Thomas Merton is one of the towering figures of contemplative spirituality over the last century. This Trappist monk was a gifted writer and a brilliant interpreter of the Christian spiritual…
Author: Carl McColman
Soul Friend and Storyteller. Lay Cistercian, Centering Prayer Presenter, Author, Blogger, Podcaster, Speaker, Teacher, Retreat Leader.
Online Course: Christian Mysticism (April 19-May 10, 2021)
Karl Rahner said that Christians of the future will be mystics. But what is a mystic? What do mystics do, and how is their faith and spirituality unique? This course…
Explore the Mystical Life — with a Christian Mysticism “Unknowledge Base”!
Friends, I’m excited to announce a major new initiative on this website. Coming on February 1, 2021, I’m launching a Christian Mysticism (Un)Knowledge Base. (Update: it’s been launched! Visit the…
Discerning the Mystical Sense of the Bible
Origen of Alexandria, one of the earliest Christian mystics, suggested that the Bible needs to be read on three levels: the literal, the moral, and the mystical.
It’s important to understand the distinctions between these three approaches to the scriptures.
How My Surrogate Grandmother Introduced Me to Silence
When I was a small boy, there was a lady named Mrs. Frazier who lived across the street from my home. Mrs. Frazier and her husband were a bit older…
A Mystical Catechism
One of my dreams is to create a Christian Mysticism Knowledge Base (or, perhaps better described as a Christian Mysticism Un-knowledge Base!). I wrote the following questions a while back thinking…
A Julian of Norwich Meditation
Here’s a meditation I developed a few months ago for a retreat I led for an Episcopal Church. It’s based on Julian of Norwich’s vision of the hazelnut. Before you…
Online Day of Reflection: Celtic Spirituality (March 20, 2021)
Experience the prayer, poetry, folklore, and spirituality of the Celtic Christians of old — and how their down to-earth, lyrical, and hope-filled wisdom still speaks to us today. Our day together…
Online Retreat: Celtic Wisdom (March 16-18, 2021)
Explore the wisdom, wit, poetry and mysticism of the Celtic saints in this 3-day online retreat! In March, I will return (via Zoom) to lead another retreat sponsored by the…
How do I choose a contemplative lay order? And do I have to be Catholic to do so?
A reader recently wrote to me: Dear Carl, I grew up as a Protestant, but as I’ve journeyed into Contemplative Christianity over the last while I’ve become more amenable to Roman…
Online Retreat: Celtic Spirituality (March 12-13, 2021)
In March 2020 I was scheduled to travel to western North Carolina to give a retreat on Celtic Spirituality. Alas, it was not to be: the Covid-19 pandemic happened. But…
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Carl Perkins, and a Song About Love Between Old Friends
Today is the fortieth anniversary of the senseless, stupid murder of former Beatle John Lennon. I was a sophomore in college when it happened, and I remember it well because…