Voices 52: Ed Bednar, Massachusetts

Voices of Grace & Gratitude are joyful expressions of grace and gratitude from the worldwide community of Contemplative Outreach for the gift of Centering Prayer in their lives and its meaning for all creation. During this year of celebration of the 30th anniversary of Contemplative Outreach, a new video will be presented every Monday. May they serve to lift your hearts.

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I started using the term ‘Contemplative Outreach’ sometime in the early 1970s because I had read Merton’s book: Contemplation in the World of Action. And contemplative is in-reach, and outreach is action. So, going in and going out are apparently opposed, but the breathing in and the breathing out of Contemplative Outreach are reconciled in that pause between the in-breath and the out-breath. There is this pause of silence.

                                    Alleluia!


 

Empecé a usar el término “Extensión Contemplativa (Contemplative Outreach) a principios de los años setenta, porque había leído el libro de Merton Contemplation in the World of Action (Contemplación en un mundo de acción). La contemplación se dirige hacia adentro, y la acción se extiende hacia fuera. Dirigirse hacia adentro y extenderse hacia afuera aparentemente son opuestos, pero en Extensión Contemplativa los movimientos hacia adentro y hacia afuera,  comparables a la respiración, se reconcilian en la pausa entre la inhalación y la exhalación. Hay allí una pausa de silencio.
       
                             ¡Aleluya!