Carl McColman's Blog, page 47

Auld Lang Silence (Episode 45)

For our final episode of 2018 — the first full year of our podcast, which debuted on December 6, 2017 — the three co-hosts of Encountering Silence sat down for a brief chat in which we reflected on the year just past, and shared some hopes for the podcast in the year to come. This … Continue reading Auld Lang Silence (Episode 45) → … Read more at Encountering Silence

The Privilege of Silence

Back in 2003, I spent a day at a relatively new monastery near Sligo, Ireland. Like many small religious foundations just getting off the ground, it was struggling, although the members of the community were filled with optimism and a sense of purpose about their shared mission. I plied one of the sisters with questions […]

Originally posted on Patheos

Silence and Words are Like Yin and Yang: a Contemplative Spirituality Needs Both

How does language help us — or hinder us — as we try to express our understanding of God — probably the most inexpressible subject imaginable? We adults can really get lost in our God-talk (the word “theology”? All it means is “God-talk”). I love to talk to children about God — and about angels […]

Originally posted on Patheos

Planting the Seed and Watching it Grow

I grew up in the suburbs, and gardening was not something my family devoted much time to. So when I got into elementary school and we had a class project of planting something — I think it was a bean or some other vegetable — I became fascinated with the mystery of life. Each of […]

Originally posted on Patheos

Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO: Silence in Chicago (Episode 44)

We are so pleased to welcome Trappist monk and poet Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO, back to Encountering Silence. A while back, Cassidy Hall interviewed brother Paul at his home, Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky (you can listen to that episode by clicking here). She ran into Br. Paul again recently while visiting Catholic Theological Union in … Continue reading Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO: Silence in Chicago (Episode 44) → … Read more at Encountering Silence

Is Contemplation Boring?

“This article is boring.” I don’t know of any writer who wants to get this type of feedback from a reader. It certainly isn’t the kind of comment that makes my day. But when someone made such a declaration on an article I wrote, it caught my attention — precisely because it’s a question I […]

Originally posted on Patheos

Mysticism, Contemplation, and Celtic Spirituality: A Guide to Books by Yours Truly

Every now and then I get an email or an in-person comment from someone who will tell me that I love my blog but they had no idea that I have also written some books. I suppose that is an indictment on my lack of talent when it comes to marketing. Oh, well, today’s blog […]

Originally posted on Patheos

Jacqueline Bussie: Silence and Love without Limits (Episode 43)

Sometimes we do not encounter silence so much as silence encounters us — whether we want it to or not. Today we have a conversation with Dr. Jacqueline Bussie, author of Love Without Limits: Jesus’ Radical Vision for Love with No Exceptions. Dr. Bussie teaches religion, theology, and interfaith studies classes at Concordia College in … Continue reading Jacqueline Bussie: Silence and Love without Limits (Episode 43) → … Read more at Encountering Silence

Walking in Wonder: This Book of Conversations with John O’Donohue is Everything You Hope It Would Be

“So the spiritual life is about the liberation of God from our images of him,” said John O’Donohue. This is just one of the many nuggets of wisdom that await you when you read this wonderful new anthology of interviews with the late Irish poet and mystic John O’Donohue. Walking in Wonder: Eternal Wisdom for […]

Originally posted on Patheos

Christianity is a Myth — and I say that as a faithful Catholic

I lost a follower on Facebook today. I’m sure it happens all the time, but this time was unusual, in that the person announced that she was leaving. What triggered this was a quote I posted from the Benedictine monk, Fr. Bede Griffiths: I got this reply from a (soon to be former) follower: Catholic […]

Originally posted on Patheos