To Christians of our time he spells out a way in which we can articulate our experience of God in rational terms. We come to know the love of God in the love that others show us, and the love we return. Contemplative Prayer Contemplative prayer seeks to maximize the experience of God spoken of by the Scriptures and the mystics. The life and writings of Thomas Merton underscore the importance of contemplation for contemporary society, especially for Americans. Merton made contemplation possible and popular.
Reverential awe is at the heart of contemplation.
It is the ability to perceive the wonder of God's creation. The world is charged with the grandeur of God. To be filled with wonder is only natural for the contemplative. Eucharistic Contemplation Charles de Foucauld, Mother Teresa of Calucutta, St. Peter Julian Eymard, Thomas Keating and Merton have pointed to the Eucharist as a special place where contemplation of God is facilitated. If liturgical settings and sacramental celebrations are special times and circumstances for experiencing the presence of God, the Eucharist is preeminently so.