Minnesota Contemplative Outreach
  • Home
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Spring 2025 Silent Retreat
  • Groups
  • Introductory Workshops
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Spiritual Directors
  • Donate
  • Centering Prayer
  • National
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

Cultivating Hope: A Remembrance from Holy Week

9/23/2019

0 Comments

 
By Michael Kassner

What is hope? That's what I was asked to write about. I felt clueless: What insight can I offer that hasn't been discussed already?"

Fortunately, I received answers to my questions during Holy Week.

Read More
0 Comments

What Discernment Means to Me

9/11/2019

2 Comments

 
By Michael Kassner
Re-posted with permission from www.benedictinecenter.org

Two questions have plagued me over the years: How does one bring God into the process of making decisions, and how does one know if a thought is appropriate?

As a Benedictine Oblate, I knew of the Benedictine Center’s School of Discernment but did not immediately make the connection that the school, conducted by Dr. Kathleen Cahalan of St. John’s School of Theology Seminary, was exactly what I needed. Cahalan defines discernment as, “Following the inclination of Grace, those personal, subtle promptings of the Holy Spirit,” and adds that, “Decisions become sacraments of grace when we yield to ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.’”

It took about two seconds for me to check my schedule and sign up for the class. During the retreat, Cahalan introduced what she called afflicted thoughts, offered tools to recognize and eliminate them, and finally, suggested practical ways to bring God into the process of making decisions.

Not long after the school ended, I was able to apply what I learned, in particular, how to bring God into my decision-making. I was asked to join my parish’s sacristan team—truly an honor. However, I did not answer right away. The position required a significant time commitment, and I was unsure if I could make it work.

Cahalan, during one of the classroom sessions, talked at length about “how to imagine the possibilities and live into each one of them.” That seemed perfect for my situation. I imagined saying yes, as well as saying no. Several interesting scheduling options surfaced that I would not have foreseen any other way. After juggling my commitments, I found the time. Several weeks later, I am proud to say the decision seems right, and as sacristan, I have all sorts of new and exciting decisions to discern.

Michael is a freelance writer and editing professional with a particular interest in the field of cyber-technology. He is also an Oblate and volunteer of St. Paul’s Monastery and has attended both the School of Lectio Divina and the School of Discernment.
2 Comments

    Presence & Action Blog

    MN Contemplative Outreach publishes articles written by, and for, practitioners.  They are designed to deepen understanding of the Centering Prayer Practice and its power to change lives.

    To have an article considered for publication, click here.

    Categories

    All
    AA
    Annual Conference
    Art
    Basics
    Being Present
    Book Review
    Carl Arico
    Consent
    CP Group
    Cynthia Bourgeault
    Daily Practice
    David Frenette
    Divine Indwelling
    False Self
    Gratitude
    Guidelines
    Heartfulness DVD
    History
    Intensive Retreat
    Lectio Divina
    Listening
    Mindfulness
    Online Course
    Personal Testimonial
    Pilgrimage
    Poetry
    Prayer
    Retreat
    Richard Rohr
    Sacred Word
    Scripture
    Step 11
    St Olaf
    Susan Komis
    Thomas Keating
    Travel
    Welcoming Prayer
    Wisdom Practice

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    April 2025
    February 2025
    October 2024
    August 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    September 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    November 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    October 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    August 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    March 2009
    July 2008
    September 2007

Copyright © 2024 Minnesota Contemplative Outreach.
Contact   Groups   Events   Resources   Donate