Tag Archives: participation
Cosmic Hope
Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary Richard’s love for the Trinity finds inspiration from the Franciscan mystical scholar St. Bonaventure (c. 1217–1274), who viewed all reality as coming from, participating with, and returning to God. Such a cosmic vision is mystical hope at its best! Bonaventure’s vision is positive, mystic, cosmic, intimately relational, and… Continue Reading Cosmic Hope
The Christ Mystery
Richard writes about how the coming of Christ is far more than the birth of a baby. The Christ Mystery is nothing less than a cosmic hope for history: The Second Coming of Christ that history is waiting for is not the same as the baby Jesus or even the historical Jesus. The historical Jesus… Continue Reading The Christ Mystery
The Gift of Confidence
Father Richard describes the gift of confidence, which arises not from our ego or efforts, but from the foundational goodness of God. When we are confident, we believe in a deep way that life is good, God is good, and humanity is good. We become safe and salutary people for others. We do exciting and… Continue Reading The Gift of Confidence
A Concern for the Good of the World
Rediscovering the Common Good A Concern for the Good of the World Tuesday, November 2, 2021 Fr. Richard and the Center’s commitment to the common good is deeply rooted in both the Scriptures and the Catholic Church’s social teaching and doctrine. Authors Chris Korzen and Alexia Kelley offer this brief outline: The Catholic vision of… Continue Reading A Concern for the Good of the World
Every Creature Is an Epiphany
Francis and the Animals Every Creature Is an Epiphany Sunday, October 3, 2021 A person who knew nothing but creatures would never need to attend to any sermons, for every creature is full of God and is a book. —Meister Eckhart, Sermon on Sirach 50:6–7 [1] In honor of tomorrow’s feast of St. Francis of… Continue Reading Every Creature Is an Epiphany
Compassion as Steadfast Love
Compassion Compassion as Steadfast Love Monday, September 27, 2021 Quaker author Richard Foster has long written on themes of prayer and spiritual practice. Focusing on the Hebrew word hesed, Foster explores the many ways that compassion shows up in the Hebrew Bible, both in God and in how people relate to one another: [The Hebrew… Continue Reading Compassion as Steadfast Love
Life as Participation: Weekly Summary
Life as Participation Saturday, September 11, 2021 Week Thirty-Six Summary and Practice Sunday, September 5—Friday, September 10, 2021 Sunday After transformation, God is not out there and we don’t look at reality. We look from reality. We’re in the middle of it now; we’re a part of it. This whole thing is a mystery of… Continue Reading Life as Participation: Weekly Summary
Participation Is the Only Way
Life as Participation Participation Is the Only Way Friday, September 10, 2021 Some of the most exciting and fruitful thought in recent theology can be described as the “turn toward participation.” [1] Religion as participation is a rediscovery of the Perennial Tradition that so many saints and mystics have spoken of in their own ways. It… Continue Reading Participation Is the Only Way
Participatory Morality
Life as Participation Participatory Morality Thursday, September 9, 2021 Jesus’ message of “full and final participation” was periodically enjoyed and taught by many unknown saints and mystics. It must be admitted, though, that the vast majority of Christians made Christianity into a set of morals and rituals instead of an all-embracing mysticism of the present moment.… Continue Reading Participatory Morality
Collective Responsibility
Life as Participation Collective Responsibility Wednesday, September 8, 2021 In my talks on Paul, I tried to show how Paul teaches that we are both saints and sinners on a corporate level—and at the same time. Our holiness lies in participating in the wholeness of the Body of Christ. As I said in my Great… Continue Reading Collective Responsibility