M. Basil Pennington OCSO – författare

Lectio divina is ""letting our Divine Friend speak to us through his inspired and inspiring Word,"" according to M. Basil Pennington, the late priest, retreat master, and prominent lecturer in the Centering Prayer movement. This ancient Christian practice requires faith, humility, openness, and fidelity. Father Pennington sets the process of praying the Scriptures in the context of meditation, contemplation, compassion, and action. He calls it ""a way of friendship"" wherein we pay attention to ""the love letters from the Lord."" Lectio, as a satisfying mental and emotional experience, can be enhanced by reading different translations of the Bible, using commentaries, participating in Bible study groups, and using the resources of Scripture-oriented websites.

Connecting his own powerful spirituality with the humanism of de Chardin and the contemplative wisdom of Merton, Pennington deftly uncovers the direct route to happiness and peace our age so desperately seeks. M. Basil Pennington is a Trappist monk at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, and the author of Lectio Divina and Living in the Question. In this brief but illuminating work, Pennington sheds light on the spiritual practice of transformation, which for Christians comes under the auspices of the Holy Spirit. Pennington wants us to love ourselves for God's sake and to take seriously the transformations that the Holy Spirit is working within us.

Let Your Deepest Soul Rejoice!"You are the Beloved of the Divine Lover. You are loved with a love beyond that which human words can express, which song and pen seek in some way to convey or at least hint at. Let go. Let the currents of love invade you. Let your deepest soul rejoice.…"—from the PrefaceIn the tradition of Christian mysticism, including Bernard of Clairvaux, Gregory the Great, and Ambrose of Milan, M. Basil Pennington shares his reflections on the Bible's most challenging mystical text, the ancient love poem that is the Song of Songs. In this extraordinary volume, Pennington is joined by the profound Jewish artist Phillip Ratner, whose inspired works call forth from Pennington not only transcendent prayer and rich analogy but also the deepest sentiments that are common to every human mind and heart.Pennington reflects on the ways you can use the Song of Songs to fulfill your own unutterable aspirations. Enriched by Jewish and Christian faith, the drawings and meditations speak to you and every person who desires to connect with their deepest, most human longings. Allow yourself to let go and delve into the poetry of Song of Songs, to find joy in the boundless love of God for you, the beloved child. Allow yourself to experience this story of love—human love yearning for the Divine.Looking for more like this? Check out the author's companion book Psalms: A Spiritual Commentary.

Centering Prayer is a precious part of the ancient spiritual traditions of the West. When Finding Grace at the Center was first published in 1978, people all over the world welcomed this practical guide to a simple and beautiful form of meditative prayer. Reflections and advice on Centering Prayer's possibilities - and its pitfalls - are presented with clarity and simplicity, with a vision of the deeper life of the soul that contemplative prayer can bring about. Now, with a new foreword by Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, another generation will discover the amazing difference Centering Prayer can make in their lives.

Showing how the Psalms give profound and candid expression to both our highest aspirations and our deepest pain, the late, highly respected Cistercian Abbot M. Basil Pennington shares his reflections on some of the most beloved passages from the Bible's most widely read book. In this companion volume to The Song of Songs: A Spiritual Commentary, Pennington is once again joined by Jewish artist Phillip Ratner, whose evocative works will lead you into more meaningful contemplation of the inner spirit of the Psalms. Pennington describes how the monastic tradition of regular reflection on the Psalms - a technique St. Benedict called the "work of God," or Opus Dei - can help you transform your everyday life into a powerful life of prayer. Enriched by Jewish and Christian faith, the drawings and meditations speak to every person wanting both to connect with their most human longings and to forge a vital connection with the Divine.

In the tradition of Christian mysticism, including Bernard of Clairvaux, Gregory the Great and Ambrose of Milan, M. Basil Pennington shares his reflections on the Bible's most challenging mystical text, the ancient love poem that is the 'Song of Songs.' In this extraordinary volume, Pennington is joined by the profound Jewish artist Phillip Ratner, whose inspired works call forth from Pennington not only transcendent prayer and rich analogy but also the deepest sentiments that are common to every human mind and heart. Pennington reflects on the ways you can use the 'Song of Songs' to fulfil your own unutterable aspirations. Enriched by Jewish and Christian faith, the drawings and meditations speak to you and every person who desires to connect with their deepest, most human longings. Allow yourself to let go and delve into the poetry of Song of Songs, to find joy in the boundless love of God for you, the beloved child. Allow yourself to experience this story of love - human love yearning for the Divine.'Let Your Deepest Soul Rejoice! You are the Beloved of the Divine Lover. You are loved with a love beyond that which human words can express, which song and pen seek in some way to convey or at least hint at. Let go. Let the currents of love invade you. Let your deepest soul rejoice..'-from the Preface

A new edition of the classic that helped launch the Centering Prayer movement. Centering Prayer is a precious part of the ancient spiritual traditions of the West. When Finding Grace at the Center was first published in 1978, people all over the world welcomed this practical guide to a simple and beautiful form of meditative prayer. Reflections and advice on Centering Prayer's possibilities—and its pitfalls—are presented with clarity and simplicity, with a vision of the deeper life of the soul that contemplative prayer can bring about. Now, with a new foreword by Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, PhD, another generation will discover the amazing difference Centering Prayer can make in their lives.

Let the Psalms help you forge a deeper connection to the Divine. Showing how the Psalms give profound and candid expression to both our highest aspirations and our deepest pain, the late, highly respected Cistercian Abbot M. Basil Pennington shares his reflections on some of the most beloved passages from the Bible’s most widely read book. In this companion volume to The Song of Songs: A Spiritual Commentary, Pennington is once again joined by Jewish artist Phillip Ratner, whose evocative works will lead you into more meaningful contemplation of the inner spirit of the Psalms. Pennington describes how the monastic tradition of regular reflection on the Psalms—a technique St. Benedict called the “work of God,” or Opus Dei—can help you transform your everyday life into a powerful life of prayer. Enriched by Jewish and Christian faith, the drawings and meditations speak to every person wanting both to connect with their most human longings and to forge a vital connection with the Divine.