Ben (Contemplative in the Mud)
@contemplativeinthemud.com
Benjamin Embley | MTS student, MA philosophy, PhD engineering | Las Casas, les Maritain, Văn | English, français, español, ไทย | Living on Wabanaki land | contemplativeinthemud.com
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:
“An Eastern Christian saw a photo of Father de Foucauld sitting on my desk and said, ‘This face is an icon.’ It’s true. We too must become icons of God’s mystery, more transparent, showing forth eschatology by placing ourselves at the heart of the cross and resurrection.” — Marie-Joseph Le Guillou
November 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM
“An Eastern Christian saw a photo of Father de Foucauld sitting on my desk and said, ‘This face is an icon.’ It’s true. We too must become icons of God’s mystery, more transparent, showing forth eschatology by placing ourselves at the heart of the cross and resurrection.” — Marie-Joseph Le Guillou
A poem for the readings for All Saints.
November 1, 2025 at 11:16 AM
A poem for the readings for All Saints.
Gustavo Gutiérrez passed into eternal life one year ago today (8 Jun 1928 – 22 Oct 2024)
October 22, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Gustavo Gutiérrez passed into eternal life one year ago today (8 Jun 1928 – 22 Oct 2024)
One of my favourite hoodies is an Alan Syliboy whale that I got from his shop in Millbrook First Nation:
October 20, 2025 at 10:04 AM
One of my favourite hoodies is an Alan Syliboy whale that I got from his shop in Millbrook First Nation:
Making my way through this, released a few months ago, and so far it seems really sound, well selected, and well organized/thematized:
October 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Making my way through this, released a few months ago, and so far it seems really sound, well selected, and well organized/thematized:
Little Sisters of Jesus (of Charles de Foucauld) report that LS Clemence from Tre Fontane, Italy, shared her experience at the Dilexi te press conference:
“Through Roma women I discovered the ability to focus on essential things in life and the present moment in trusting abandonment in Providence”
“Through Roma women I discovered the ability to focus on essential things in life and the present moment in trusting abandonment in Providence”
October 10, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Little Sisters of Jesus (of Charles de Foucauld) report that LS Clemence from Tre Fontane, Italy, shared her experience at the Dilexi te press conference:
“Through Roma women I discovered the ability to focus on essential things in life and the present moment in trusting abandonment in Providence”
“Through Roma women I discovered the ability to focus on essential things in life and the present moment in trusting abandonment in Providence”
A snake plant flowers if it gets good sun and water but is confined. I've found that this is a surprise to many—myself, some years ago, included.
October 9, 2025 at 9:43 PM
A snake plant flowers if it gets good sun and water but is confined. I've found that this is a surprise to many—myself, some years ago, included.
It seems like no. 5 is a beautiful new rendition of NMI 49
October 9, 2025 at 11:54 AM
It seems like no. 5 is a beautiful new rendition of NMI 49
Dilexit Te no. 5 is a new NMI 49, and I’m loving it
October 9, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Dilexit Te no. 5 is a new NMI 49, and I’m loving it
Last month, Bishop Hansen CSsR up in the NWT contacted me about my work on First Nations governance values & methods and what we make of synodality:
contemplativeinthemud.com/2024/10/22/d...
contemplativeinthemud.com/2024/10/22/d...
October 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Last month, Bishop Hansen CSsR up in the NWT contacted me about my work on First Nations governance values & methods and what we make of synodality:
contemplativeinthemud.com/2024/10/22/d...
contemplativeinthemud.com/2024/10/22/d...
I'm feeling pretty grateful today. An LDS guy just wrote a note of appreciation that makes it seem like I'm doing something right.
(re: contemplativeinthemud.com/2024/09/30/l... )
(re: contemplativeinthemud.com/2024/09/30/l... )
October 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I'm feeling pretty grateful today. An LDS guy just wrote a note of appreciation that makes it seem like I'm doing something right.
(re: contemplativeinthemud.com/2024/09/30/l... )
(re: contemplativeinthemud.com/2024/09/30/l... )
One of the short quotes that, in a formative period, made the greatest impression on me; I was introduced to through Jacques and Raïssa Maritain:
October 5, 2025 at 6:17 PM
One of the short quotes that, in a formative period, made the greatest impression on me; I was introduced to through Jacques and Raïssa Maritain:
“I think there is no saying in the Gospel that made a deeper impression on me and more transformed my life than this one: ‘Whatever you did to one of the least of these you did it to me.’”
Charles de Foucauld, letter to Louis Massignon, 1 Aug 1916
Charles de Foucauld, letter to Louis Massignon, 1 Aug 1916
September 28, 2025 at 11:52 AM
“I think there is no saying in the Gospel that made a deeper impression on me and more transformed my life than this one: ‘Whatever you did to one of the least of these you did it to me.’”
Charles de Foucauld, letter to Louis Massignon, 1 Aug 1916
Charles de Foucauld, letter to Louis Massignon, 1 Aug 1916
Ora pro nobis...
September 26, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Ora pro nobis...
“If you cannot contemplate nature it will be very difficult for you to contemplate people, the beauty of people, your brother, your sister.” — Pope Francis, 16 Sep 2020
September 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
“If you cannot contemplate nature it will be very difficult for you to contemplate people, the beauty of people, your brother, your sister.” — Pope Francis, 16 Sep 2020
“As you work, as you come and go, as you pass among the crowds, to be a contemplative will mean simply that you try to turn to Jesus within you and to enter into conversation with him as with the one you love most in the world.” — Little Sister Magdeleine of Jesus
September 18, 2025 at 8:09 PM
“As you work, as you come and go, as you pass among the crowds, to be a contemplative will mean simply that you try to turn to Jesus within you and to enter into conversation with him as with the one you love most in the world.” — Little Sister Magdeleine of Jesus
Check out who's in the Acknowledgements:
September 15, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Check out who's in the Acknowledgements: