The Daily Meditation with Brother Richard

In this meditation, I return to the ancient contemplative practice of the versiculum — the “little word.”
A versiculum is a short sacred word or phrase repeated inwardly during meditation. Used alongside the breath, it becomes a strong anchor that can help steady attention and draw us away from distraction.
We begin by settling into the body and senses before bringing awareness gently to the rhythm of breathing. When thoughts, emotions or inner narratives arise, we simply notice them and return to the breath.
From there, we choose a word or short phrase that feels appropriate for this particular meditation. It might be a traditional sacred word such as Maranatha, a simple word such as “peace” or “calm,” or another phrase that arises naturally.
Rather than forcing the word to match the breath, we allow each to find its own rhythm until word and breath begin to work together.
Eventually the word fades, leaving only the breath and the present moment.
This meditation offers a practical method for developing concentration, contemplative prayer and a simple anchor that can also be used throughout everyday life.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Returning to the versiculum
01:22 – Opening bell
01:54 – Settling into the body and senses
02:46 – Bringing awareness to the breath
03:41 – Returning when distraction arises
04:33 – Choosing a sacred word or phrase
04:52 – Examples of the little word
05:19 – Finding the word that calls to you
05:48 – Learning the shape and sound of the word
06:32 – Repeating the word in stillness
07:22 – Silent practice with the versiculum
08:03 – Bringing word and breath together
08:42 – Allowing the word to fade
09:06 – Using the word throughout the day
09:26 – Returning to the body
09:39 – Closing bell

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In this meditation, I use the changing seasons — particularly the movement into autumn — as a way of reflecting on change within our own lives.
Meditation invites us into the present moment, but the present moment itself is always moving. Seasons change, weather shifts and our own circumstances continually unfold.
We begin by grounding ourselves in the earth beneath us and becoming aware of its constant movement. Just as nature gradually passes from spring into summer, autumn and winter, our lives also move through different seasons.
The tree becomes our central image. It does not resist the season it finds itself in. Bud, leaf, fruit and bare branch each belong to a different moment.
In the same way, meditation can help us ask what response is appropriate to this particular season of our own life. What needs nourishment? What needs to be released? What might peace or joy look like here, rather than in some other season?
This practice offers support during periods of transition and change, encouraging acceptance, grounding, compassion and trust in the present moment.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Meditation and the changing seasons
00:52 – Opening bell
01:21 – Receiving meditation as a gift
02:24 – Grounding in the earth
03:18 – Moving through the seasons
03:56 – Entering autumn
04:54 – Our emotional response to change
05:32 – Learning from the tree
06:13 – Accepting the season of your life
06:40 – Letting go of the narrative
07:16 – Responding appropriately to the moment
08:07 – What does this season ask of me?
09:00 – Rooted like the tree
09:21 – Growing towards the future
10:18 – Returning to the body
10:32 – Intending to live seasonally
11:08 – Preparing to return
11:16 – Closing bell

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In this meditation, I continue our series exploring the story of the prophet Elijah as a map of the contemplative journey.

Previously we encountered the storm, an image of the distracting thoughts that arise when we enter meditation. The second trial Elijah encounters is fire.
Here, fire becomes an image of desire — particularly the desire for ourselves, our circumstances or the present moment to be different from what they are.
Desire itself is not necessarily negative. Some desires may lead towards growth, goodness and change. Others may arise from fear, ego or dissatisfaction. The work of meditation is not to suppress desire, but to hold it clearly in awareness and discern which movements are useful and which can be gently released.
Using the breath as an anchor, we return again and again to the quiet centre beneath both thought and desire.
This meditation offers a practice of contemplative awareness, acceptance and discernment, helping us recognise the sparks of desire without allowing them to consume us.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Elijah and the second trial
01:26 – Opening bell
02:26 – Entering the cave through the breath
03:34 – Meeting the storm of thoughts
04:05 – Finding the eye of the storm
05:10 – The fire of desire
05:27 – Wanting reality to be different
06:19 – Discerning the sparks of desire
07:09 – Finding stillness within the fire
07:54 – Abiding until desire recedes
08:28 – Trusting the peace of the breath
09:06 – Resting beyond thought and desire
09:35 – Returning to the body
09:48 – Choosing the good and letting go
10:18 – Closing bell

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In this meditation, I invite you to work with an object that has meaning or affection attached to it.
It may be something you can physically hold, such as a ring, photograph or small memento, or simply an object you bring clearly to mind.
We begin by settling into stillness and breath before allowing the chosen object to come into awareness. As we look at it inwardly or outwardly, we notice the story that surrounds it — where it came from, how we received it and the emotions or memories connected with it.
The meditation then explores the different layers of experience: the object itself, the story we associate with it and our emotional response to that story.
As awareness deepens, we begin to recognise that the object is not the memory itself. It is a cue that connects us with something deeper.
This allows us to appreciate meaningful objects without needing to cling to them. We can value what they represent while learning to hold them gently and lightly.
This meditation offers a contemplative exploration of memory, attachment, detachment and the stories that shape our experience.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Choosing a meaningful object
00:45 – Opening bell
01:27 – Settling into stillness and compassion
02:39 – Bringing the object to mind
03:27 – Noticing its story
03:51 – Memories and emotions arising
04:46 – The object, the narrative and the response
05:08 – How memory reaches into the present
06:12 – Seeing the object in detail
06:27 – Exploring its sensory qualities
07:12 – Allowing the object to teach you
07:44 – Attachment and detachment
08:10 – The object is not the story
08:43 – Holding meaningful things lightly
09:13 – Letting the object fade
09:38 – Bringing the lesson into daily life
10:11 – Closing bell

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In this meditation, I begin a new series exploring the meditative wisdom of St. Francis of Assisi.
For Francis, contemplation was at the centre of his life and spiritual practice. Among the prayers associated with his tradition is a simple request: “Most high and glorious God, bring light to the darkness of my heart.”
We begin by creating an inner cave of meditation — a quiet heart space in which we can encounter ourselves honestly, rest in the present moment and become open to divine grace.
All of us experience darkness at different times: stress, sorrow, struggle, temptation, uncertainty or a loss of hope. Meditation does not require us to deny these experiences. Instead, we acknowledge the darkness and consciously invite light.
Using breath and visualisation, we breathe in light and breathe out peace. We can also extend that light towards people or situations in need of compassion, healing and hope.
This meditation offers a gentle practice of Christian meditation, contemplative prayer and Franciscan spirituality, helping us respond to darkness not with fear, but with awareness, compassion and light.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: The meditations of St. Francis
00:58 – Opening bell
01:25 – Choosing the present moment
02:20 – Relaxing areas of tension
02:30 – Entering the inner cave
03:18 – The prayer for divine light
03:41 – Acknowledging darkness
04:44 – Bringing light into difficult places
05:27 – Breathing in light
06:45 – Offering light to others
07:06 – Interceding with compassion
07:58 – Light for the darkness within
08:15 – Resting in divine presence
09:22 – Letting the prayer fade
09:29 – Returning to the body
09:51 – Closing bell

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