Ongoing Steps to the Practice of Contemplation

Grow Your Relationship with Jesus through Prayer and Bible Study.

Pray daily and preferably throughout the day. Pray continually and give thanks for all the good things God has done for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) (Psalm 103:2-3)
Study the Bible and read the Bible daily. My wife and I read and study the Bible before going to sleep. It ends our day on a good note and helps us to feel at peace. I also memorize Bible verses almost daily.
Even though I studied in seminary and have taught Bible Study, I am taking Saddleback’s introductory Bible courses called “Foundations.” Be humble and never stop learning.
Gather Bible resources. I have an extensive library and also the “Logos” Bible software. The Catholic version, which I own, is “Verbum.” This Bible Study Software is invaluable.
Link to 50 Bible Verses
Link to Bible Plans

Practice the exercises on our Learning Contemplation webpage

Learning mindfulness, visualization, and sensitivity are the core skills for Contemplation.
Ideally, if you walk through nature, you might feel God’s presence in nature, which He created. This ability can be developed through mindfulness training and sensitivity.
If you read a story in the Bible, you might be able to “place yourself in the scene” and feel the presence of God or a general feeling of the encounter. This can be developed by visualization practice and sensitivity.
Link to Learning Contemplation

Read our webpage: Father Thomas Keating on Contemplation.

Father Thomas Keating was a revered Contemplative. I recently viewed a documentary on his life, and I was highly impressed by his humility and genuine holiness. He was very knowledgeable of Contemplation and wrote many essential books on Contemplation. He also developed the method of “Centering Prayer.”
Link to Father Keating on Contemplation

Read our webpage: The Purgative Way

Regardless of your current state of Sanctification, the practice of Purification is integral for the Contemplative. This can be an everyday practice of healthy self-awareness or a more formal process like psychoanalysis, obtaining spiritual direction, or maybe the practice of the Ignatian Daily Examine.
Link to The Purgative Way

Practice Lectio Divina, Ignatian Contemplation, and Praying the Scriptural Rosary with Visualization.

Outside Study

Study and read more about the life of Contemplatives like Thomas Keating, Thomas Merton, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Therese of Lisieux, and Saint John of the Cross. You might also study Zen Meditation as many highly advanced Contemplatives did.
Link to Resources

Christian Contemplation Introduction