In the spiritual life everything is about relationship. Hence, authentic contemplation is always ‘relational contemplation’. Contemplation is never meant to be about myself, but about the One whom I discover living within me: Jesus. It is he whom I gaze upon interiorly: “Jesus is the true Face of the Father” (God Day By Day, vol.…

Contemplative prayer is a relationship with God that penetrates the deep levels of my soul. It is a covenant relationship of love and communion. Only if I have overwhelming experiences of God’s love will I make Him the vibrant center of my life. He must become the supreme, essential value for me. Only then will…

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “prayer is the life of the new heart” (CCC #2697). This new heart which is the Heart of Jesus alive within me is born in contemplative solitude with God. This is the new heart promised by God through the Prophet, Ezekiel: “I will give you a…

Contemplation is an invitation to surrender and become whom I look upon in prayer of the heart—whom I am meant to be, a new self waiting to be born and discovered in my deepest center; for, my true identity is found in my deepest center within me. This true self is like precious hidden treasure,…

“Contemplative prayer is a communion of love” (CCC 2719), and it is key for a renewed humanity. As I am renewed through contemplation I am filled with more of the fullness of the divinity, the life of Jesus. Thus, I become a converted human being. I become fully human. In order to become fully human…

In the silent love of contemplative prayer I hand myself over to Jesus “as an offering to be purified and transformed” (CCC 2711). Hence, in the ongoing, transformational, contemplative journey from “glory to glory” into the true humanity of Jesus (the image of Jesus’ humanity), the Spirit will reveal to me my false self that…

It has already been stated that contemplation is a “transformative gaze”: I become the one whom I behold in this gaze of silent love within my heart. This transformation involves a process of conversion into and discovery of my true self which is Jesus: “Him whom my heart loves” (Songs 3:2). Serious contemplation will always…

Saints are great lovers of God and humanity. This is why their intercession is so powerful. They love deeply in joyful and grateful faith. They also know themselves to be deeply sinful. Saints know that the inner battlefield of their hearts is the place where the fidelity of their commitment and devotion to God is…

   The holy Spirit calls me to a conversion that is always the beginning of new life. His call is always to a greater love, life and faith. There is a whole new self waiting to gradually spring forth through “the grain of wheat” (see John 12:24) of my humanity. This new life, new creation,…

I have been created by the God of Love, and re-created by the redemptive Love of Jesus. My heart has a deep desire to experience love and to become whom I behold in contemplative prayer. Yet, both my heart and mind need to be reformed if I am to be aware of and respond to…