History of Meditation in Catholicism

Meditation Traditions In Catholicism

The tradition of meditation carries a strong theme within the Catholic faith. Catechism 2705 states this:

Meditation is, above all, a quest. The mind seeks to understand the why and how of the Christian life in order to adhere and respond to what the Lord is asking.

The quest of meditation offers an opportunity to explore the Word of God and connect with Jesus Christ and the divine in a supernatural way.

Catholic and Monastic Church Fathers Who Influenced Meditation

God’s Word is rich with proof of His lovingkindness and care for His children. Sleep and rest are critical for healthy functioning, but they can be elusive in times of trial or when you’re feeling anxious. Meditate on these verses and pray through the promises God shares with us.

Desert Fathers and Mothers

Many denominations that practice the Christian tradition of meditation claim the works and teachings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers from the 3rd century. This was a group of spiritual pioneers who sought solitude in the remote wilderness of Egypt for the sake of spiritual growth.

They founded a monastic community, and one of their core teachings was contemplative prayer and meditation. The collection of their works, Apophthegmata Patrum, is now available in print under the title Sayings of the Desert Fathers, which can be purchased or found online in its entirety.

The section, The Twelve Anchorites, outlines the practices of 12 desert fathers for how they live in solitude and what spiritual disciplines they follow, which include prayer, meditation, how to fight temptation, and how to constantly keep God at the forefront of thought.[1] One account details how he creates a wall in his mind, between himself and the outside world, to keep hope in God and ignore distractions. Another maintains a pilgrim’s mindset that today is the first and only day he has to serve God and must not be attached to other things or ideas.

The fourth Anchorite practices imaginative prayer, picturing himself with Jesus to imitate life at that time. The seventh constantly repeats “faith, hope, and charity” to himself, over and over, without interruption. Anchorite number nine recounts how he contemplates angelic worship with such intensity that he is not drawn by early things.

Through imaginative prayer, constant inner watchfulness, and radical self-examination, these, and many other examples from Sayings of the Desert Fathers, offer practical insight into the Catholic tradition of Christian contemplation and other forms of meditation

St. Augustine

St. Augustine is an iconic figure in the history of the Catholic church. He died in the 5th century, but not before developing what is now known as Augustinian Meditation. This method of meditation involves scripture recitation, where you insert yourself into the passage by name.[2]

For example, if Jesus is speaking to the rich young ruler, you would instead insert your own name when reciting the passage. This is viewed as a silent mental prayer and a space to personally join Christ, both as a corporate group or as an individual.

St. John of The Cross

St. John is the author of The Ascent of Mount Carmel. This work marks a transition in meditative practices from the practical, step-by-step process to a more ethereal, spiritual, and supernatural experience.

St. John explains in The Ascent of Mount Carmel that total detachment is required for this experience so that the soul is free of earthly desires and possessions. Denying these more base senses clears space for one to be infused with grace. To experience a transformation “in God” and become one with Him.

In chapter 14 of his work (which some attest was influenced by the letters of contemporary St. Teresa of Avila), St. John describes three indicators that one is being called from practical or discursive meditation into a more supernatural experience:[3]

• They are dissatisfied with the old method
• They long to experience the presence of God
• They struggle to engage with the old method

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Catholic Catechism 
& Practice

Within the official catechism of the Catholic Church, several mentions of meditation and Christian prayer are further evidence that this spiritual practice has a place in modern faith:

Catechism 2706:

To meditate on what we read helps us to make it our own by confronting it with ourselves…we discover in meditation the movements that stir the heart, and we are able to discern them. It is a question of acting truthfully in order to come into the light…

Catechism 2707:

There are as many and varied methods of meditation as there are spiritual masters. Christians owe it to themselves to develop the desire to meditate regularly…But a method is only a guide; the important thing is to advance, with the Holy Spirit, along the one way of prayer: Christ Jesus.

Catechism 2708:

Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ. Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him.

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina (or divine reading) is one of the most common and popular forms of meditation and contemplative prayer. The Benedictine practice began in the medieval era and is believed to have been founded by St. Benedict of Nursia. When practicing Lectio Divina, one prays slowly and intentionally over Scripture or by praying the Rosary to develop a closer bond with God through His Word.

Ignatian Meditation

St Ignatius of Loyola is the father of Ignatian meditation, the spiritual exercise of insight meditation.[5] This form of meditation focuses on a Bible passage and imagines yourself as an active participant in the conversation or events in the texts to gain insights into the truths found therein.

The Cloud of Unknowing

The Cloud of Unknowing is a 14th-century spiritual guide that teaches the practice of contemplative prayer for the purpose of exploring the fathomless mysteries of God and spirituality. Though the author is anonymous, their work has inspired the Centering Prayer and other forms of Christian meditation.

It is explained that only loving presence or contemplation allows us to transcendently know God on a deeper level, as it states:

That by virtue of this work a sinner truly turned and called to contemplation cometh sooner to perfection than by any other work; 
and by it soonest may get of God forgiveness of sins. [6]

Though translated into old-school Middle English, instructions in the Cloud of Unknowing reveal specific methods for practicing Christian meditation and this form of prayer: [7]