The second in a series of talks on Mystical Prayer. Given by David Torkington to members of the laity and the community at Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire, England.
2. From Meditation to the beginning of Mystical Contemplation
Each morning after his mother’s death, David’s father brought two cups of tea into his bedroom. Sitting on his bed, David’s father told him the story of his love for his mother. It was for David a moving story in which he came to see how marriage is a unique analogy enabling him to understand Mystical Prayer like never before. It is this moving analogy that makes this talk not only profoundly meaningful, but deeply inspiring for everyone who has tried to give themselves to another in selfless love no matter what the cost.
Non nobis Domine, Domine, Non nobis Domine, Sed nomine, sed nomine tuo da gloriam:
Not to us lord, not to us, but to thy name let the glory be given:
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Thank you, I have also just discovered your work and it’s lovely to have some advice as their are no spiritual directors around so to speak, though I go on retreat twice a year if there’s no pandemic! I have read St John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, being a Carmelite in a Secular Institute, about to take my first vows of consecration. I think I’m just at the beginning of the mystical prayer, but will listen to the next talk for those signs. I can’t seem to meditate anymore but there is a wrapped up kind of prayer which is full of distractions and temptations and more questions come up then I know what to do with. I’m using your advice of short prayers from the Youtube podcast of Peter Calvay and your book Wisdom from Christian Mystics. Thank you.
Dear Heidi,
You are on the right track. Please persevere, persevere, persevere, as that is how Loving is learnt in the dark night and this is where you are.
David
Thank you, for your reply. That’s so good to know. I will persevere.
Thank you. I only recently discovered your works and am so grateful especially in this season of lent. I have been a lay carmelite since 1997 and felt disheartened. You renewed my hope and explained my problems so well. I am eternally grateful.
God bless you in your vocation, Ann
David
These talks are so helpful in the spiritual journey. Thank you so much.
I am looking for the 3rd talk in this series, is it available?
Thank you Peter. The next talks are ready, just have to be uploaded so they’re in the pipeline.
Thank you so much for this talk! It’s like an answered prayer! I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the 3rd in the series! I hope is is made available very, very soon! God Bless you!
Thank you Katie. The next is on it’s way. Bless you
Is there a third talk for this Retreat
There are Three more in this series. Please look back as the next one will be posted soon
Great Talks- tganks David.
Advent greetings David. I just received my copy of Wisdom of the mystics…very much looking forward to the adventure.George
George,
Good to hear from you. Blessings to you and your family this Christmas
David
You were podcast really hit home for me. Especially when you were talking about the love that your father had for your mother the last 18 months. My husband and I have been married for 41 years. So I can relate to what you said about the passions that a couple experiences when their 1st married. And then later through the years when menopause has come and gone and comes a time when the passions have ceased. But somehow magically I think, our love begins to evolve and change into something more mature and solid. Sure, we still have our squabbles, but they are forgivable and fade. But our love surely grows and brings us closer together.
Agree totally Martha. Good to hear from you.
David
Thank you,I have struggled to understand this process. Please explain the fruits of contemplation. I think I believe I’m on the path but I have read you will only know this by the fruits.
Thank you again. There is hope and there is a Father ABBA who loves us.
Colleen, Thank you for this. The journey in prayer is the most precious journey you will make. It is hard to explain fully here, but I have dealt with this theme fully in part 3, The Mystic, of my trilogy in Wisdom from the Western Isles. I am also doing a mini course on prayer for spiritual direction.com and all 10 posts can be found here in the first part https://www.spiritualdirection.com/author/david-torkington which will be followed by Meditation and then Contemplation. You may also wish to converse with other like-minded people who are striving to practice authentic Christian prayer from meditation to contemplation in the Facebook group, Authentic Contemplative prayer run by Connie Rossini.
Thank you for these beautiful explination .my English is not very good but i understand it
Katrien,
Your English is much better than my Flemish. Am I correct?
Thank you so much for your comment.
David
This is so meaningful to me right now and a stunningly beautiful treatise on prayer and love. With all the disorder in the Roman Catholic church, it is a fresh reminder of the real meaning of selfless love. Thank you also for explaining beginner prayer and the gift of contemplation.
Liz, We must never lose sight of selfless love which is learnt in the family. The laity are the hope for renewal.