Ways to enter into contemplative prayer: Part 5

Franciscan Prayer: The Path of Service. This method of prayer uses our five senses to recognize God continually and in everything. It appeals to those who prefer informal prayer and who want to act of behalf of others. This is an optimistic type of prayer that includes acts of loving service. While they may not realize it and many are not regular churchgoers, about 38% of the believing population worships using the Franciscan prayer method.

Click here to visit the Conventual Franciscans page on Facebook

Method

1. Go to a place where nature abounds

2. Feel the beauty and freshness of nature

3. Pick up a flower or a leaf (or observe the majesty of a tree, or canyon, etc.) that attracts your attention and wonder at the way God has created it

4. Glorify and praise God in prayer for this gift of nature and for all the good that you experience that very moment.

5. Respond to your awareness of the sanctity and power of creation in ways that actively, yet quietly, magnify and reflect God's awesome gifts of nature.

Are you a Franciscan prayer? In what ways do you respond to your prayer?

Ways to enter into contemplative prayer: Part 4

Thomistic Prayer: The Path of Intellect. Method of Thomas Aquinas. This is logical, intuitive, analytical and results in a logical conclusion or action. The prayer answers some or all of these questions, What, Why, How, Who, Where, When, and With What Assistance? The result of this type of prayer is “metanoia,” a change of heart. About 12% of the population would consider themselves Thomistic prayers.

Method

Take any virtue - for example, humility, Alternative: select a story from scripture and focus on a virtue or positive aspect of one of the characters.

1. Reflect. What does it (the virtue or positive aspect) mean?


2. What is the connection between (humility) and authenticity?


3. What did Jesus say about (humility)?


4. Who are good biblical examples of (humility)?


5. Examine your own (humility)


6. What should I do to be more like this?


7. End with a prayer to Jesus for the gift of the virtue.

Ways to enter into contemplative prayer: Part 3

Augustinian Prayer: The Path of Devotion.
Augustinian prayer is imaginative. It allows a dialogue between the one praying and God via the application of scripture to one’s personal situation. This method appeals to open minded creative, and optimistic people. Journalers, writers and public speakers find Augustinian prayer compounds and enhances their ability to put words to everyday experiences. However, individuals who are sensitive to inclusive language may get stuck on gender terms used in scripture and will want to actively attend to step 2 of the method.

Method

1. Pick a Psalm (i.e. a psalm where Yahweh is speaking to Israel would be good). Alternative: select a suitable reading from scripture where the message is being directed to a particular individual or community.


2. When reading the Psalm, instead of using the word "Israel", replace it with your own name; when reading another passage from scripture imagine you are the audience to which the message is being directed.


3. Get in touch with your feelings as you are addressed (note especially feelings of peace, consolation, protection, security, love, tenderness, etc.)


4. Reflect on what this prayer experience means for you personally today. Keep a journal, sketchbook or other record of your reflections.

Ways to enter into contemplative prayer: Part 2

Benedictine: Lectio Divina. This ancient Christian prayer method uses the Bible or other suitable reading material. It is universal to all people and is appropriate for private contemplation or for use in groups. Extroverts love it, because it provides them with an order of action. Introverts appreciate it because it is slow and allows them silent contemplation.

Method:

• First Stage: Lectio (reading)
Read the word of God slowly and reflectively. Any passage can be used but it should not be too lengthy.

• Second Stage: Meditatio (reflection)
Reflect on the text in order to discern God’s message to you.

• Third Stage: Oratio (response)
Inspired by your reflection from stage two, leave your thoughts aside and allow your heart to speak with God.

• Forth Stage: Contemplatio (rest)
Sit silently and rest in the word of God

Click here for an excellent source of suitable readings and guidance following the liturgical calendar. You will want to click on the current month listed on the left side of the page to locate the current reading.

Read Fr. Luke Dysinger, O.S.B.'s step-by-step guide on Lectio Divina.

Finally, click this link to view a video of Fr. James Martin S.J., author of My Life with the Saints, explaining Lectio Divina with a specific reading.

Ways to enter into contemplative prayer: Part 1

How do you pray? Do you connect formally, guided by recited prayers? Or, is your conversation with God more like a stream of consciousness? Do you journal? Does nature become your cathedral? Is centering prayer or meditation a piece of your prayer life? Of the countless ways to pray, the method we choose often correlates with the place we find ourselves on our spiritual journey and can lead us into deeper forms of prayer if we allow it.

Contemplative prayer is a way of immersing oneself in a quiet place, a place of balance, and a place of spiritual imagination. Five “traditional” forms of Contemplative Christian prayer include: Ignatian, Benedictine, Augustinian, Thomistic, and Franciscan--all of which emerged from the mystical experiences of their namesakes. Each of these types of prayer will be published in this blog over the next few weeks. Enjoy and discover your favorite.

Ignatian Prayer: The Path of Asceticism

Ignation prayer uses the imagination. Through scripture the reader is placed in the midst of the event.

Method: In this prayer, we make use of guided imagery and active imagination within the framework of a gospel passage of Jesus’ life. Begin by selecting a short action passage from the gospel.

• Relax, focus on your breath as it moves in and out of your body. Allow yourself to let the events of your day, or worries to slip away. Relax. Become aware of God’s presence around you. Read the passage several times slowly. Now place the bible aside.


• Breathe and recall the story you just read. Allow it to come alive before you. Imagine the people, the place, the dust, the smell, the objects, the animals, the words spoken, etc. Just let yourself go. Enjoy the scene. Place yourself in it. You are more than a bystander or an onlooker. Be active in what is happening!


• Do not make judgements or analyze. Just be present to the scene.


• Do not try to reason out or learn. Be content just be there.


• End the prayer by talking to Jesus. Thank him for all that happened or did not happen during this time of prayer.


• Journal your experience, pay close attention to your feelings.


• If an insight emerges write it down.

For additional information and contemplations, please visit www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Imagination.

And, for wonderful daily ignatian podcast prayer visit www.pray-as-you-go.org.

What is the difference?

"I've never attended a Mass that made me feel the way this one did." These are the words of my brother-in-law who, with my husband's sister, were in town to celebrate our eldest daughter's graduation. They are business owners and travel all over the country, and rarely if ever miss a mass. Being a member of the staff at St. Thomas, I was eager to hear more of what he meant.

So, he continued..."Are you guys a different sect of Catholicism?" I had to laugh because I know what he meant and I'm sure if you were not raised as a St. Thomas parishioner, and have endured dry, lifeless liturgies elsewhere, you get the joke too. So I said "Of course we are not a different sect of Catholicism, we are Roman Catholic and our liturgies follow the exact same order, and include all the prayers and rituals of Catholic masses said all around the world...but we are an oasis."

There IS a difference. And my brother-in-law agreed. I will summarize the points he made.

The music: Lively, great, different, and energized from the beginning to the end. Not only is everyone singing, they appear to WANT to sing. The worship aid is far better than a hymnal.
The pre-Mass greeting: So friendly! This is unusual. A real community feeling, a wonderful way to start. In fact, it was friendly on the way in and on the way out
The commentator: eloquent speaker, it is great to see all the ethnic diversity in the church
The lectors: Very well prepared, delivered the readings with meaning, kept the attention
The homily: Loved how Fr. Joel got personal, how he challenged the community with questions, how he probed and got answers to make sure we understood. This was not a dry homily, it was personal, terrific.
Fr. Joel: love this guy, and obviously you do too. The emotional connection between Fr. Joel and the people is apparent.
The Lord's Prayer: beautiful and moving, hand holding. Everyone singing!

Okay, I'll admit it, I really felt a surge of pride hearing my brother-in-law talk about St. Thomas this way. It was affirming to me that my experience is not biased, it is real. But it is essential that we go out and make good liturgy happen everywhere. St. Thomas is an Oasis, but surely good liturgy can be found in other churches.

So, here is my take: Liturgy literally means Work of the People. Without a doubt it is the liturgists, the musicians, the commentators, the greeters, the altar servers, and the presider who make the liturgy possible. And no doubt Christ is present among us. But it is the action of the People actively seeking out and recognizing the palpable experience of Christ through one another, through the prayers, the readings, the rituals, and of course through the Eucharist. On any given Sunday, Saturday, holiday, you can look around St. Thomas and see it happening. We Celebrate. This is the difference.

We make this difference a reality wherever we go. St. Thomas parishioners have first hand experience of good liturgy but it doesn't stop here. This summer, while attending Mass at other churches, bring some of that St. Thomas difference with you and celebrate your experience of the living Christ with another.

Palm Sunday

Mike Hayes is the author of "Googling God: The Religious Landscape of People in the 20s and 30s". He is also the managing editor of Bustedhalo.com, a Catholic spirituality site sponsored by the Paulists. Mike's take on how Catholics often think about and occasionally respond to "Creasters" is refreshing and frankly, spot on. This week, St. Thomas will welcome many people who for countless reasons have been away from the church and are taking that tentative first step back...will their experience bring them back a second time, a third?

Mike Hayes' blog for Palm Sunday:

I love Palm Sunday. We get to see more people on Palm Sunday and Ash Wednesday than we do most of the year. And while many people find it annoying that these folks only show up during these times (and maybe in addition Christmas and Easter) we have such an opportunity to feed them some good spirituality. I would also challenge those who don't like these people that they may be the reasons that they don't show up more often. Complaining about their lack of attendance might just be the nudge they needed to go right back out the door from whence they came--and most likely not to return again. Other traditions would fall over backwards welcoming these people with open arms each and every Sunday--and yet, we don't do that often enough--not even four times a year when we know they're going to make their way back to us. There's a lot of hatred out there--why not be a force for positive change? Pastors often are too busy with preparations as are the rest of the staff--what is it that we can do as laity to take on the task of welcoming people into our pews this Palm Sunday?

So today, ask yourself--not father, not deacon, not the choir director...How can you welcome someone in your parish that you might not see on a regular basis?

That's where we need to be this Holy Week...and I pray that we all find it in our hearts to do just that. Posted by god googler at 7:33 PM

Bless me, Father...

When was the last time you received the sacrament of reconciliation? If it’s a distant memory, you are not alone. Reconciliation has a bad rap and conjures up all kinds of unpleasant feelings. For one thing, it persists in being known only by its first part: the confession, as if the forgiveness part is an afterthought.

But, on Wednesday March 25 at 7:30pm you can show those bad feelings the door. Come experience this healing Sacrament with new eyes. A communal service of prayer and music will be followed by opportunities for individual confession and sacramental absolution with a Priest. Deacons and prayer partners will also be available to talk with if you so choose.

Please come. Experience the healing and freeing Sacrament of Reconciliation with the community of St. Thomas the Apostle. Weds. March 25 at 7:30pm.

1500 Brookdale Rd. Naperville IL 60563 630-355-8980

What's your story?

This past week we were honored to have our Lenten Mission presented by the author Alice Camille. While she was here, Alice commented she truly felt she was among friends, and that our way of welcoming was relatively uncommon in the world of presenters. Our way of making a guest feel at home in not an accident.

It is, very simply, the way we do things at St. Thomas.

Alice shared many stories with us, and in each one a thread continued to emerge: God resides in the relationship. When we are present to one another, we shine a light on the holiness of the seemingly insignificant everyday encounter. We need to keep our eyes open, our ears alert, and allow ourselves to be vulnerable in order to recognize divinity in the moment; in other words, what happens when a simple conversation takes on an aura of sacred presence. Is it by chance? Perhaps a coincidence? As Alice told us, it's not magic, it's transfiguration.

At different times of our lives, we experience how it feels to be among friends, and conversely, how it feels to be alone, a stranger in a crowd. We all have a story. What is yours? When and where have you felt among friends, and when have you recognized God in an encounter? Will you share your story here?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind" Hebrews 13:16

This instruction, and the verses before it (Hebrews 13:1-16) speaks of how we are to live always, but most poignantly, how we are to live in these times of extreme fear and insecurity. Where can we find God in the financial crisis, rising unemployment, lengthening soup lines? It is not necessary to list each point of imbalance which threatens to topple our fragile security, the news media holds it up to us in 200 point typefaces. But once again, we turn and see, God is in the relationship. How we interact with one another. Are we generous of heart, of time, of compassion? We all have something we can share. Do we see we are in this together as one body? How can our priorities remain in grasping what remains of material riches when we know all too well how quickly those evaporate...quite literally overnight?

Strengthen your resolve and see that you are still standing, a little worn, a little weary, but solidly, and reach out to steady the gait of friend or a stranger who needs you today.

Meeting each other where we are

Pet owners know firsthand the incredible bond of loyalty, and yes, friendship, formed between humans and animals. Perhaps a dog's boisterous homecoming greeting means "What's for dinner?" or "Hurry! I need to go out!" But more than likely the greeting means "I'm so happy to see you and I love everything about you so much I could wag my tail off!"

There is no doubt our animals know a few things about welcoming, acceptance and unconditional love that we can learn and apply to our practice of hospitality. Watch the following video for an unusual example of friendship. (There may be a short commercial at the start, the video will follow).


Watch CBS Videos Online

If you have trouble starting the video click this link

Let's talk about it. Share your thoughts on friendship and loyalty. When do you recall being "met where you are?"