Ongoing Steps to the Practice of Contemplation

The contemplative path is not a destination but a lifelong journey—one that unfolds slowly and beautifully as we walk with Jesus. To practice contemplation with depth and intention, we need spiritual rhythms, trusted resources, and a teachable heart. Below are key steps that can nurture a deeper relationship with Christ and develop the inner quiet necessary for a rich contemplative life.

1. Grow Your Relationship with Jesus through Prayer and Bible Study

A life of contemplation begins with—and is continually sustained by—a living relationship with Jesus Christ. As we pray and dwell in His Word, we create space in our hearts for His presence to dwell more fully. The practice of contemplation is not separate from Scripture or prayer—it is the fruit of a heart deeply rooted in both.

Daily Prayer: A Continual Conversation with God

Scripture calls us to “pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)¹. Contemplatives take this seriously, learning to carry a posture of prayer throughout the day.

Prayer does not always require words. Sometimes it is silence, sometimes gratitude, sometimes tears. It may be formal—through the Divine Office, the Rosary, or Psalms—or informal, such as short breath prayers whispered in the heart: “Lord Jesus, have mercy,” or “Here I am, Lord.” Let prayer be woven into the ordinary moments: when rising, while walking, preparing meals, folding laundry, or drifting into sleep.

Bible Study: Feeding the Soul with Living Bread

Scripture is the soul’s daily bread. As Psalm 103 reminds us, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:2–3)². Daily time in the Word recalibrates our inner compass, quiets the noise of the world, and opens the way for God to speak.

Even after seminary study and years of teaching, I continue to learn. Right now, I’m working through the “Foundations” courses at Saddleback Church. I believe every contemplative must carry the humility to remain a student of Christ, always³.

Build Your Library: Tools for the Journey

A good spiritual library is a treasure. One of the most valuable tools I use is Logos Bible Software, and its Catholic counterpart, Verbum. These programs offer a wealth of biblical resources, patristic writings, lexicons, commentaries, and spiritual classics at your fingertips⁴.

[Link to 50 Bible Verses]
[Link to Bible Plans]

2. Practice the Exercises on Our “Learning Contemplation” Webpage

To go deeper into the contemplative life, we must develop the fundamental interior disciplines: mindfulness, visualization, and sensitivity to the presence of God.

These aren’t psychological tricks or mystical novelties. They are long-standing elements of Christian spirituality. The Desert Fathers practiced watchfulness; St. Ignatius taught “composition of place”; and modern saints like Thérèse of Lisieux meditated upon Gospel scenes with loving intimacy⁵.

When walking in nature, notice the details. Let creation preach to you. St. Francis of Assisi believed all of nature declared God’s glory⁶.
When reading Scripture, enter the story. Feel the dust on the road, the tone of Jesus’ voice, the glances of the disciples. This is not fantasy—it is the soul’s participation in the living Word.

[Link to Learning Contemplation]

3. Read Our Webpage: Father Thomas Keating on Contemplation

Father Thomas Keating (1923–2018) was a Cistercian monk and a leader in reviving the contemplative tradition within modern Christianity. He taught that Centering Prayer was a method of resting in God’s presence beyond thoughts, feelings, and images—a form of contemplative consent⁷.

Keating’s writings, such as Open Mind, Open Heart, and his leadership in the Centering Prayer movement, have impacted thousands of seekers. His humility, gentle wisdom, and openness to the mystery of God made him one of the great spiritual fathers of our time⁸.

[Link to Father Keating on Contemplation]

4. Read Our Webpage: The Purgative Way

In traditional Christian spirituality, the journey toward union with God unfolds in three stages: the Purgative, Illuminative, and Unitive Ways. The Purgative Way is foundational. It involves purification of the heart and detachment from sin and worldly attachments.

This is echoed in the writings of St. John of the Cross, who called the purgative stage the “dark night of the senses”—a painful but necessary stripping away of distractions and illusions⁹.

Modern expressions of the purgative process include:
• Daily self-examination and repentance
• Ignatian Examen, a practice of reviewing the day with God¹⁰
• Spiritual direction or trusted Christian counseling
• Sacramental confession (in Catholic and Orthodox traditions)

[Link to The Purgative Way]

5. Practice Lectio Divina, Ignatian Contemplation, and the Scriptural Rosary

These classical disciplines integrate the mind and heart in prayerful attention to God’s Word:

Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) has been practiced since the early monastic tradition. St. Benedict outlined this sacred reading in the 6th century. The method involves reading, meditating, praying, and resting in God¹¹.
Ignatian Contemplation, developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, invites the believer to place themselves imaginatively within Scripture, engaging with the senses to foster spiritual intimacy¹².
The Scriptural Rosary, especially emphasized by Pope Saint John Paul II in Rosarium Virginis Mariae, is a form of meditative prayer in which the Mysteries of Christ are contemplated using Scripture and sacred imagery¹³.

[Link to Lectio Divina]
[Link to Ignatian Contemplation]
[Link to Praying the Rosary with Pope Saint John Paul II]

6. Outside Study: Learning from the Great Contemplatives

The best way to grow in contemplative prayer is to sit at the feet of those who have gone before:

St. Teresa of Ávila: Her Interior Castle is a spiritual masterpiece that describes the soul’s journey inward through seven “mansions” leading to union with God¹⁴.
St. John of the Cross: His poetry and writings on detachment and divine darkness are unmatched in their mystical beauty¹⁵.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Her “Little Way” teaches simplicity, humility, and trust as the path to God.
Thomas Merton: His book New Seeds of Contemplation awakened modern readers to the power of silence, solitude, and self-surrender.
Zen Meditation: While not a Christian practice, some Christian contemplatives have studied it to better understand silence and attentiveness. Any study of Zen should be filtered through prayerful discernment and grounded in the primacy of Christ.

A Final Encouragement: Walk Gently, Walk Daily

There is no rush in contemplation. The Spirit does not hurry the soul. These practices are not burdens but invitations—gentle openings of the heart toward God. Begin slowly. Be faithful. Remain teachable. Let your desire for Christ carry you.

Contemplation is not for the spiritual elite. It is for anyone who longs for God.

And as you take these ongoing steps—through Scripture, silence, imagination, prayer, and love—know that Jesus walks with you, delighting in every moment you give Him.

Footnotes
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, NIV.
2. Psalm 103:2–3, NIV.
3. Saddleback Church, “Foundations: 11 Core Truths to Build Your Life On,” https://saddleback.com/foundations
4. Logos Bible Software and Verbum by Faithlife, https://www.logos.com/
5. Thérèse of Lisieux, Story of a Soul, trans. John Clarke (ICS Publications, 1996).
6. St. Francis of Assisi, Canticle of the Creatures, 1225.
7. Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart (Continuum, 1992).
8. The Rising Tide: A Film on the Life and Legacy of Fr. Thomas Keating (Contemplative Outreach, 2021).
9. St. John of the Cross, The Dark Night of the Soul, trans. E. Allison Peers (Image Books, 1959).
10. St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, c. 1548.
11. Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 48.
12. William Barry and William Connolly, The Practice of Spiritual Direction (HarperOne, 2009).
13. Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002).
14. St. Teresa of Ávila, The Interior Castle, trans. E. Allison Peers (Image Books, 1989).
15. St. John of the Cross, The Spiritual Canticle, trans. E. Allison Peers (Image Books, 1991).