Confused by a common language: defining“Contemplation” and “Meditation” according to the Spanish Carmelite doctors, the Dominican-thomistic Tradition, and St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual exercises

Abstract

The Spanish Carmelite Doctors, the Dominican-Thomistic tradition, and St. Ignatius of Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises each use the  terms “meditation,” and “contemplation,” but they all intend different meanings for these terms. This article identifies what these  terms mean in each tradition, and then compares their conceptions. Hopefully, this will facilitate understanding of the authors in each  tradition, and communication between these spiritual traditions about “meditation” and “contemplation.” A summarizing chart has  been composed and included to encapsulate the findings of this study.