This is where we talk about our life as a community.

Who is 'a contemplative'?

Contemplatives are people whose consciousness of God permeates their entire lives.  Their awareness of God's presence magnetizes them and directs them beyond everything else, beyond all other values.  Contemplatives are aware that God creates them, sustains them, and challenges them.  As a result, all other values and agendas fall away.  I don't mean contemplatives find no value in other things - for example, in a career, or money, or achievement.  These things, however, never become their greatest value.  The awareness of God's presence remains the greatest value. 

In essence, according to all the great mystics, contemplation is, and I think continues to be, this consciousness of living steeped in God, of being surrounded by God, of being directed by God, of being in the presence of God, of learning to see life through the eyes of God, of being aware of God's love, action, and challenge.

-From New Designs, An Anthology of Spiritual Vision by Joan D. Chittister published by Benetvision

What is 'contrition'?  ..to 'contemplate'?  What is 'community'?

Contrition - The action of rubbing things together, or against each other; grinding, pounding, or bruising (so as to comminute or pulverize).  Triturable and reduceable into powder, by contrition. After Contrition put it in a Calcining Furnace.  The shivering and great contrition of the bones, which remain here and there in the...flesh.  The condition of being bruised in heart; sorrow or affliction of mind for some fault or injury done; penitence for sin.  -from the Old English Dictionary

Contemplate - To look at with continued attention, gaze upon, view, observe; BEHOLD To observe or look at thoughtfully To view mentally; to consider attentively, mediate upon, ponder, study.  To consider in a certain aspect; to look upon, regard.  To have in view, look for expect, take into account as a contingency to be provided for.  To be occupied in contemplation; to mediate, muse.  To look at attentively, gaze thoughtfully upon.  To meditate upon; SENSE-from the Old English Dictionary

Community - I.  As a quality or state.  Common character; quality in common:  commoness, agreement, identity.  Social intercourse; fellowship, communion.  Life in association with others; society, the social state.

II.  A body of individuals. -from the Old English Dictionary

                                                      Comm-union of prayers

1386 Chaucer-Pars. T. 238 Contricion...restoreth...to the campaignye and communyon.

Contrition restores company and communion of holy church.