Download - Prayer - Pathway to God and Holiness (WWP)
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PrayerPathway To God and Holiness
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Opening to God, A Guide To Prayerby Fr. Thomas Green, S.J.
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What is prayer?
Prayer is the opening of the mind and heart to God. (Thomas Keating)
The desire to pray is itself a clear sign of the Lord’s presence.
Ninety-five percent of the work is His.
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How Prayer “Happens”
The Lord makes the first move:
He knocks.
If we open to Him, He invites Himself “under our roof.”
...but he never breaks the door down.
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Discernment
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Three sources of the voices: God Self Devil
Discernment: To “Cut out” or “cut away” To cut out the external- and internal – noise in order to
hear the Lord Discovering, in prayer, how the Lord wishes me personally
to act:
Three guidelines for the beginner in prayer and discernment:
1. Fidelity to the Scriptures
2. Peace of heart
3. A ‘spiritual director’
Discernment -How To Know
It’s God
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Discernment, Part 1:
Scripture
All good discernment starts with Scripture
To know God’s will is to test our inspirations against the Scriptures
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Discernment, Part 2:
Peace of Heart
God always works in peace, and usually slowly.
For those who are sincerely seeking to serve and love God.
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Discernment, Part 3:
Spiritual Director
Real growth in knowledge of God and sensitivity to his will normally requires a good spiritual director.
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Essentials & Components
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Essentials & Components
LISTENING
• A good pray-er is above all, a good listener.
• Hearing or listening is a good metaphor for prayer.
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Essentials & Components
QUIET and SOLITUDE
• “God speaks in silences• Only those who are quiet of heart can hear what He says.”
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Essentials & Components
KNOWING ONESELF:
We cannot love what we do not know. (p.93)
With a deep knowledge of God come profound realization of who we really are.
Painful !
Facing honestly who and what we really are (An obvious results of sin in our lives)
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Essentials & Components
PURIFICATION
Disposes ourselves to encounter God
Includes penance & examination of conscience.
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Types of Prayer
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Lectio Divina
Reading (lectio),
Reflecting on (meditatio)
Responding on (oratio)
Resting in (contemplatio)
...the Word of God
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Lectio Divina
Reading (lectio),
Reflecting on (meditatio)
Responding on (oratio)
Resting in (contemplatio)
...the Word of God
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Meditation vs. Contemplation
Meditation:
Thinking & praying about something you have read, seen or experienced from (for example) ...
Biblical passage
Writing of a saint
Icon
An answer to prayer
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Meditation on the Scriptures
(“Classic” Lectio)
Meditation on the Scripture - essential first step
Preparation:
Remote - Read over passage you’re going to pray about. Consult commentaries to clarify context and basic
message
Immediate - What we do when ready to begin to pray.
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Meditation vs. Contemplation
Contemplation: Clearing one's mind and ... Letting God communicate
with your heart and soul.
Example: “Centering Prayer”Thomas Keating
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Other Prayer Forms
Liturgy of the Hours
Charismatic
Mass
Adoration
Litanies
Devotions
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Techniques vs. Mechanics
John 3:8: The Spirit breathes where he will, and you hear his voice, but you do not know from where he comes and where he goes;
Thus no “techniques” for making him speak.
“Can’t turn God on and off like a water faucet or an electric light.”
However ...
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Prayer “Pathways” One size does NOT fit all.
9 spiritual “temperaments” Traits Strengths Pitfalls.
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Prayer “Pathways” Prayer – Loving God ...
Naturalists ... Out of Doors Sensates ... Through the Senses Traditionalists ... Through Ritual & Symbol
Ascetics ... In Solitude & Simplicity Activists ... Through Confrontation Caregivers ... By Loving Others Enthusiasts ... With Mystery & Celebration Contemplatives ... Through Adoration Intellectuals ... With the Mind
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Bibliography
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Classics
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Classics Way of the Pilgrim ................
Revelations of Divine Love ....
Dark Night of the Soul ...........
Interior Castle ........................
Invitation to Love ..................
New Seeds of Contemplation
Unknown
Julian of Norwich
John of the Cross
Teresa of Avila
Thomas Merton
Thomas Keating
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Contemporary
Sacred Romance John Eldredge (1977, Thomas Nelson)
Daily Prayers for Busy People Fr. William O’Malley, S.J. (2003, Ligouri)
Opening to God: A Guide to Prayer Thomas Green (2006, Ave Maria Press)
Prayer Pope Benedict XVI (2013, Our Sunday Visitor)
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PrayerPathway To God and Holiness
End of Presentation