Christian scholars continue to be baffled by a circular diagram etched upon the cover page of an 11th century manuscript of the New Testament Gospels. Who designed it? How was it used? Could it be useful for Christians today?
MP writes: “I have a question concerning the way I pray and honor God and even the saints and angels. I have a collection of incense of many scents at home, and although I know the Church uses incense, it's Japanese incense, normally used for pagan practices . . ."
MH asks: “A friend asked me about Jappa meditation and if it’s okay for Catholics to be involved in. What should I tell her?”
After years of positive studies about the alleged benefits of mindfulness, the latest science is revealing a darker side. Some Catholic therapists, however, such as the one we interviewed last week, discovered on their own that this therapy is not nearly as successful as people think – and it’s definitely not Catholic.
In response to a radio interview that I did about my new book, A Catholic Guide to Mindfulness, with Dan Burke and Melissa Elson of Divine Intimacy Radio, we received this testimony from a woman who believes her experience with the New Age and mindfulness caused her years of suffering.
So many people I know who were misled into Centering Prayer told me one of the main reasons they were "sold" on it is because proponents claimed St. Teresa of Avila and other Carmelite mystics taught it (although I've never seen any direct quotes from the works of these saints to prove this). Others bought into it after being introduced to the writings of a 14th century anonymous author of a book entitled The Cloud of Unknowing. This blog contains a few facts that will prove these assertions to be incorrect.
A lot of psychologists and other proponents of mindfulness insist that this practice is not spiritual, that it can be divorced from its Buddhist roots, but is this really possible?
BD writes: “Help! My psychologist insists that I use mindfulness to treat my PTSD and he claims it isn’t Buddhist. He says it’s just teaching us to be mindful of our surroundings; however, the exercises he gives me are all mindfulness meditation techniques! What am I supposed to believe?”
We recently received a question from someone who asked about mala beads, and if a Catholic could use them while praying.
JB writes: "What can you say on this topic. I heard a recent story of a young woman climbing through various states of consciousness and actually going to India and connecting with a guru who teaches this. Has something to do with oneness and after these encounters with even relatives such as dead grandparents etc. there's an overwhelming feeling of gratefulness and peace. What can you tell me about this?"
