Posted on 07/14/2009 11:56:55 AM PDT by GonzoII
The Catechism of the Catholic Church on the subject of contemplative prayer:
2709 What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: "Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us."6 Contemplative prayer seeks him "whom my soul loves."7 It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself.
2710 The choice of the time and duration of the prayer arises from a determined will, revealing the secrets of the heart. One does not undertake contemplative prayer only when one has the time: one makes time for the Lord, with the firm determination not to give up, no matter what trials and dryness one may encounter. One cannot always meditate, but one can always enter into inner prayer, independently of the conditions of health, work, or emotional state. The heart is the place of this quest and encounter, in poverty ant in faith.
2711 Entering into contemplative prayer is like entering into the Eucharistic liturgy: we "gather up:" the heart, recollect our whole being under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, abide in the dwelling place of the Lord which we are, awaken our faith in order to enter into the presence of him who awaits us. We let our masks fall and turn our hearts back to the Lord who loves us, so as to hand ourselves over to him as an offering to be purified and transformed.
Basically, the danger of contemplative practices is that you don’t know for sure who you’re “talking to.” Eastern religions, new agers, and occultists alike use meditation and other practices to contact the spirit world. Does the God of the Bible require meditation to contact him? No, simply prayer, which Jesus taught us about when he prayed the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus didn’t go into a trance, or enter an altered state of consciousness, when he prayed. He just talked to his Father.
So then, what or who do people contact in the spirit world through meditation and altered states of consciousness? Perhaps deceiving spirits, so-called “angels,” “spirit guides,” demons? It says in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
And therein lies the danger. Biblical prayer is not dangerous. Yet those who promote contemplative prayer, like Richard Foster, warn that their methods are dangerous.
A snippet from this article:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/richardfosterbestilldvd.htm
And yet, Foster himself says this is a dangerous prayer method that can invoke demonic activity and requires special protection. From Foster’s book, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, Foster says: “I also want to give a word of precaution. In the silent contemplation of God we are entering deeply into the spiritual realm, and there is such a thing as a supernatural guidance that is not divine guidance. While the Bible does not give us a lot of information on the nature of the spiritual world [not true], we do know there are various orders of spiritual beings, and some of them are definitely not in cooperation with God and his way!...”
St. Francis quote from book
"However, if you have the gift of mental prayer, you should give it first place. Afterwards if you cannoy say your vocal prayers because of your many duties or for some other reason don't be disturbed on that account .... During vocal prayer if you find your heart drawn and invited to interior or mental prayer, don't refuse to to take it up. Let your mind turn very gently in that direction and don't be concerned at not finishing in that direction and don't be concerned at not finishing vocal prayers you intended to say. The mental prayer you substitute for them more pleasing to God and more profitable for your soul."(pg. 125)
Prayer is no doubt "talking to God" but it is also listening:
Zephaniah:1:7: "Be silent before the face of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is near, for the Lord hath prepared a victim, he hath sanctified his guests."
Zec:2:13: "Let all flesh be silent at the presence of the Lord: for he is risen up out of his holy habitation."
Ps:46:10: "Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth."
Thanks for the input.
In context, what do any of those verses have to do with prayer? None uses the word. The word is used many, many times, always of believers speaking to God. And there are times to shut up. But is there a verse that calls shutting up "prayer"?
When we shut up that's when we're listening, i.e, "contemplating".
Well, I’m all for timely shutting-up. (c;
But there’s no Biblical warrant for calling it prayer or “listening” — Unless we’re prophets (Deuteronomy 18:15ff.). And we’re not.
God speaks through His word only (e.g. Hebrews 3:7ff.).
“Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
A pious person who is living the Ten Commandments will easily recognize temptation. A big part of the contemplative practice is a purification of the soul and a self-knowledge process to reveal spiritual weaknesses.
Your Foster quote is baseless and really is leading people astray from a life filled with the Holy Spirit.
Union with God through the Holy Spirit is a gift from God. True, the devil will do his dirty work and lead some astray, BUT, to claim all such experiences are to be shunned is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
I should say your referenced website's comments of the Foster quote is baseless
Difficult keeping track with those who don't speak for themselves :)
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