Friends, I am thrilled to announce that my good friends at Zeitgeist Atlanta are hosting a Pilgrimage in Ireland, September 20-27, 2023 — and they have asked me to be the spiritual guide for this pilgrimage! This will be a very special week, as we will be keeping the size of the group very small: …
Ireland Pilgrimage in September 2023!!! Informational Meeting on Zoom — August 4, 2022! Read More »
Click here to learn more about this program and to register for it! I’m so excited to announce that I will be facilitating the nine-month program for Exploring Group Spiritual Direction sponsored by Zeitgeist Atlanta — Atlanta’s home for the spiritually independent person (and for open-hearted spiritual seekers of all faiths)! This is a wonderful stand-alone program …
I’ll be returning to one of my favorite monasteries, Mepkin Abbey near Charleston, SC, to pray with the Trappist monks there and lead an in-person, Monday-Friday retreat on the spirituality of the great Spanish mystic, St. Teresa of Ávila! St. Teresa of Ávila is one of the greatest of Christian mystics. Her books, including The Interior …
In Person Event: The Mystical Wisdom of Teresa of Ávila (August 22-26, 2022) Read More »
Join me (Carl McColman) for a special online quiet day of reflection on June 25, 2022. We’ll spend time together in silence, and I’ll share with you some of the wisdom of two of my favorite 20th century theologians: Kenneth Leech and Pauli Murray. Ken Leech (1939-2015) was a priest of the Church of England, …
Hi everyone, just a quick note to let you know that Eternal Heart: the Mystical Path to a Joyful Life is now available as an audiobook on CD. It’s been available since publication as an Audible audiobook, but for those of us who are old-school and like having our audiobooks on CD, this is a great …
♾♥️💿 — “Eternal Heart” Audiobook Now Available on CD! Read More »
On June 16, 2022 my friend and colleague Carmen Acevedo Butcher PhD is offering a free online program to explore the wisdom of Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, author of The Practice of the Presence of God. Click here to register for this free event. You probably know Carmen Butcher from her luminous translation of The Cloud of …
The Encountering Silence co-hosts (Cassidy Hall, Kevin Johnson and Carl McColman) recently spoke with Servite Sister Joyce Rupp, on the occasion of the publication of her most recent book, Return to the Root: Reflections on the Inner Life. Joyce Rupp is well known for her work as a writer, international retreat leader, and conference speaker. …
Encountering Silence: A Conversation with Sister Joyce Rupp Read More »
Recently a reader of this blog wrote the following to me: I am just starting out on this journey and feel drawn to the mystical/contemplative side of Christianity. To this end, I am using your book “Answering the Contemplative Call” and also “Growing into God” by John Mabry as my guides. I do not have …
The Wrath of God and Wishful Thinking (or, Julian of Norwich and Biblical Images of God) Read More »
Last Wednesday I had the distinct honor of being part of a group interview with leading Christian theologian Brian D. McLaren. The occasion was in celebration of Brian’s latest book, Do I Stay Christian? A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned. It’s a provocative title and, indeed, a provocative book. Brian is …
I read lots of serious books: books about Christian theology, spiritual direction, the history of mysticism, and the psychology of meditation… that sort of thing. I’m not complaining — I love pretty much everything I read (actually, at this point in my life and career, if I don’t love it, I quickly stop reading it, because there’s …
“It Cracks Up the Archangels Every Time!” (“Because They Have No Taste in Comedy!”) Read More »
Even the most committed Christian sometimes wonders if it’s worth it to participate in the institutional church. Religion can be a huge commitment of time and resources, and especially in our day, more and more people are saying “no thanks.” It’s an honest question that we all face sooner or later: “Do I stay Christian?” …
Friends, many of you know the podcast I co-host, Encountering Silence (and if you don’t know it, check it out!). The following list of books represents some of my co-hosts’ and my favorite books on the topic of silence. We offer it here for your browsing and reading pleasure. The titles are linked to the books’ pages …
Read a Book About Silence (and support “Encountering Silence”) Read More »
Almost from the beginning of the Christian era, mystics and saints and theologians and spiritual teachers have reflected on one of the most beautiful and poetic of the “wisdom writings” in the Bible to explore the mystery of the love of God and how that love seeks intimacy with us, God’s human creatures. I am …
With the news that Elon Musk is acquiring Twitter, once again the question of how social media functions (or ought to function) in our society is back on peoples’ minds. Ever since I saw the movie The Social Dilemma, I have been conscious of the challenges that social media brings to our common life. Chief …
An Open Letter to a Priest Who Posts Hostile Political Posts on Social Media Read More »
I’m so pleased to be returning to Ignatius House for my first in-person retreat since before the pandemic! I’ve been asked to revisit one of my most popular retreats, which pairs the spiritual wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola with the twentieth century mystic, Thomas Merton! Come to Ignatius House, a truly beautiful and restful …
In-Person Event: Praying with Thomas Merton and Ignatius of Loyola (July 15-17, 2022) Read More »
