From Meditation to Contemplation

Join Dan Burke and Melissa Elson as they reflect on the meditations of Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen on the transition from meditation to contemplation.

Topics/Questions Covered in the Show:

We must have an understanding of the transition from meditation to contemplation in order to cooperate with God.
How can someone advance in the spiritual life if they have trouble meditating?
Meditating is both thinking about Scripture and entering into the readings through discursive and affective meditation.
Vocal prayer done well can lead us to deeper meditation.
Is everyone called to the contemplative life?
Is it possible for God to withhold a soul from contemplation and keep them in the meditative stage of prayer?
You must become aware of the depths of your sin and become reliant on Jesus to purify you.
When you are unable to meditate on Scripture, do you keep reading or are there tricks to meditation?
What are some of the common experiences when someone is transitioning from meditation to contemplation?

Resources:

Spiritualdirection.com – website
EWTN Global Catholic Radio
Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation
EWTN Religious Catalogue – online
Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen
The Ascent of Mount Carmel by St. John of the Cross
The Contemplative Rosary by Dan Burke and Connie Rossini
Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – USCCB Bible link
Questions? Send an e-mail to Questions@myavila.com or call 818-646-7729. Please leave your name, location, and question(s).

What is Divine Intimacy Radio?

The Divine Intimacy Radio Show is a haven of rest and wellspring of spiritual life for those people seeking intimacy with God and the enlightened path of Catholic mystical and ascetical wisdom. Every week our co-hosts Dan Burke and Melissa Elson explore topics related to the interior life and Catholic teaching, including prayer, spiritual direction, meditation, contemplation, and holiness.

Divine Intimacy Radio Show and EWTN!

This radio show can also be heard every Sunday on EWTN Radio, Sundays at 6:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 11:00 pm Eastern time. We are grateful to EWTN for their support!

Please click on the links below to listen to this week’s show! Don’t forget to tell your friends and your family about the show and help us to get the word out. Click HERE for mobile devices or on the links below to listen to the show:

Email Print

Dan Burke

Dan Burke is the past President and C.O.O. of EWTN's worldwide news network. He is presently the founder and President of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, which offers graduate and personal enrichment studies in spiritual theology to priests, deacons, religious, and laity in 90 countries and prepares men for seminary in over 40 dioceses. Dan is the author and editor of numerous books on authentic Catholic spirituality and hosts the Divine Intimacy Radio show with his wife, Stephanie, which is broadcast weekly on EWTN Radio. Past episodes can be found, along with thousands of articles on the interior life, at SpiritualDirection.com. In his deep commitment to the advancement of faithful Catholic spirituality, he is also the founder of Apostoli Viae, a world-wide, private association of the faithful dedicated to living and advancing the authentic spiritual patrimony of the Church. Most importantly, Dan is a blessed husband, father of four, grandfather of one—and grateful to be Catholic.