Aspects of Christian meditation was the topic of a 15 October 1989 document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The document is titled "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on some aspects of Christian meditation" and is formally known by its incipit, Orationis formas.[1][2][3]
The document issues warnings on differences, and potential incompatibilities, between Christian meditation and the styles of meditation used in eastern religions such as Buddhism.[4][5] The document warns of fundamental errors in combining Christian and non-Christian styles of meditation.
Referring to the constitution Dei verbum the document emphasizes that all Christian prayer and meditation should "proceed to converge on Christ" and be guided by the gift of the Holy Spirit. It reaffirmed that the Church recommends the reading of the Scripture prior to and as a source of Christian prayer and meditation.
This document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stresses the differences between Christian and eastern meditative approaches. It warns of the dangers of attempting to mix Christian meditation with eastern approaches since that could be both confusing and misleading, and may result in the loss of the essential Christocentric nature of Christian meditation.[8]
The letter warns that "euphoric states" obtained through Eastern meditation should not be confused with prayer or assumed to be signs of the presence of God, a state that should always result in loving service to others. Without these truths, the letter said, meditation, which should be a flight from the self, can degenerate into a form of self-absorption.[9] The letter warns against concentration on the self, rather than on Christ, and states that:
Christian prayer, ..., the communion of redeemed creatures with the intimate life of the Persons of the Trinity, based on Baptism and the Eucharist, source and summit of the life of the Church, implies an attitude of conversion, a flight from "self" to the "You" of God. Thus Christian prayer is at the same time always authentically personal and communitarian. It flees from impersonal techniques or from concentrating on oneself, which can create a kind of rut.
The letter also warns that concentration on the physical aspects of meditation "can degenerate into a cult of the body" and that equating bodily states with mysticism "could also lead to psychic disturbance and, at times, to moral deviations."
Structureedit
The document has seven sections:
Introduction: discusses the fact that many Christians wish to experience a deeper and authentic prayer life despite the speed of modern culture, and that some have come to see eastern meditation as a possible solution. But it indicates that Christian meditation is different.
Christian Prayer In The Light Of Revelation: Traces the origins of Christian meditation and its roots in the Bible.
Erroneous Ways Of Praying: Warns of errors in specific approaches to prayer.
The Christian Way To Union With God: Discusses the prominent features of the "way of Christ" as a key to Christian prayer.
Questions Of Method: Emphasizes that it is impossible to arrive at a perfect love of God if one "ignores his giving of himself to us through his Incarnate Son".
Psychological-Corporal Methods: Discusses the "position and demeanor of the body" and "psychophysical symbolism".
"I Am The Way": Emphasizes that each person should not be led so much by his personal tastes as by the Holy Spirit, who guides him, through Christ, to the Father.
Papal referencesedit
Pope John Paul II later referred to the document in addresses at a general audience in 1999 and to a particular group in 2003, using it as an example of how Christians need to focus their prayers.[10][11] He referred to it also when saying, in the letter with which he marked the closing of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, that, by opening our heart to the love of God, prayer also opens it to the love of our brothers and sisters, and makes us capable of shaping history according to God's plan.[12]
In 2003, the Vatican issued further warnings regarding New Age practices including meditation.[6] Monsignor Michael Fitzgerald stated at the Vatican conference on A Christian Reflection on the New Age that the "Church avoids any concept that is close to those of the New Age". Cardinal Paul Poupard, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, said that the "New Age is a misleading answer to the oldest hopes of man".[13][14] According to the review of the document in The Tablet "there is never any doubt in the document that New Age is incompatible with and hostile to the core beliefs of Christianity".[7]
Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on some aspects of Christian Meditation – Orationis formas
January 01, 1970
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Aspects of Christian meditation was the topic of a 15 October 1989 document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith The document is titled Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on some aspects of Christian meditation and is formally known by its incipit Orationis formas 1 2 3 A monk walking in a Benedictine monastery The document issues warnings on differences and potential incompatibilities between Christian meditation and the styles of meditation used in eastern religions such as Buddhism 4 5 The document warns of fundamental errors in combining Christian and non Christian styles of meditation Referring to the constitution Dei verbum the document emphasizes that all Christian prayer and meditation should proceed to converge on Christ and be guided by the gift of the Holy Spirit It reaffirmed that the Church recommends the reading of the Scripture prior to and as a source of Christian prayer and meditation Similar warnings were issued in 2003 in A Christian reflection on the New Age which characterized New Age activities as essentially incompatible with Christian teachings and values 6 7 Contents 1 Warnings 2 Structure 3 Papal references 4 Related announcements 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksWarnings editThis document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stresses the differences between Christian and eastern meditative approaches It warns of the dangers of attempting to mix Christian meditation with eastern approaches since that could be both confusing and misleading and may result in the loss of the essential Christocentric nature of Christian meditation 8 The letter warns that euphoric states obtained through Eastern meditation should not be confused with prayer or assumed to be signs of the presence of God a state that should always result in loving service to others Without these truths the letter said meditation which should be a flight from the self can degenerate into a form of self absorption 9 The letter warns against concentration on the self rather than on Christ and states that Christian prayer the communion of redeemed creatures with the intimate life of the Persons of the Trinity based on Baptism and the Eucharist source and summit of the life of the Church implies an attitude of conversion a flight from self to the You of God Thus Christian prayer is at the same time always authentically personal and communitarian It flees from impersonal techniques or from concentrating on oneself which can create a kind of rut The letter also warns that concentration on the physical aspects of meditation can degenerate into a cult of the body and that equating bodily states with mysticism could also lead to psychic disturbance and at times to moral deviations Structure editThe document has seven sections Introduction discusses the fact that many Christians wish to experience a deeper and authentic prayer life despite the speed of modern culture and that some have come to see eastern meditation as a possible solution But it indicates that Christian meditation is different Christian Prayer In The Light Of Revelation Traces the origins of Christian meditation and its roots in the Bible Erroneous Ways Of Praying Warns of errors in specific approaches to prayer The Christian Way To Union With God Discusses the prominent features of the way of Christ as a key to Christian prayer Questions Of Method Emphasizes that it is impossible to arrive at a perfect love of God if one ignores his giving of himself to us through his Incarnate Son Psychological Corporal Methods Discusses the position and demeanor of the body and psychophysical symbolism I Am The Way Emphasizes that each person should not be led so much by his personal tastes as by the Holy Spirit who guides him through Christ to the Father Papal references editPope John Paul II later referred to the document in addresses at a general audience in 1999 and to a particular group in 2003 using it as an example of how Christians need to focus their prayers 10 11 He referred to it also when saying in the letter with which he marked the closing of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 that by opening our heart to the love of God prayer also opens it to the love of our brothers and sisters and makes us capable of shaping history according to God s plan 12 Related announcements editMain article A Christian reflection on the New Age In 2003 the Vatican issued further warnings regarding New Age practices including meditation 6 Monsignor Michael Fitzgerald stated at the Vatican conference on A Christian Reflection on the New Age that the Church avoids any concept that is close to those of the New Age Cardinal Paul Poupard head of the Pontifical Council for Culture said that the New Age is a misleading answer to the oldest hopes of man 13 14 According to the review of the document in The Tablet there is never any doubt in the document that New Age is incompatible with and hostile to the core beliefs of Christianity 7 See also editA Christian reflection on the New Age Christian Meditation Rosary devotions and spirituality Sacred Congregation for Divine WorshipReferences edit Acta Apostolicae Sedis 82 1990 362 379 Complete List of Documents Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith www vatican va Retrieved 20 February 2018 Vatican website LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON SOME ASPECTS OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATION October 15 1989 Congregation for Doctrine of Faith www ewtn com Retrieved 20 February 2018 The meeting of religions and the Trinity by Gavin D Costa 2000 ISBN 0 567 08730 1 page 152 a b New Age Beliefs Aren t Christian Vatican Finds February 8 2003 Los Angeles Times a b The Tablet February 8 2003 Vatican grapples with New Age beliefs Catholicism in dialogue conversations across traditions by Wayne Teasdale 2004 ISBN 0 7425 3178 3 Page 74 Steinfels Peter 1990 01 07 Trying to Reconcile the Ways of the Vatican and the East New York Times Retrieved 2008 12 05 19 May 1999 John Paul II www vatican va Retrieved 20 February 2018 To participants in the Meeting sponsored by the Teams of Our Lady January 20 2003 John Paul II www vatican va Retrieved 20 February 2018 Apostolic Letter Novo millennio ineunte BBC News Feb 4 2003 Vatican sounds New Age alert Vatican website Archived August 9 2007 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editLetter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on some aspects of Christian Meditation Orationis formas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aspects of Christian meditation amp oldid 1191163875, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
