When you say "Western," don't you mean "Protestant?" ;-)
St. Francis de Sales, a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church, describes in his Introduction to the Devout Life on how to prepare for meditation or prayer. This consists in placing yourself in the presence of God, and invoking His assistance. He describes "four principal means" for placing yourself in the presence of God. The second way that he lists is "to remember that He (God) is not only in the place where you are but also that He is present in a most particular manner in your hear and in the very center of your spirit. He enlivens and animates it by His divine presence, for He is there as the heart of your heart and spirit of your spirit." Just as St. Symeon states, this indwelling, also known as Sanctifying Grace, is preserved only by keeping the commandments.
"When you say "Western," don't you mean "Protestant?" ;-)"
Sort of! ;-) Actually, Eastern Christian pneumatology is somewhat more developed than in the West where the Neo Platonists got a hold of it.
"The second way that he lists is "to remember that He (God) is not only in the place where you are but also that He is present in a most particular manner in your hear and in the very center of your spirit. He enlivens and animates it by His divine presence, for He is there as the heart of your heart and spirit of your spirit." Just as St. Symeon states, this indwelling, also known as Sanctifying Grace, is preserved only by keeping the commandments."
This passage seems to point up a difference between Eastern Christian and Western Christian thought. +Francis speaks of God as being "present" in the heart. +Symeon the New Theologian speaks of the "grace of the Holy Spirit" being present. The distinction between essence and energies may seem a fine one, but to disregard it (and maybe +Francis really isn't disreagrding it at all, just using terminology which would lead one to believe he is)frankly has vast consequences for Christology, the nature of the Trinity and creation itself.