Christian meditation

Christian meditation is a form of prayer in which a structured attempt is made to become aware of and reflect upon the revelations of God.^[1] The word meditation comes from the Latin word meditārī, which has a range of meanings including to reflect on, to study, and to practice. Christian meditation is the process of deliberately focusing on specific thoughts (such as a Bible passage) and reflecting on their meaning in the context of the love of God.^[2]

Christian meditation aims to heighten the personal relationship based on the love of God that marks Christian communion.^[3]^[4] Both in Eastern and Western Christianity meditation is the middle level in a broad three-stage characterization of prayer: it involves more reflection than first level vocal prayer, but is more structured than the multiple layers of contemplative prayer.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] Teachings in both the Eastern and Western Christian churches have emphasized the use of Christian meditation as an element in increasing one's knowledge of Christ.^[9]^[10]^[11]

Old Testament references[edit]

In the Old Testament, there are two Hebrew words for meditation: hāgâ (Hebrew: הגה), which means to sigh or murmur, but also to meditate, and sîḥâ (Hebrew: שיחה), which means to muse, or rehearse in one's mind. When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek, hāgâ became the Greek melete which emphasized meditation's movement in the depth of the human heart. Melete was a reminder that one should never let meditation be a formality. The Latin Bible then translated hāgâ/melete into meditatio.^[46]

The Bible mentions meditate or meditation 23 times, 19 times in the Book of Psalms alone.^[47] When the Bible mentions meditation, it often mentions obedience in the next breath. An example is the Book of Joshua:^[48] "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.."^[49]

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In the preparation part, one places oneself in the presence of God and asks the to direct the prayer, as in the Epistle to the Romans:^[77] "The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know what to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words."

Holy Spirit

In the consideration part, one focuses on a specific topic, e.g. a passage from the Bible.

In the affections and resolutions part, one focuses on feelings and makes a resolution or decision. For instance, when meditating on the one may decide to visit someone sick and be kind to them.

Parable of the Good Samaritan

In the conclusion part, one gives thanks and praise to God for the considerations and asks for the grace to stand by the resolution.

Christian meditation music

(contemplation)

Christian mysticism

Daily devotional

The Cloud of Unknowing

(1852). Meditations On The Mysteries Of Our Holy Faith . Richarson and Son.

de la Puente, Lius

Roger Baxter (1823). . Benziger Brothers.

Meditations For Every Day In The Year

(1801). Think Well On't or, Reflections on the great truths of the Christian religion for every day of the month . R. & W. Dean & Co.

Richard Challoner

(1908). Prayers and meditations on the life of Christ . Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.

Thomas à Kempis

World Community for Christian Meditation

Center for Action and Contemplation

The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila online (CCEL)

Instructions on Meditation & Guided Meditations by the Saints

Contemplative Outreach - Thomas Keating OCSO

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola (tr. Mullan)

The Rosary as a Tool for Meditation

Christian Meditation - AOG

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