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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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Crossing the Threshold of Hope

Crossing the Threshold of Hope

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Based on a formation talk by Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan, OSB Every few years, the world witnesses something remarkable. A gathering of millions of young people from every nation, waving flags, singing hymns, and walking long roads together in the name of faith. World Youth Day has always been a testimony that the young, despite the noise and distractions of the age, still hunger for God. Beneath the fascination with gadgets and fashion, there is a spark that…

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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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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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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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Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan giving a formation talk to Heartspace Davao, October 2024
The Significance of Christian Meditation: A Formation Talk

The Significance of Christian Meditation: A Formation Talk

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In Heartspace Davao’s recent monthly formation, Fr. Pachomius addressed the question: How can meditation, this non-thinking state, be significant in the life of a Christian? How can something so simple be prayer? To some, the practice might seem merely a way of relaxing, a means of polishing our ability to concentrate. But these are mere add-ons, says Father, accidental benefits. Meditation is, above all, about relationship. Ultimately, its goal is for us to experience God as provider, savior, friend, companion,…

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Trust and Surrender: Thoughts from an Intensive Meditation Retreat

Trust and Surrender: Thoughts from an Intensive Meditation Retreat

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Every now and again, it benefits one to step back from life – to breathe, to take stock, to reset one’s perspective. This past August 18 to 25, I was fortunate to do just that, joining a group of meditators from Heartspace Manila on retreat at the Abbey of the Transfiguration, Heartspace’s birthplace in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. The Intensive Meditation Retreat (IMR) has long been offered by Heartspace to its meditators, and for some of us is an annual practice. It…

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The Call to Live with Open Hearts (A Homily on Heartspace’s 16th Anniversary)

The Call to Live with Open Hearts (A Homily on Heartspace’s 16th Anniversary)

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Heartspace was founded in 2008 on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and each year marks its founding anniversary on this feast of its titular Patron. Last June 7, at the 16th anniversary commemoration of Heartspace, founder Rev. Fr. Pachomius Ma. San Juan OSB delivered the following homily: What do you and I do when we meet someone who is unloveable, hurts us through an unforgivable act, or really is deserving of our judgment and condemnation? I wonder…

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