YOUCAT Lesson 504
YOUCAT the catechism
for Catholic youth
504 What can a Christian
accomplish through meditation?
In meditation a Christian seeks silence so as to experience
intimacy with God and to find peace in his presence. He hopes for the sensible experience of his
presence, which is an undeserved gift of grace; he does not expect it, however,
as the product of a particular technique of meditation.
“The
Time-of Spiritual Desolation, is a Time-for being Resigned. When a Soul begins
to-Cultivate the Spiritual Life, God usually 'Showers' His Consolations upon
her, to-Wean her away-from the World; but when He sees her making Solid
Progress, He withdraws His Hand to-Test her, and to see if she will Love and
Serve Him without the Reward-of Sensible Consolations. "In this
Life", as Saint Teresa used to say, "our lot
is not to-enjoy God,but to do His Holy Will". And again,
"Love of God does not consist-in 'Experiencing' His
Tenderness's, but in-Serving Him with Resolution and Humility".
And in yet another place, "God's True Lovers, are discovered-in Times-of
Aridity and Temptation". --Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Meditation can be an important aid to faith that strengthens
and matures the human person.
Nevertheless, techniques of meditation that promise to bring about an
experience of God, or even the soul’s union with God, are deceptive. On account of such false promises, many
people believe that God has abandoned them just because they do not perceive
him. But God cannot be compelled to show
up by particular methods. He
communicates himself to us whenever and however he wishes.
Meditation (from Latin meditor = to practice, think over):
Meditation is a spiritual exercise practiced in various religions and cultures
in which man is supposed to find his way to himself (and to God). Christianity recognizes and treasures a
variety of meditative practices, but rejects those practices that promise union
with God or with the divine as the result of a particular technique of
meditation.
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