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Category: The Practice of Christian Meditation

Always Beginning- An Orientation to Christian Meditation

Always Beginning- An Orientation to Christian Meditation

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Based on a talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB Every first Sunday of the quarter, our community pauses for what we call an orientation-themed reflection. For some, it is an introduction. For others, a reminder. For all of us, it is an invitation to begin again. That phrase, begin again, sits at the heart of Christian meditation as taught by John Main. No matter how long we have been practicing, we are always beginners. Meditation does not…

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The Eye That Cannot See Itself: Rediscovering the Authentic Self Through Meditation

The Eye That Cannot See Itself: Rediscovering the Authentic Self Through Meditation

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Based on a talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB There are words that refuse to give themselves away too quickly. In Tagalog, salawikain comes close. A proverb, a riddle, a poetic whisper – its meaning shifts depending on who hears it. We sit with it, let it linger, and only over time does it begin to shape our understanding. Buddhist tradition treats the koan the same way: a statement that eludes instant comprehension, inviting the meditator to…

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Held in Stillness: My Heartspace CDO Journey

Held in Stillness: My Heartspace CDO Journey

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Two years ago, I said yes to something I did not understand. I had no idea what Heartspace was. I did not know what it meant to meditate, let alone what Christian meditation even looked like. I went because a friend gently suggested it might help. And I said yes because, at that time, I was desperate. I was in a dark place mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I couldn’t see the way forward. I just needed something to help me breathe…

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Contemplation in a Divided World: The Silent Revolution of Peace

Contemplation in a Divided World: The Silent Revolution of Peace

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Based on a talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB We live in a world gripped by unrest. Armed conflicts between nations, rising economic inequality, and deep social and racial divides. From tensions in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, to the war in Ukraine and the crises in our own communities, we are surrounded by pain that seems too vast to comprehend, let alone heal. And yet, amid all this, we are invited to ask:
What is the…

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Smashing the Mirror: Meditation and the Journey to Authentic Union with Christ

Smashing the Mirror: Meditation and the Journey to Authentic Union with Christ

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Based on a talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB “May He strengthen you in His glorious might with ample power to meet whatever comes with fortitude, patience and joy…”
— Colossians 1:11–12 There is a power we desperately need today. Not merely the strength to survive, but to endure with patience, joy, and courage. That power does not come from within us. It comes from Christ, our supreme power source. Only when we are plugged into His presence…

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Meditation: A Path to the Heart of Prayer

Meditation: A Path to the Heart of Prayer

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Based on a talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB Across cultures and faiths, meditation has long been practiced as a path to inner stillness and divine connection. From Sufi mystics in Islam to Zen practitioners in Buddhism, from Hasidic Jews to Hindu sages and Christian monks, meditation has quietly spanned traditions, serving as a shared language of the soul. This universality does not dilute its power; rather, it highlights a deep truth: all people yearn for God….

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The Universal Gift of Meditation: A Journey into Stillness and Simplicity

The Universal Gift of Meditation: A Journey into Stillness and Simplicity

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Based on a talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB Meditation is not exclusive to any one faith tradition. Its universality points to something deeper than religious practice. It speaks to a shared human longing for the Divine, a common search for God that transcends culture, language, and belief. Meditation belongs to all because the desire to be with God resides in every human heart. What meditation is, and is not Christian meditation is sometimes misunderstood. It is…

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Dryness in Prayer, Part 1 – When Prayer Feels Empty: Embracing the Desert Experience

Dryness in Prayer, Part 1 – When Prayer Feels Empty: Embracing the Desert Experience

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Based on a talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB Prayer has been described as a journey. A relationship, a communion, a lifting of the heart to God. But anyone who has spent real time in prayer knows it can also feel like a roller coaster ride. At times it soars with inspiration, overflowing with joy and love. Other times, it plunges into silence, emptiness, and what can only be called spiritual dryness. If you’ve ever prayed and…

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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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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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