Why Mental Illness Must be Understood From a Catholic Approach
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By Fr. Alex Ezechukwu
Do you find yourself trying to do a lot of things – rather than just being in the present moment?
Maybe it’s time to look more closely into doing and being.
In my last article, “Mindfulness As a Springboard to the Contemplation of God,” I talked about how today’s methods of meditation surrounding the practice of mindfulness can act as an aid to reach union with God.
In this article I will describe further how Angela Rogerson, who has worked as a university lecturer and retreat master, ties the practice of mindfulness with the Carmelite tradition of contemplative prayer.
Ms. Rogerson’s talk is one of two captured in our new Wisdom Lecture video series.
Ms. Rogerson notes that we tend to operate in the world in two ways: doing and being. She says, “Doing is about problem solving. Accomplishing tasks. But a lot of doing can be depleting. It’s often automatic.”
“In being mode, it’s taking an observer stance towards our experience. It’s about allowing and approaching the present. Being with our thoughts and feelings, rather than trying to change them, or escape from them. It tends to be more nourishing to be in being mode….
“It could be the practice of the presence of God, a practice of the sacred now. A practice of the present moment….
“In contemplative prayer, we sit in meditation, we commit ourselves to God. We wait, have patience…[focus on] quiet, body, mind, emotions, not minding, not analyzing, [not having] thoughts dwelling with distractions, not fighting them or trying to suppress them. Being as I am, here and now.”
As is seen in the video, Ms. Rogerson takes the class through a meditative practice. She intersperses her phrases with long pauses, so as to give attendees time to gather their thoughts.
I don’t want to spoil it for you, but she talks more about this, including the beauty and mystery of the breath. She mentions two accounts in Scripture of how the breath of Jesus was mentioned and how they formed the basis of significant events in his life.
Why view lectures like Ms. Rogerson’s?
With many competing and sometimes contradictory voices on issues relating to the spiritual life having a good guide in spiritual matters is important. If you don’t have access to a good spiritual director on a regular basis, videos can often be a good substitute. The piety as well as the knowledge of a speaker comes across in an effective way, maybe even better than with a book.
Pope Benedict XVI has said, “A spiritual director who intimately knows and loves Christ can help the directee to achieve that same love and intimacy.”
Ms. Rogerson’s videos and one hundred others have been produced by the newly-formed DecorCarmeli Media, a service of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites in the United Kingdom. We produce these videos so that people can have access to authentic teachings on the spiritual life and benefit from the insights from the Carmelite tradition that has produced many saints and Doctors of the Church.
Monthly and annual subscriptions to the video platform will be available soon. We will let you know – simply sign up for our mailing list: DecorCarmeli Media, at https://vocationpromotion.com/discalced-carmelites/notify-me.html
Kevin J. Banet is a journalist and publicist. He provides marketing for religious communities, non-profits and healthcare services. Kevin and his family live in the Chicago area. His website is VocationPromotion.com.
