christian meditation christian meditation form prayer structured attempt aware reflect revelations god word meditation comes latin word range meanings including reflect study practice christian meditation process deliberately focusing specific thoughts bible passage reflecting meaning context love god christian meditation aims personal relationship based love god marks christian communion eastern western christianity meditation middle level broad stage characterization prayer involves reflection level vocal prayer structured multiple layers prayer teachings eastern western christian churches emphasized use christian meditation element increasing knowledge christ aspects christian meditation holy warned potential mixing christian non christian styles meditation christian reflection new age vatican announced church avoids concept close new age context structure christian meditation involves looking jesus life thanksgiving god action sending jesus human salvation book interior castle chapter defined christian meditation follows meditation mean prolonged reasoning understanding way begin thinking favor god bestowed giving son stop proceed consider mysteries glorious life quoting gospel matthew knows father son son wants reveal received spirit god realize god freely given theologian explained context christian meditation follows dimensions christian meditation develop god having completed self revelation directions speaking speaking man son depths man meditation place revealing man god son jesus christ reveals god father holy spirit god join god depths god spirit building theme explained dimensions christian meditation crucial merely showing guiding practice christian meditation grounded bible god bible personal god speaks words revelation christian meditation responds revelation focuses aspect contrast mystic use second distinctive mark christian meditation responds love god john love loved personal relationship based love god marks christian communion heightened christian meditation dimension revelations bible love god lead worship god making christian meditation exercise praise characterized goal christian meditation follows true end christian meditation practically end prayer reception deeper union grace charity god man jesus christ view salvation terms faith grace western eastern christians role meditation path salvation redemption paul stated romans salvation comes god mercy path salvation christian meditation aim meditation bring joy heart god word god directs aspects love god obedience initiative christian salvation god love god gain favor role holy spirit western christian teachings meditation believed involve inherent action holy spirit help christian understand deeper meanings word god 12th century decades ladder monk predecessors emphasized belief stating earnest meditation begins holy spirit enters soul turns water wine shows path better understanding god 19th century affirmed belief protestant tradition wrote spirit taught meditation message aside responsibility preparing message got trust god 20th century teaching follows god word christian solely gift divine spirit understand god disclosed spirit god communicated biblical basis teaching referred things god revealed spirit spirit searches things deep things god distinction non christian christian meditation different style performed eastern religions buddhism context new age types meditation suggest approaches mind christian meditation aims fill mind thoughts related biblical passages christian western eastern churches associated feelings meditation legendary gregory stated goal christian meditation seeking guidance holy spirit minor phenomenon modern christian teachings meditation times include specific criticism styles meditation stated christian meditation involves action holy spirit biblical passages warned approaches mind scripture according christian meditation contrasts cosmic styles oriental meditation radically portrayal god father bible contrasts discussions krishna indian teachings unlike eastern styles christian intended stimulate thought meaning christian meditation aims personal relationship based love god marks christian communion according search wisdom marks path christian meditation wisdom sought christ scripture scripture christ document generally known meditation set forth position holy respect differences christian eastern styles meditation document issued letter catholic bishops stresses differences christian eastern approaches warns dangers attempting mix christian meditation eastern approaches confusing misleading result loss essential nature christian meditation letter warned states obtained eastern meditation confused prayer assumed signs presence god state result loving service truths letter said meditation flight self form self absorption old testament references hebrew words meditation hebrew means hebrew means muse mind translated greek greek emphasized meditation movement depth human heart reminder let meditation translated bible mentions meditation times times book bible mentions meditation mentions obedience breath example book let book law depart mouth day night history middle ages monastic traditions western moved vocal prayer christian meditation resulted distinct different practices west east involves repetition jesus prayer uses different scripture passages different times passage repeated times repetitive nature progression bible reading meditation loving regard god formally described monk died late 12th century book ladder monks considered description prayer western mystical tradition eastern christianity monastic traditions constant prayer traced desert fathers established practice influenced book ladder divine ascent 7th century prayers promoted supported 14th century methods prayer taught group northern europe entered spain known early 16th century book imitation christ known spain known spain probably initially know methods likely influenced teachings works studied contemporary collaborator john cross continued tradition taught stages 19th century importance biblical meditation firmly established protestant spiritual tradition 18th early 19th centuries components meditation started emphasized branches western christianity early 20th century witnessed revival books articles approaches aimed general public began appear middle century principal documents constitution latin word god emphasized use 40th anniversary pope reaffirmed importance approaches meditation number saints historical figures followed presented specific approaches christian meditation eastern western christian teachings emphasized use meditation element increasing knowledge christ use mental imagery goal knowing christ loving way perfection taught try know christ meditation mental prayer prayer meditation continues eastern orthodox tradition spiritual practice knowing christ founder contain numerous exercises day spiritual exercises remain integral training period religious order exercises intended notes guide spiritual director leading experience christian meditation entire experience takes days involves daily interview director process begins consideration purpose life relationship rest creation followed week meditation sin consequences comes period events life jesus thinking suffering death final week experience joy resurrection conclusion reflect god love response love god exercises involve imagery enters biblical scene example encouraged scenes life christ times asking questions christ cross doctor church practiced prayer periods hour time twice day believed faithful practice meditation possibly lose soul writings viewed fundamental teachings christian spirituality taught specific prayers prayers described way perfection involve meditation mystery life jesus based faith god truth said learned life wrote taught instructions given book spiritual alphabet relates starting point practice keeping senses intellect check allowing stray generally attention single subject principally love god way perfection wrote called soul collects enters god use devices short readings scene natural beauty religious statue picture remind focus wrote course mind naturally learns maintain focus god viewed christian meditation steps achieving union god analogy garden compared basic meditation garden bucket water wheel quiet spring water union rain approach christian meditation based preparation consideration affections resolutions conclusions preparation places oneself presence god asks holy spirit direct prayer romans spirit helps weakness know pray spirit deep words consideration focuses specific topic passage bible affections resolutions focuses feelings makes resolution decision instance good decide visit sick kind conclusion gives thanks praise god considerations asks grace stand resolution issues catholic_church saint thomas said meditation necessary devotion called faithful meditation god word spiritual formation cross close friend viewed christian meditation necessary step union god wrote advanced persons needed regularly return meditation devoted said person turns mind god mirror soul seeks know faults tries correct puts conscience order catholic church encourages meditation form prayer meditation quest mind seeks understand christian life order adhere respond lord asking section christians owe develop desire regularly emphasizing union god states meditation engages thought imagination emotion desire necessary order convictions faith prompt conversion heart strengthen follow christ christian prayer tries mysteries christ form reflection great value christian prayer knowledge love lord jesus union prayer different prayer christian meditation performed outside mass associated large catholic writings inspirations specially 18th century saints promoters published books devoted meditation february shortly died wrote memory rough draft poetic masterpiece live love composed meditation significant portions writings reported having based similarly book true jewel spirituality pope wrote personal experiences reflections meditation meditation integral mode meditation process reflecting mysteries practice time turn mysteries practice meditation praying repeated dates 15th century monks soon adopted large 16th century practice meditation spread europe book maria glorious virgin mary printed milan provided individual meditation accompany prayer approach focusing favor god bestowed giving son viewed basis pope placed center christian spirituality emphasizing final goal christian life transformed christ stated helps believers come closer christ contemplating christ stated mary prayer presence god stated mary face christ byzantine_empire 10th 14th centuries tradition prayer called developed particularly greece continues present gregory considered founder approach prayer tradition uses special posture breathing rituals accompanied repetition short prayer traditionally jesus prayer giving rise suggestions influenced indian approaches compare prayer use jesus prayer fashion violate purpose treat string syllables surface meaning secondary likewise hollow repetition considered worthless damaging tradition spirit true style prayer opposed defended coming rest quiet silence continues practiced byzantine rite gained significance western churches jesus prayer consisting phrase lord jesus christ son god mercy repeated set period time set number times contrasted mental imaginative forms christian meditation person encouraged imagine think events life jesus gospel compared techniques oriental religions possible interactions proven approaches monk priest presented way christian meditation prayer phrase approach groups
Christian meditation