Tag Archives: Cloud of Unknowing
The Narrow Gate of Contemplation
Contemplation is a wordless resting in the presence of God beyond all thoughts and images. Continue Reading The Narrow Gate of Contemplation
God Cannot Be Thought
Knowing and Not Knowing God Cannot Be Thought Thursday, January 30, 2020 Augustinian priest Fr. Martin Laird is an author, retreat leader, and professor of early Christian studies at Villanova University. He is a gifted teacher who makes the history and practice of Christian contemplation accessible to people of all backgrounds. Here he relates the… Continue Reading God Cannot Be Thought
The Cloud of Unknowing
Knowing and Not Knowing The Cloud of Unknowing Wednesday, January 29, 2020 God, it seems, cannot really be known, but only related to. Or, as the mystics would assert, we know God by loving God, by trusting God, by placing our hope in God. It is a non-possessive, non-objectified way of knowing. It is always… Continue Reading The Cloud of Unknowing
Love Is Universal
Oneness Love Is Universal Monday, September 23, 2019 Every rational creature, every person, and every angel has two main strengths: the power to know and the power to love. God made both of these, but [God is] not knowable through the first one. To the power of love, however, [God] is entirely known, because a… Continue Reading Love Is Universal
Anointing with Love
Christ Means “Anointed” Anointing with Love Wednesday, April 10, 2019 Cynthia Bourgeault has spent years studying Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’ closest apostles, often conflated with a prostitute. Cynthia reclaims Magdalene’s significance as Jesus’ beloved companion and a model of authentic love. Christ is not Jesus’s last name—an obvious but so-often overlooked truism. It means… Continue Reading Anointing with Love
The End of Knowing
Unknowing: Week 2 The End of Knowing Friday, October 12, 2018 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in… Continue Reading The End of Knowing
The Power of Love
Unknowing: Week 2 The Power of Love Thursday, October 11, 2018 The anonymous, 14th century author of The Cloud of Unknowing conveys the fathomless mystery of God and that God can only be known by loving presence—contemplation. The Cloud of Unknowing was the inspiration for practices such as centering prayer and Christian meditation. Today and… Continue Reading The Power of Love
Exploring the Mystics with Cynthia Bourgeault: Weekly Summary
Exploring the Mystics with Cynthia Bourgeault Summary: Sunday, October 15-Friday, October 20, 2017 This week guest writer and CAC faculty member Cynthia Bourgeault reflected on Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and The Cloud of Unknowing. Teilhard reveals a wrenchingly honest acknowledgement of our human predicament and an unfailing fidelity to seeing God in every aspect of… Continue Reading Exploring the Mystics with Cynthia Bourgeault: Weekly Summary
The Work of Contemplation
Exploring the Mystics with Cynthia Bourgeault The Work of Contemplation Friday, October 20, 2017 Guest writer and CAC faculty member Cynthia Bourgeault continues reflecting on the classic, anonymous text of Christian mysticism, The Cloud of Unknowing. As I mentioned yesterday, I approach The Cloud in a different way than it is typically understood. While reading… Continue Reading The Work of Contemplation