Christian Meditation

Meditate comes from the Latin word, metitat, meaning “contemplated.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines meditate as:  engage in contemplation or reflection or to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness. We most commonly think of Eastern meditation which is based in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism. However Christian Meditation has existed for a very long time, reaching back to the earliest days of the Church. Jesus modelled this for us by frequently retreating to solitary, quiet places for prayerful reflection. Early Christian meditation was part of Jewish prayer practices of meditating on Scripture. In the 3rd and 4th centuries, the Desert Fathers and Mothers focused on silent prayer and continual remembrance of God. Medieval Monasticism involved structured reading of Scripture, prayer,  meditation, and contemplation. Known by a number of names including contemplative prayer, centering prayer, and The Jesus Prayer, Christian meditation is still practiced to this day.