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Introduction to Christianity, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, re-released 2004

"Christifideles Laici," On the Laity, Pope John Paul II

Work, Path to Holiness, Dr. Janne Haaland Matlary

Jesus Christ in the Writings of St John of the Cross, Regis Jordan, O.C.D.
St John of the Cross and the Hidden God, Rev. Donald Haggerty

Why Suffering?

St John Vianney on Suffering

God Consciousness

Contemplation in the Spiritual Canticle(E. Larkin)

Ernest E. Larkin, O. Carmel, "Role of Creatures in the Spiritual Life"

Prayer as Encounter with the Transcendent God, Ernest E. Larkin, O. Carm.

The Charismatic Renewal and Forms of Contemplation, Ernest E. Larkin, O. Carm.

Contemplation(Encyclopedia)   Mystical Marriage(Encyclopedia)   Mysticism(Encyclopedia)  

"Friendship with Christ," Bishop Robert Hugh Benson

"The Purgative Jesus," Bishop Robert Hugh Benson

Dominican Ashram by Don Georgen, O.P.

Lesson One in Prayer, Peter Kreeft

Carmelite Spirituality, by Paul Marie De La Croix,

Nostra Aetate

Redemptive Suffering, Father Paul A. Duffner, O.P.

Our Jewish Heritage, Martin K. Barrack

From Jewish Princess to Daughter of the King

Edith Stein and the Contemplative Vocation, Sister Joan Gormley

"Prayerwindows"

Fr. William Most, "Mental Prayer(Centering Prayer)

St Teresa and the Human Christ, by Rev. Eamon R. Carroll

Prayer of Quiet(Mystical Level)

Christian Perfection and Mystical Experience, Fr. Jordan Aumann, "Spiritual Theology, Ch.6

Three Ways of Spiritual Life( Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange)  

Lay People and Union With Christ: Pope John Paul II  

EWTN, Global Catholic Network

Catholic Inner Life, Archbishop Goodier

Christian Mysticism and Its Counterfeit, by David Torkington

Faith is Jesus Christ, Abbot Marmion

Jesus Changes the World(Athanasius)

Dryness in Prayer  

Teresian Prayer


St. Therese of Lisieux(Pope John Paul II)  

God is Love: Fr. Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus  

"Spiritual Poverty", E. Larkin, O. Carmel

Three Ways of Spiritual Life, E. Larkin, O. Carmel

Mysticism and Spirituality, Ernest E. Larkin, O.Carm.

Kataphatic or Apophatic? (Frederick G. McLeod, "Spirituality Today," 1986)

CONTEMPLATION; A long loving look at the real, Reverend Walter J. Burghardt

Charismatic Renewal and Forms of Contemplation, Ernest E. Larkin, O.Carm.

Secular Order Discalced Carmelites  

Liturgy and Contemplation, J. Maritain

J.& R. Maritain: "Contemplative Prayer"

Karl Adam, "Christ in the Church"

Mental Prayer, Sr. Mary Ann Sullivan, O.P.

St Alphonsus Ligouri, Will of God

Jesus Christ: Inexhaustible Treasure, Hans Urs Von Balthasar

Humanity of Christ, Romano Guardini

New Rosary:(Cataphatic)Contemplation of the Face of Christ

Comparing Christianity & Buddhism, Peter Kreeft

Buddhism(Catholic Encyclopedia)

Veritatis Splendor

Sublimus Dei

DOMINUS IESUS? AND ECUMENICAL DIALOGUE, Cardinal Cahal B. Daly

Letter to the Bishops from Congregation for Doctrine of Faith, "Some Aspects of Christian Meditation"

Fides et Ratio

Fr. J. Aumann, "Ascetical Teaching of St John of the Cross"

Practice of the Presence of God  

Imitation of Christ(Thomas a Kempis)  

Prayer Journey St John of the Cross(E. Larkin)

Introductiion to the Devout Life(St Francis of Sales)  

Windows to Prayer, Cataphatic Prayer, By Dennis J. Billy, C.SS.R.


Faith, Transcending All Understanding, by Cardinal Kaspar

Recollection and Contemplation, Dietrich von Hildebrand

St. Catherine of Siena(Dialog)  

Father Nicholas Grou S.J. Spiritual Maxims

Life of Prayer(Catechism)

Catholic Asceticism(Encyclopedia)

Spiritual Theology: Jordan Aumann

Summa Theologica; St Thomas Aquinas

"Mysticism as a Way of Spirituality" Joyce Rogers,Ph.D.

Mysticism: Jac Maritain Center, A.B. Sharpe, M.A.

Peter Kreeft, "Comparing Christianity and Hinduism"

Peter Kreeft, "Comparing Christianity and Islam"

Carl Jung,New Age,the Occult, and Moral Relativism

Carl Jung and Catholic Renewal

Recovering Dominican Contemplation

Spirit of Catholicism, Karl Adam

Catholic Encyclopedia: Invoking Holy Name of Jesus

Saying The Jesus Prayer

How to Pray(David Torkington)


Dominus Jesus: Post Vatican II Jesus and Salvation

Cardinal Ratzinger: New Evangelization

Visionaries and Visions, Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

The Messiah Revealed

Fr. Most: Mental Prayer

Fr. Ernest Larkin, O.Carmel, "True and False Mysticism"

Catholocism & New Age


Church in Asia

Problems In Writings of Fr. Anthony DeMello,SJ

Fr. Pacwa,(Bruce Sabalaskey):The Enneagram

Bishop Timlin: Enough Experimentation

.

"It is important, too, that people at all levels of the Church use the Internet creatively to meet their responsibilities and help fulfill the Church's mission. Hanging back timidly from fear of technology or for some other reason is not acceptable, in view of the very many positive possibilities of the Internet. . for [the Church] to deepen her dialogue with the contemporary world...The Church can more readily inform the world of her beliefs and explain the reasons for her stance on any given issue or event. She can hear more clearly the voice of public opinion, and enter into a continuous discussion with the world around her, thus involving herself more immediately in the common search for solutions to humanity's many pressing problems?.42 (John Paul II, Message for the 24th World Communications Day, 1990.)

The Holy Spirit, through the Pope and the Church, is calling Christians "at all levels" to use the internet creatively to help the Church fulfill its saving mission throughout the world. Contemplative Christians, as part of this Body, are themselves being called to speak to the world of their own experience of the ineffable thing called "contemplation," and of the mystery of God's transforming love and providence in their own lives.

However, St Paul(1Corinthians) warns all of us who dare to speak to others of the glorious workings of God's contemplative grace in our lives, as it transforms us from membership in the Fallen Race of the Old Man, Adam, into the fullness of membership in the Redeemed Race of the New Man, Jesus Christ, that we beware of secret pride that may possess us and suggest negative comparisons with others who are not yet contemplatives. Moreover, there is also the danger of becoming a proud Pharisee as we set ourselves up as spiritual experts, or as contemporary prophets and spiritual teachers. St Paul brings us back to reality when he riminds us of what we were before God took pity on our plight and began His merciful work of Christian sanctification in us:

I Corinthians

1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Corinthians1:25

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many of you were wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, of you who are called:

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence."

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

.

The concluding section from an address by Henri de Lubac, SJ, May, 29, 1969:

"....The second fundamental condition (for true renewal according to the intent of Vatican II) is the love and concern for Catholic unity. It is closely liked with the first condition: personal love of Jesus Christ. The shop-worn contrast which some still delight in making between the Church and the gospel of Christ is an easily exploitable theme because it is all too evident that the Church seen in her members is never completely faithful. Sin, which is to be found everywhere, does not spare the Church--neither sin nor all the other marks of human frailty. It is no less true, however, that is is still the Church which brings us the gospel of Christ and, still more important, more true today than ever before that the generalized criticism of the Church is linked to a movement that draws away from the gospels.

"I would not be so concerned if this were something from outside the Church. But when each one takes as his mission to criticize everything, when each one sets out to rewrite dogma and morality according to his own wishes, the Church disintegrates. When the center of unity becomes the target of the most impassioned attacks, each one feeling that he has the right to criticize the successor of Peter before the whole world on any point whatsoever, the Church herself is therefore wounded. Those who take this liberty do not fully realize what they are doing. Regardless of what pretext they may invoke, however, they are turning their backs on the gospel of Christ, and they scandalize, in the fullest sense of the word, many of their brethren.

"Whether they wish to or not, they encourage the formation of small groups whose sectarian pretensions are equaled only by the poverty of their spirituality. The weakening of faith is coupled with the decomposition of the Christian community. They insult all those who hold on to what their faith requires of them as Christians. Inasmuch as it depends on them, they ruin the Church. A Church in which this form of disorder exists and where such morals are accepted is doomed, for it cannot be efficacious; it will have no missionary zeal, no ecumenical force."(Henri de Lubac, S.J.)



Since 10 Nov 2003

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