...
View ArticleYou can be holy today
There seems to be a dilemma in the spiritual life. We want to do great things for God, but we are caught up in the little tasks of everyday life. We think holiness must wait until some future time:...
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