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From Outer Space to Inner Stillness: Rediscovering the Heart Through Christian Meditation

From Outer Space to Inner Stillness: Rediscovering the Heart Through Christian Meditation

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Based on a talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB In today’s fast-paced world, many of us resemble a can of soda. We’re shaken up, fizzing over, and appear full. But only on the surface. Like soft drink poured into a glass, our lives seem to be brimming with activity, but underneath all the motion is a hollow emptiness. We are often so busy that we confuse busyness with purpose, and motion with depth. This seeming fullness leads…

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Hope: The Heartbeat of Prayer

Hope: The Heartbeat of Prayer

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Based on a talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” These closing words of the Lord’s Prayer are not simply a doxology. They are a declaration of hope. Prayer, at its core, is an expression of that hope. It is the forward-looking faith that affirms God’s sovereignty, acknowledges His power, and rests in His eternal glory. Power in hope Hope is not a vague optimism or…

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A Sacred Invitation: Into the Silence

A Sacred Invitation: Into the Silence

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Based on a talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB To walk the spiritual path is to enter into silence. Not just an absence of noise, but a deep and sacred stillness that awakens the soul. We often imagine spiritual growth as something we do – more effort, more prayer, more study. But the true invitation is simpler and more radical: to be still. Silence is not an accessory to solitude; it is its heart. Without silence, solitude…

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Beyond the Drama: A Reflection on the Fifth Week of Lent

Beyond the Drama: A Reflection on the Fifth Week of Lent

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(Based on recollection talks given by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB) As we enter the Fifth Week of Lent and draw near to Holy Week, it’s tempting to view this sacred season only through its dramatic rituals and rich pageantry. The incense, the veiled crosses, the solemn hymns—they stir something deep within us. But Lent is not just a reenactment of sorrowful events or an emotional journey. At its heart, Lent is the quiet, persistent story of God…

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The Mantra and Silence in Christian Meditation

The Mantra and Silence in Christian Meditation

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(Adapted from a formation talk by Rev. Dom Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB on November 18, 2017) Christian meditation, as originally practiced by the desert fathers and taught by John Main, is essentially a mantra-based prayer. Because of its similarity to Eastern meditation practices and the foreignness of its approach to most Christians, it might easily be dismissed as an exotic method, just a therapy for relaxation. This is an unfair judgement. The tradition of the mantra The mantra is…

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