The Spiritual Life, Episode 13: Contemplation (Part 1)

The Spiritual Life, Episode 13: Contemplation (Part 1) In this episode of The Spiritual Life we begin the study of the fascinating kind of prayer called contemplation. Knowledge concerning contemplation and mystical theology in general is certainly rare these days and yet it is of great importance for a healthy spiritual life. The reason is simple: many people, both religious and lay, experience the beginnings of contemplation without knowing how to cooperate with this grace. The crisis in the spiritual life that marks the transition to the prayer of contemplation is called by St. John of the Cross the Dark Night of the Senses. St. John said: “The night of sense is common and comes to many: these are the beginners.” Failure to understand what is going in state will cause one to unwittingly frustrate God’s grace and one’s progress in prayer. This episode of The Spiritual Life is the first of a series on contemplation that will deal with the beginnings of contemplation, the Dark Night of the Senses, and other connected subjects that have been subject of controversy amongst various authors. Original Air Date: October 7, 2016 Show Run Time: 1 hour 2 minutes Show Guest(s): Father Bernard Uttley, O.S.B.