Ben (Contemplative in the Mud)
@contemplativeinthemud.com
“The great need of our age, in what concerns the spiritual life, is to put contemplation on the roads of the world.” — Jacques and Raïssa Maritain
Benjamin Embley | English, français, español, ไทย | Living on Wabanaki land | contemplativeinthemud.com
Benjamin Embley | English, français, español, ไทย | Living on Wabanaki land | contemplativeinthemud.com
Jacques Maritain being Jacques Maritain (On the Grace and Humanity of Jesus, 125—absolutely one of the best books ever written in my view):
January 24, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Jacques Maritain being Jacques Maritain (On the Grace and Humanity of Jesus, 125—absolutely one of the best books ever written in my view):
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, and post the second sentence.
"The Lord made me come into His repose,
As with a spear He fixed my heart."
"The Lord made me come into His repose,
As with a spear He fixed my heart."
January 21, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, and post the second sentence.
"The Lord made me come into His repose,
As with a spear He fixed my heart."
"The Lord made me come into His repose,
As with a spear He fixed my heart."
I was looking for available copies of this book for another reason, but one gifted and dedicated by Raïssa herself showed up in the search. Ordered without hesitation. Just arrived yesterday. Ah, so beautiful—and a signature so delightfully familiar, yet original, from the Œuvres complètes!
January 17, 2026 at 7:55 PM
I was looking for available copies of this book for another reason, but one gifted and dedicated by Raïssa herself showed up in the search. Ordered without hesitation. Just arrived yesterday. Ah, so beautiful—and a signature so delightfully familiar, yet original, from the Œuvres complètes!
Pope Leo continues to show himself a disciple of the contemplative tradition that's espoused in Novo Millennio Ineunte (also esp. NMI 49 and Dilexi Te 5, 79):
January 8, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Pope Leo continues to show himself a disciple of the contemplative tradition that's espoused in Novo Millennio Ineunte (also esp. NMI 49 and Dilexi Te 5, 79):
Epiphany reading:
January 4, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Epiphany reading:
Although I'm always in the mood for a good theology of vulnerability, the lead up to Christmas just heightens the feeling (Brendan Byrne, A Costly Freedom, xiv):
December 22, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Although I'm always in the mood for a good theology of vulnerability, the lead up to Christmas just heightens the feeling (Brendan Byrne, A Costly Freedom, xiv):
“Mother Earth and all she gives birth to belong to Grandfather. All the world and those who live on it are his. He formed the land on the ancient deep waters and shaped the solid ground on the rivers.”
Psalm 24:1-2 FNV
4th Sunday in Advent
Psalm 24:1-2 FNV
4th Sunday in Advent
December 21, 2025 at 12:52 PM
“Mother Earth and all she gives birth to belong to Grandfather. All the world and those who live on it are his. He formed the land on the ancient deep waters and shaped the solid ground on the rivers.”
Psalm 24:1-2 FNV
4th Sunday in Advent
Psalm 24:1-2 FNV
4th Sunday in Advent
I miss this place more than anywhere in the world, this view, here from this house:
December 18, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I miss this place more than anywhere in the world, this view, here from this house:
Hey, it's my favourite contemplative theme shift!
December 17, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Hey, it's my favourite contemplative theme shift!
I mean, or even Pope Francis:
December 16, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I mean, or even Pope Francis:
One of my favourite reflections at about this time during Advent:
December 16, 2025 at 7:28 PM
One of my favourite reflections at about this time during Advent:
New entry on favourite authors list:
December 13, 2025 at 8:05 PM
New entry on favourite authors list:
Post your favourite work of art from 50 years before you were born (strictly accurate edition)
December 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Post your favourite work of art from 50 years before you were born (strictly accurate edition)
Admire beauty now, belong to this place with shovelling effort later
December 10, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Admire beauty now, belong to this place with shovelling effort later
Yeah. Off the top of my head, I've been to mosques in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, France. And I've been to the Islamic art museums in Kuala Lumpur (3x), Doha, Athens. Regardless of Fr.'s intent, I don't get a high resistance to inculturation globally.
December 3, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Yeah. Off the top of my head, I've been to mosques in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, France. And I've been to the Islamic art museums in Kuala Lumpur (3x), Doha, Athens. Regardless of Fr.'s intent, I don't get a high resistance to inculturation globally.
Hello, Year A
November 30, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Hello, Year A
Variable squirrels, the owners of the trees of Bangkok, are my favourite
November 29, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Variable squirrels, the owners of the trees of Bangkok, are my favourite
Even I find this remarkable. The speaker has zero—literally zero—experience of being treated as a layperson by priests in the Catholic Church; he's a former Protestant minister who became Catholic 6 yrs ago and was immediately tracked to priestly ordination (3 yrs ago). He has an opinion on decline?
November 28, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Even I find this remarkable. The speaker has zero—literally zero—experience of being treated as a layperson by priests in the Catholic Church; he's a former Protestant minister who became Catholic 6 yrs ago and was immediately tracked to priestly ordination (3 yrs ago). He has an opinion on decline?
One of my "favourites" (not Augustine): Thérèse notices a bishop was publicly and disappointingly indulgent, so the study edition tells a story of a boy at the rectory, hush money, shaming the kid about a dead parent, etc. to keep the event secret from the other parent. Published in 2005, wtaf.
November 27, 2025 at 4:15 PM
One of my "favourites" (not Augustine): Thérèse notices a bishop was publicly and disappointingly indulgent, so the study edition tells a story of a boy at the rectory, hush money, shaming the kid about a dead parent, etc. to keep the event secret from the other parent. Published in 2005, wtaf.
The liturgical timing of this annual Mass reminds me of one of my favourite versions of ‘Christ King of the Universe’—at Église des Abénakis d’Odanak, Rue W8banaki, Odanak First Nation:
November 25, 2025 at 6:34 PM
The liturgical timing of this annual Mass reminds me of one of my favourite versions of ‘Christ King of the Universe’—at Église des Abénakis d’Odanak, Rue W8banaki, Odanak First Nation:
Let's go!
November 18, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Let's go!
My head is obnoxiously woke this time of year!
November 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
My head is obnoxiously woke this time of year!
Woliwon / wela'lin / merci / thank you:
November 8, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Woliwon / wela'lin / merci / thank you: