Mysticism & Prayer Seminar

(Coming Soon)

Prayer is a central practice within spirituality and religion that enables one to enter into a dialogue with the divine. Praying allows for an individual to experience the Divine within the context of having a personal relationship. When examining mysticism, one realizes how essential this practice is for attaining and sustaining communication with the God-Head. Specifically, prayer in Christian mysticism is the groundwork from which mystics receive their experiences; yet, even in Christian mysticism there are different ways of understanding how one should pray.

By combining mystical teachings within two Christian traditions—medieval mystical Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy—this prayer seminar lead by Brook Louis, will offer a solid foundation in mystical theology, upon which Sacred Prayer of the Heart will be practiced by participants. First, we will establish the basis for Sacred Prayer of the Heart within a mystical theology. Then, by examining how the Eastern Orthodox tradition understands the prayer, we will explore ways of utilizing Sacred Prayer of the Heart as an introspective mystical practice. Third, we will map out the stages that the soul descends/ascends into itself, which will be used as a guide for one’s journey into God. Participants will receive individual pastoral care/spiritual direction as part of the program.

Utilizing the eastern and western traditions in Christianity, this seminar will give participants a foundational theology of Christian mysticism, and it will also guide them through the practice of Sacred Prayer of the Heart. Though it deals specifically with the Christian religion, this is not explicitly designed for Christians! The attempt is to bring a diversity of spiritual voices together in order to offer a different understanding—possibly reclaiming for some—the Christian mystical/spiritual experience.

A meeting will take place for one hour every week for eight weeks. It will utilize St. Bonaventure’s seven stages of the soul’s ascent called “The Soul’s Journey into God”. Before each meeting, participants will be provided with a short reading of that will be discussed in the group setting. Within the hour long gathering, participants will explore each stage of prayer pertaining to the readings for the first twenty to thirty minutes. Brook Louis will then lead participants into a contemplative and meditative prayer on the reading by using The Sacred Prayer of the Heart for twenty to twenty-five minutes. After the prayer and meditation, the minister will use the remainder of the time to preserve the sacred space for any participants who are willing to discuss insights, thoughts, difficulties, etc...which arose during the practice.