acquired contemplation

Roman Catholicism

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July 23, 2026

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In Roman Catholicism, "acquired contemplation" refers to a state of deep spiritual thinking that a believer can actively pursue with the aid of divine grace. This contrasts with "infused contemplation," which is considered a pure, unmerited gift from God. The practice involves long, deep thinking about spiritual matters, often through prayer and meditation, aiming for a union with the divine. This pursuit is a significant aspect of Christian mysticism, where the goal is a transformed state of being, a spiritual marriage with God, allowing one to act in the world while maintaining a continuous sense of divine union.123

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Christianity
Christian mysticism
…prayer and the distinction between acquired contemplation, for which the believer could strive with the help of grace, and infused contemplation, which was a pure and unmerited gift, framed much of this discussion. Other Roman Catholic theologians, such as Cuthbert Butler in Western Mysticism (1922) and Anselm Stolz in Theologie…
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…prayer and the distinction between acquired contemplation, for which the believer could strive with the help of grace, and infused contemplation, which was a pure and unmerited gift, framed much of this discussion. Other Roman Catholic theologians, such as Cuthbert Butler in Western Mysticism (1922) and Anselm Stolz in Theologie…
Read More