Christian Contemplation
Theological Foundations and Contemporary Practice
- Prayer & Spiritual Formation
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Published: 2020
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Publisher's Description
Spiritual practitioners and experts across religious traditions are convinced that contemplation cultivates an awareness of the deeper desires of the human heart. But many will ask: does contemplation still exist? If one has been led to believe that there indeed exists the art of contemplation, one will still perhaps wonder what it is and whether or not it is still relevant and applicable today. For many, the term "contemplation" itself perhaps connotes a sense of an exotic practice from a distant past unrelated and impractical to the contemporary life. In this book the author explores the nature and functions of Christian contemplation and offers the reader a wide variety of contemplative prayer methods that can help cultivate an awareness of the spiritual dimension of the human life. The author argues that Christian contemplation is the work of the Holy Spirit. While drawing upon a variety of Christian traditions, the author bases his discussion on the Jesuit tradition of prayer, discernment, and spiritual growth as revealed in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
Endorsements (6)
“Father Nguyen explores the many forms contemplation has taken, beginning with the ancient hermits and ascetics known as the Fathers of the Desert. . . . Father Nguyen, trained in the spirituality of Ignatius, above all treats of contemplation in the Exercises, a way of focusing our prayer on God’s action in our lives and of participating step by step in the life of Jesus Christ.”
“Emphasizing that communion with God is universal, Nguyen describes several modes of meditation (including Zen and Anthroposophy) that express both the desire for God and the action of the Spirit. His argument that all longing for spiritual growth is ultimately action of the Holy Spirit suggests that all contemplation is ultimately christological.”
“In this book Joseph Nguyen, SJ, provides both a historical introduction to the history of Christian spirituality and a thoughtful argument for its continued relevance and significance for contemporary digital natives, many of whom no longer profess any particular religious affiliation.”
“Nguyen presents an accessible and inviting introduction to Christian contemplation for students new to theology. The book also offers practitioners of Ignatian spirituality a deeper dive into its theological foundations.”
“Unusually combining theological depth with sound spiritual wisdom, this book will prove enlightening both to academic theologians as well as to the general reader hungry to practice the ancient art of Christian contemplation.”
“Trusted spiritual director and theologian, Fr. Joe Nguyen, has written an excellent survey of the history and theology of Christian contemplation—that is, the activity by which human beings, moved by the Holy Spirit and modeled after Christ’s life and love, are able to fulfill their deepest desires and gain some measure of union with God. I recommended it for college courses and for anyone interested in spirituality, whether Christian or not.”
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