The word “prayer” has come to mean a pious, personal exercise, something we do to please God or to get things from God. But contemplative prayer is something different. Franciscan priest Richard Rohr defines contemplative prayer as an “alternative consciousness,” a way of seeing and receiving reality as it is, and accessing the Holy. Contemplative prayer is an ancient practice that goes beyond the techniques of prayer to a place where we can see the world in God clearly and know that, as Rohr says, “everything belongs.” This practice was largely lost after the Reformation and the Enlightenment but it is now being rediscovered, taught, and practiced in the West. In an interfaith tradition, Rohr teaches us how to cultivate a contemplative prayer practice, grounded in the rich history of Christian contemplation. We learn to differentiate between the “small mind” of the self and the “great mind” of God, and how to detach from the flow of thoughts and feelings with which most of us overidentify. Ultimately, we gain access to the place of divine indwelling and learn to develop a prayer life that proceeds from within and is not dependent on the perfection of any method or technique. There is time for questions and quiet guided practice. Both beginners and those experienced in the art of contemplation are welcome. Recommended reading: Rohr, Everything Belongs. Richard Rohr, OFM, a Franciscan priest, founded the New Jerusalem Community in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is best known for his many recorded conferences and retreats and for more than 20 books, including Everything Belongs and Things Hidden. cacradicalgrace.org |
