Christic Center
Greetings and peace!
In my last blog I indicated that a new name for the Omega Center was on the horizon. After reading your comments (thank you very much!) I closed my eyes to rest my concussed brain and the word “Christic” came into view. I knew immediately this was the new name for the Omega Center: “The Christic Center.” I added to this name the mission of the Center: “Spiritual Convergence and Transformation.” This is the heart of Teilhard’s vision expounded in his mystical essay, “The Christic,” composed in March 1955. In this essay he brings together the convergence of the universe, the emergence of Christ and a Christified universe, all of which are summed up in the evolution of life toward Omega. I encourage you to read this essay and reflect on it (https://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~alfar2/Christic.htm).
For Teilhard, Christ is Omega, Divine love, incarnate throughout all of life, is brought to conscious expression and response in a personal center of love—Jesus, the Christ. The human person is the universe on the level of self-consciousness and has the capacity to respond to God’s love by remaining in love (cf. John 15:4), acting from love, and orienting one’s whole life toward the fullness of love. The mission of the Christic Center is to return to the heart of the Good News, the personalization of divine love at the heart of matter, to reframe Christianity as a religion of the whole and hence a religion of the earth, and to renew the energies of love on the level of politics, economics, ecology and culture.
I will have more to say in the future but for now let us reflect on The Christic Center and how we can continue to participate in the “amorization” of the universe through spiritual convergence and transformation.
We will retain the name “Omega Center” for business purposes but “Christic Center” for the public domain. Donations via check can still be made to the Omega Center. Over the next month we will be updating our website and materials with our new name and logo.
Thank you for your continued support, your prayers and the many ways you contribute to this awakening of God’s immeasurable love at the heart of our lives.
Peace,
Sr. Ilia
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Dear Joe Masterleo.
Unfortunately, I do not know of any other group whose founder envisioned Spirit as (a) non-sectarian in essence (b) an integral part of matter in which all things consist and cohere; (b) common to and reconciling all things visible and invisible; (c) in a way that satisfies them all; (c) evolving over deep time in global human consciousness; (d) toward its full realization in an Omega Point of collective history; (e) whereby a new science of the cosmos, humankind, and a religion of the future can be conceived.
However, I have been researching the work of the Evolutionaries who encompass many of the tenets of evolution and envisioning a new world concept which encompasses many global radical changes. They feel that a new world order is being considered by people from all walks of life and people who are leaders in their field of study. Their is a book out which describes this evolving thinking.
The Book is called The Evlolutionaries by Carter Phipps. “Carter Phipps brilliantly expands our understanding of evolution by showing us that a new science is emerging—one that will holistically integrate our understanding of consciousness, cosmology, and evolution.” —Deepak Chopra
Blending cutting-edge ideas with incisive spiritual insights. Evolutionaries is the first popular presentation of an emerging school of thought called “evolutionary spirituality.” Carter Phipps, the former executive editor of Enlighten Next magazine, asserts that evolution is not only a scientific but also a spiritual idea in a book whose message has the power to bring new meaning and purpose to life as we know it. Readers will be fascinated and enlightened by Evolutionaries, a book which Deepak Chopra, the world-renowned author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes, Jesus, and Buddha, says “is going to help create a worldview that will influence our vision of the future direction of evolution and also our role in consciously participating in it.”
If you want to also hear about the movement You Tube has many interesting videos concerning them.
Christine Howard
I feel a little humbled by what I want to express.
I admire your work tremendously Ilia Delio and feel that within your work are the seeds of superlative transformational qualities to change individuals, communities, countries, the earth and the cosmos.
I think that the name the Christic Center certainly aligns with Teihard’s vision. However I feel that it limits the people whom you hope to attract from all religious persuasions. The name the Christic center puts the emphasis on Christianity and ignores the global aspects of what transformational qualities are needed for individuals, the world and the cosmos.
Again I am humbled by having been allowed to write my opinion to you.
Thank you,
Christine Howard
Great point Christine, because ultimate truth need not only been egalitarian and inclusive, but ecumenical along religious lines. At the same time, I’m currently unaware of other religious perspectives whose founder envisioned Spirit as (a) non-sectarian in essence (b) an integral part of matter in which all things consist and cohere; (b) common to and reconciling all things visible and invisible; (c) in a way that satisfies them all; (c) evolving over deep time in global human consciousness; (d) toward its full realization in an Omega Point of collective history; (e) whereby a new science of the cosmos, humankind, and a religion of the future can be conceived. If you encounter a world religion or its founder(s) that espouse a more complete synthesis of the whole than this, I for one, would be most eager to embrace it.
In keeping with Teilhard’s model, the word “Christic” is surely fitting. It rhymes with “mystic,” descriptive of Teilhard’s level of spiritual consciousness, the Omega point of individual and collective human development. Being spiritually awakened like Jesus and other enlightened folk, Teilhard saw the world non-dualistically, as a unified whole. Spirit the highest part of matter, an invisible extrasensory sea in which all things “float,” from which they emerge, and into which they dissolve and reform. Such contrasts with dualistic thinking, which divides the field into humanly contrived categories and subcategories, with no awareness of their interbeing or death/renewal choreographies. Creation is already one. The Christ mind allows for that clarity of vision. What evolves in human consciousness is simply an awareness of same. Spirituality is foremost about seeing. Said Teilhard, “It is impossible for me not to see, and to say what I see.” Toward your continued healing and anointing, and the activation of the Christ mind in your readers.
I must admit that I had the same reaction as Chaplain Z wrt your earlier thoughts on renaming the Omega Center. So for me at least, this new name and its connection to the ‘heart of Teilhard’s vision’ is just lovely news. Congrats!! I look forward to more. (BTW, was scheduled to be part of your short retreat at Villa Maria in October … sorry that events mean that is postponed … see you in 2021!!)