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Contemplative Prayer Group at Saint John's

The Contemplative Prayer group encourages members to deepen their relationship with God in the company of people who are committed to the contemplative way of living.  It supports perseverance in prayer and also provides an opportunity for scriptural dialogue and discussion.

The Contemplative Prayer group meets on Monday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the Guadalupe Room located in the church vestibule. Come join us! For more information, contact Lois Peretti at (970)593-8575. 

What is Contemplative Prayer?

We may think of prayer as thoughts or feelings expressed in words to God, but this is only one form of prayer. Contemplative Prayer is a method of prayer beyond words derived from ancient prayer practices of the Christian contemplative heritage that involve opening of the mind and heart – our whole being – to God.  It is not meant to replace other types of prayer; it simply puts other kinds of prayer into a new and fuller perspective.  During Contemplative Prayer, we consent to divine union with God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words, and emotions.

Contemplative Prayer facilitates the movement of our developing relationship with God from more active modes of prayer – verbal, mental or affective prayer - into a quiet, receptive prayer of resting in God, a silent love.  It emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God. Imagine if you will, the biblical image of John, leaning into the heart of Christ. John is attentive and centered – he is absorbing his friend’s words. Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God,” reminds us to be present and to be truly at home in this friendship.

How is Contemplative Prayer Done?

Contemplative Prayer promotes a daily practice of this quiet, receptive prayer and involves four basic steps.

  1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within you. (Ex.: Lord, Jesus, Abba, Kyrie, etc.) The sacred word has no magical effects – it simply establishes one’s intent to BE with God.
     
  2. Sit comfortably with eyes closed, settle briefly, and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of consenting to God’s presence and action within. We close our eyes to let go of what is going on around and within us. The whole purpose of the prayer is to stop thinking about ourselves so that we may be open to God’s will.
      
  3. When you become aware of thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
    The term “thoughts” includes thoughts, distractions, memories, feelings, emotions, etc. During prayer we inevitably become aware of various “thoughts” from our conscious or unconscious mind.  We expect these “thoughts” but practice disregarding them by using the sacred word to bring us back to our intention of resting in God.
     
  4. At the end of the prayer period, (about 20 minutes) remain in silence with eyes closed
    for a couple of minutes.

The prayer session may end with the slow recitation of the Lord’s Prayer or a reading from scripture (Lectio Divina).

Contemplative Prayer and Lectio Divina

Following the Christian tradition of contemplative prayer from the Desert Fathers and Mothers, the author of The Cloud of Unknowing, St. John of the Cross, and St Teresa of Avila, Contemplative Prayer incorporates the ancient practice of praying the scriptures known as Lectio Divina. Lectio Divina is the most traditional way of cultivating a friendship with Christ by listening to the texts of scripture as if we were in conversation with Christ and He were suggesting the topics of conversation. A daily encounter with Christ and reflection on His word leads beyond mere acquaintanceship to an attitude of friendship, trust and love. It moves beyond meditation and reflection on scripture to a resting in God – a movement beyond thoughts and concepts just to BE in the Presence of God. Lectio Divina provides the conceptual background for the development of Contemplative Prayer.

Fr. Thomas Keating

Contemplative Prayer was initiated by three Trappist monks – Fr. William Meninger, Fr. Basil Pennington, and Fr. Thomas Keating in the mid-1970’s at Saint Joseph Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts.  In 1981, Fr. Keating came to Saint Benedict Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado where he currently resides.  Fr. Keating has written extensively about Contemplative Prayer and his book, Open Mind, Open Heart is an important source for learning about the practice of Contemplative Prayer. More information about Contemplative Prayer, Fr. Keating’s writings, and upcoming Contemplative Prayer events can be found at the following website:  www.contemplativeoutreach-co.org
 
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