Contemplation
Past words, past thoughts — the soul simply gazing in love upon God
Contemplation is the loving, wordless gaze of the soul upon God, reaching beyond reasoning and discursive thought. Writers such as Evagrius and Gregory the Great shaped this contemplative tradition, which understands the highest prayer not as activity of the mind but as a quiet resting in God's presence. It represents a summit of the spiritual life, where the soul seeks union with God in stillness and love.
How it traveled
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Holy TrinityHippo Regius · 430explains
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430explains
- Two Books of SoliloquiesHippo Regius · 430explains
- Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New TestamentHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-XMarseille · 435explains
- The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal FaultsMarseille · 435explains
- The Conferences of John Cassian. Part III. Containing Conferences XVIII.-XXIVMarseille · 435explains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- ProslogiumCanterbury · 1109explains
- Internal ConsolationZwolle · 1471explains
- Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the SoulZwolle · 1471explains
- An Invitation to Holy CommunionZwolle · 1471applies
- A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three PartsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Seventeen Occasional SermonsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Narrative of Surprising ConversionsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758applies
Key passages(20)
The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Gregory the Great
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X · John Cassian
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X · John Cassian
Internal Consolation · Thomas à Kempis
Internal Consolation · Thomas à Kempis
Narrative of Surprising Conversions · Jonathan Edwards
Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament · Augustine of Hippo
The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Gregory the Great
Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul · Thomas à Kempis
A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts · Jonathan Edwards
Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New England · Jonathan Edwards
On the Morals of the Catholic Church · Augustine of Hippo
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X · John Cassian
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X · John Cassian
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part II. Containing Conferences XI-XVII · John Cassian
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part III. Containing Conferences XVIII.-XXIV · John Cassian
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part III. Containing Conferences XVIII.-XXIV · John Cassian
Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul · Thomas à Kempis