He showed me something small, about the size of hazelnut, that seemed to lie in the palm of my hand as round as a tiny ball. I tried to understand the sight of it, wondering what it could possibly mean. The answer came: “This is all that is made.” I felt it was so small that it could easily fade into nothing; but again I was told, “This lasts and it will go on lasting forever because God loves it. And so it is with everything that God loves.”.
- Julian of Norwich,
Revelation of Divine Love
Today, the practice of contemplation and mystical prayer in the Christian tradition is sometimes seen as something for experts and especially holy people. In fact, for most of the history of the Church, contemplative prayer has been understood as an essential part of the prayer life of Church. Although there has been a resurgence in interest in contemplative practices from around the world, many people in the Church are unaware of the distinct expression of contemplation and mystical prayer in our own tradition.
In this eight-week course, we will explore how the practice of contemplation changed throughout the centuries through some of the key figures to this practice such as Origen, Augustine, Hildegard, Theresa of Ávila, and Thomas Merton. We will begin with the philosophical roots of Christian mysticism. Along the way, we will learn how and why this practice became dormant, and we will find the ways that contemplation is becoming more common today. Lastly, we will engage with some of the contemplative practices that have shaped Christians for centuries.
This will be a practical and experiential course. In addition to the weekly presentations (offered both in-person in the Trinity Parish House and online via Zoom), participants will be asked to engage in their own practice of prayer and contemplation. This practical component will also include four additional small group discussion sessions. The small group sessions will meet via Zoom.
Presentations will be held on Thursday at 10am beginning on Thursday, September 24, and running through November 12. Times for small group discussions will be set at the beginning of the class.
The Trinity from the Scivias by Hildegard of Bingen, Rupertsberg MS