Author Archives: Chaplainmike

A spirituality “not pressed through the pores”

❧ A saint is capable of loving created things and enjoying the use of them and dealing with them in a perfectly simple, natural manner, making no formal references to God, drawing no attention to his own piety, and acting without any artificial rigidity at all. His gentleness and his sweetness are not pressed throughContinue reading “A spirituality “not pressed through the pores””

3 Problems Related to Spiritual Experiences

As I was reflecting on yesterday’s post and some of the comments, I was struck with a few thoughts regarding spiritual discernment and the broader subject of personal spiritual experience. In particular, I was thinking about how the experiential side of faith, expressed in such terms as “hearing God’s voice,” “being led by the Spirit,”Continue reading “3 Problems Related to Spiritual Experiences”

Hearing a deeper sound

I am working on a new project about spiritual discernment and one of the books I’m reading is the third book in a trilogy by Henri Nouwen, compiled and edited from original materials found in the Henri J. M. Nouwen Archives at the University of Toronto. I thought this passage from one of the introductoryContinue reading “Hearing a deeper sound”

14th Sunday after Trinity: Pic & Cantata of the Week

(Click on picture for larger image) • • • What an abundance of goodness You give me! Yet what shall my conscience give You in return? Lord, I know nothing else to bring, except to sing thanks and praise to You. • Tenor Aria from BWV 17 • As we begin today, just a reminderContinue reading “14th Sunday after Trinity: Pic & Cantata of the Week”

The IM Saturday Brunch: September 16, 2017

THE INTERNET MONK SATURDAY BRUNCH ”It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” • • • I SEE A NEW GENRE OF HORROR FLICKS! I can see the marquee now: “Chainsaw Nun!” NPRContinue reading “The IM Saturday Brunch: September 16, 2017”

Ordinary Time Bible Study: Philippians — Friends in the Gospel (13)

Ordinary Time Bible Study Philippians: Friends in the Gospel Study Thirteen: Don’t let anyone steal your joy • • • PHILIPPIANS 3:1-11 (JB Phillips translation) In conclusion, my brothers, delight yourselves in the Lord! It doesn’t bore me to repeat a piece of advice like this, and if you follow it you will find it aContinue reading “Ordinary Time Bible Study: Philippians — Friends in the Gospel (13)”

Emergence of Personhood: Lessons from Self and Identity by Roy F. Baumeister

The Emergence of Personhood: Lessons from Self and Identity by Roy F. Baumeister After reviewing “Minds, Brains, Souls and Gods: A Conversation on Faith, Psychology and Neuroscience” by Malcolm Jeeves (first post here), I noticed he was editor of a book that explored the emergence of personhood.  In this book fourteen distinguished scholars — includingContinue reading “Emergence of Personhood: Lessons from Self and Identity by Roy F. Baumeister”

The “Automaticities” of Faith

In his book You Are What You Love, James K. A. Smith references the work of Timothy Wilson, a psychologist at the University of Virginia, writing: At one point Wilson wagers that only about 5 percent of what we do in a given day is the outcome of conscious, deliberate choices we make, processed by thatContinue reading “The “Automaticities” of Faith”

Another Look: Luther on Good Works

Note from CM: I was going to save this post for October, when we will focus almost exclusively on the Reformation, this being its 500th anniversary. But right now, as I posted last week, I am reading Inhabiting the Cruciform God, by Michael J. Gorman, a book that reorients the whole idea of justification aroundContinue reading “Another Look: Luther on Good Works”