The Spiritual Life, Episode 10: The Life of Prayer (Part 3): Meditation

The Spiritual Life, Episode 10: The Life of Prayer (Part 3): Meditation In this episode of The Spiritual Life, we continue with the great topic of prayer by discussing that form of mental prayer which is called meditation. St. Teresa of Avila gives her definition of mental prayer as: “Mental prayer is nothing else than an intimate friendship, a frequent heart-to-heart conversation with Him by whom we know ourselves to be loved.” This conversation with God, with Our Divine Lord, can take two different forms: meditation or contemplation. Meditation is a form of prayer where one reflects and systematically considers various religious truths in order to build convictions and to stir up acts of the will towards God (e.g. acts of Faith, love of God, sorrow for sin, etc.) It is raising the mind to God in order to raise the heart to God in loving converse. The method used can be varied and simplified. Meditation is thinking about God in order to love God; the soul mounting up to God. Meditation, in one form or another, is the usual and necessary beginning in a soul’s question for union with God through mental prayer. Meditation should bring a generous and faithful soul, eventually, to the grace of contemplation – a higher form of mental prayer. Join host, John Thomson and Father Bernard Uttley, O.S.B. as they discuss the subject of meditation: its essential nature and purpose, and practical advice concerning its practice on this episode of The Spiritual Life. Original Air Date: February 25, 2015 Show Run Time: 1 hour 02 minutes Show Guest(s): Father Bernard Uttley, O.S.B. Show Host(s): John Thomson