Maranatha and Christian Meditation

Hi, I think there was a discussion about this somewhere.. so I researched the matter.. I'm sorry it doesn't look like this is approved by the Church; I researched "Catholic meditation and contemplative prayer" and read about it in the Catechism, and it's very different sort of thing..
basically, the problem here seems to be the use of a "mantra".
That is very "Eastern religions".
Christian meditation is not about clearing the mind, but filling it with information..so you might meditate on Scripture by simply reflecting upon it, praying about it, etc. The Rosary is a great example of this.
And contemplative prayer is something different altogether..

The problem is this:

He says to not think about the meaning of the word and to not think about anything at all

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this can actually be spiritually dangerous. I seriously wouldn't recommend it.. I know that a few priests and lay persons are into this sort of thing, but it's not traditionally Catholic or supported by the Vatican. Nor have the Saints practiced anything like it. It's actually been informally introduced into the Church quite recently.. as I said, I don't think it's a Catholic practice.

Here's something I typed up about it in my blog (I'm sorry if I sound very critical) :

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9711fea1.asp
i thought this was a very good article about prayer..and the differences between Christian prayer and that of Eastern religions. it seems that there are two types of 'contemplative' prayer.. one is just repeating words over and over and trying to reach 'within yourself' to experience God..by 'emptying the mind'.. and this is not supported by the Church or Christian theology:

"In advising against being carried away by artificial practices such as Transcendental Meditation I am but repeating the age-old message of the Church. . . . The way of the Fathers requires firm faith and long patience, whereas our contemporaries want to seize every spiritual gift, including even direct contemplation of the Absolute God, by force and speedily, and will often draw a parallel between prayer in the Name of Jesus and yoga or Transcendental Meditation and the like. I must stress the danger of such errors. . . . He is deluded who endeavors to divest himself mentally of all that is transitory and relative in order to cross some invisible threshold, to realize his eternal origin, his identity with the Source of all that exists, in order to return and merge with him, the nameless transpersonal Absolute. Such exercises have enabled many to rise to suprarational contemplation of being, to experience a certain mystical trepidation, to know the state of silence of mind, when mind goes beyond the boundaries of time and space. In such like states man may feel the peacefulness of being withdrawn from the continually changing phenomena of the visible world, may even have a certain experience of eternity. But the God of Truth, the Living God, is not in all this."

It's common in Buddhism/Hinduism I think..and in some New Age religions..
the other type of contemplative prayer is the one that was practiced by many of the Saints and is accepted by the Church, it's basically just focusing on God as something 'other' - not a part of you, but as an existing Person that we can know. Instead of trying to empty the mind, you focus entirely on Christ. it's nothing demonic or even psychological or at all like hypnosis or "centering prayer".. it's about relationship with God, not doing deeper into yourself.. and instead of trying to go "beyond" the transitory, you come to God as you are, with all your imperfections..so that He can change you.

"Contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us. (st Teresa) Contemplative prayer seeks him "whom my soul loves."It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him." (the Catechism)

It's a way of experiencing union with God and opening yourself up to Him, not talking to Him with many words but just loving Him. it's a really advanced type of prayer and those who practice it are advised to seek great humility.. "A person who seeks contemplation must first steep his mind in the word of God, conform his behavior to the moral law, submit his body to the spirit by asceticism, subjugate his will in humility to the will of God, and take on a heart given over to the love of God and neighbor"
but i think many Christians do something very much like it, two examples are meditating on Scripture and praying the Rosary, or just having a conversation with God (when He speaks to you).

anyway, I really like Christian contemplative prayer (the one I just described) and I agree with the article that 'transcendental meditation' and 'centering prayer' can be spiritually harmful..and can lead to delusion.
from the Catechism:
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a1.htm

if you want more detail, check out the links

foxsta said:

Hey all...its been a long time since I was here last

I read about Christian meditation quite a while ago and how a Benedictine priest, Fr John Main, was promoting the use of the prayer word 'Maranatha' as a type of mantra. He says to not think about the meaning of the word and to not think about anything at all - just to come back to the prayer word when you find yourself not saying it. I found out yesterday that a visiting priest was a long term 'practicer' of this form of meditation and it brought up something again, namely; whilst this all sounds well and good, how does this type of meditation differ from those of Eastern religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, etc) that are actually not encouraged by the Vatican etc? I have seen a letter by Pope John Paul II and I don't think he mentions this - is it actually approved by the church? Sounded iffy to me...thats all.

Also, where can I find Helen of Britain these days?

Thanks and God bless,

Ben

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Another in-depth article that discusses the issue...

Christian Meditation?

yup, I agree Foxsta

But Lectio Divina can also involve focusing on one word in a Bible passage.

Lectio

This first moment consists in reading the scriptural passage slowly, attentively several times.

Meditatio

The Christian, gravitating around the passage or one of its words, takes it and ruminates on it, thinking in God’s presence about the text. He or she benefits from the Holy Spirit’s ministry of illumination, i.e. the work of the Holy Spirit that imparts spiritual understanding of the sacred text. It is not a special revelation from God, but the inward working of the Holy Spirit, which enables the Christian to grasp the revelation contained in the Scripture.

Oratio

This is a response to the passage by opening the heart to God. It is not an intellectual exercise, but an intuitive conversation or dialogue with God.

Contemplatio

This moment is characterized by a simple, loving focus on God. In other words, it is a beautiful, wordless contemplation of God, a joyful rest in his presence.

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In simpler times, people's minds were more geared towards contemplation.

Today, most people multi-task and think about a half-dozen things at once.

Sure, you can try to fill your overcrowded, cluttered, multi-tasking mind with some religious writings--but unless you get rid of all the other stuff, your meditation won't go anywhere.

And so, truthfully, I think that Catholics need to do both--first empty the mind, and then fill it with something positive.

I guess the difference is that in Christian meditation, if we're using one word (or a series of words) we don't use it as a 'mantra'.. but rather concentrate on the meaning of it until we're lead by the Holy Spirit to a greater understanding of God, etc.

Maranatha is even in one of the blessing books of the Bishops as a breath prayer ( Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers). Breath prayers are for raising the mind to Christ and reminding us of things that are important.

How licit the process is would depend on how it is done. Issues of vain repetition and such and purpose and intent.

Fr. Main rings a bell though. I will dig a bit when I have time.