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How to Pray

audiovisuals on contemplative and other forms of prayer

BASICS - VARIOUS - CONTEMPLATIVE - MUSIC
Centering Prayer

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	summary index

	How shall I pray? ...........Various issues
	Various forms .........of prayer:: Vocal, Mental
	Contemplative prayer.........Centering, Maranatha, Lectio Divina,
	Music for the soul

	detailed index

	HOW SHALL I PRAY?
	How do I speak to God?
	Why is prayer helpful?
	What is prayer?
	What is best form of prayer?
	How can I control the direction of my prayer?
	How often should I pray?
	What is Presence?
	How deep should I go into prayer?
	How do I speak to God?
	Christ or God?

	VARIOUS FORMS
	VOCAL PRAYER
	MENTAL PRAYER
	CONSIDERATION PRAYER

	CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
1	Basics
2	Centering Prayer
3	Maranatha Meditation
4	Prayer of the Heart, of St Theresa of Avila
5	Lectio Divina
6	Fr/St John Cassian

	Music for the soul














Fr Thomas Keating is co-founder of Contemplative Outreach


Spiritual Director Joe McCloskey, sj


Fr Laurence Freeman osb is the founder of the World Community for Christian Meditation


Dom John Main, founder of the modern movement of christian meditation , followed the ancient works of John Cassian


St John Cassian (Feast Day 23 July in the Roman Martyrology) Many different western spiritualities, from that of Saint Benedict to that of Saint Ignatius of Loyola , owe their basic ideas to John Cassian His works are excerpted in the Philokalia ( Greek for "Love of the Beautiful" ), the Eastern Orthodox compendium on mystical Christian prayer.

HOW SHALL I PRAY?: Various issues concerning prayer, with csj
How do I speak to God?	Why is prayer helpful?	What is prayer?
What is the best form of prayer ?	How can I control the direction of my prayer?	How often should I pray?
What is Presence?		Inspiration from Mechtild of Magdeburg a medieval mystic (b.1210)
How deep should I go into prayer?	How do I speak to God?	Christ or God?
VARIOUS FORMS OF PRAYER Vocal Prayer, Mental Prayer, ConsiderationPrayer... (UP)
How do I practice VOCAL PRAYER?	Ho w do I practice MENTAL PRAYER?	How do I practice CONSIDERATION PRAYER?

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER: Contemplation, in a Christian context, refers to a form of attentive prayer without thoughts. It's non-discursive meditative prayer, used to enter the presence of God. this section covers: 1. Basics - What you need to know about contemplation 2. Centering Prayer (it-Talba tal-Kunsens) - "resting in God" 3. Christian (mantra) Meditation, or Maranatha Meditation 4. Prayer of the Heart, St Theresa of Avila 5. Prayer of the Heart, Fr/St John Cassian 6. Lectio Divina, consisting of 4 'moments': Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio and Contemplatio (UP)
1. Basics: What you need to know about contemplation
Jesus - above all, a teacher of silent contemplation with Fr Laurence Freeman	Attention ! - with Fr Laurence Freeman	How do I practice CONTEMPLATION PRAYER?
The Kingdom: the hidden treasure; the pearl of great price, with Fr Laurence Freeman	How do I practice SILENT PRAYER?	Trappist monk Fr Thomas Merton explains why the contemplative contemplates (a reading of Merton's text)

2. Centering Prayer (it-Talba tal-Kunsens) - "resting in God" In Centering Prayer, I centre in God by returning, when engaged in any thought, to my chosen "sacred word" that, for me, is a sign of my consent to God's presence and action in me >> Contemplative prayer start
How do I practice CENTERING PRAYER?	CENTERING PRAYER - Guidelines Part 1 - Fr Thomas Keating, of Contemplative Outreach	Guidelines Part 2 - Fr Thomas Keating ocso
Centering Prayer in Divine and Human Context - - an interview with Fr Thomas Keating ocso	CENTERING PRAYER Fr Jim Martin	CENTERING PRAYER Links Workshops, Retreats, Prayer groups: see the Contemplative Outreach main site. Contemplative Outreach national chapters World & US UK Philippines, Canada, Europe, Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East. See also Centering Malta LEAFLETS with method: Contemplative Outreach provide brochures in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese . See also: Fuljett bil-Malti

3. John Main's Christian Meditation, or Maranatha Meditation This method, promoted by WCCM, is similar to Centering prayer except that it suggests continuat repetition of the special word or mantra. >> Contemplative prayer start
Christian Meditation, Maranatha mantra-based meditation, Fr Laurence Freeman of the World Community for Christian Meditation WCCM	Bishop Tong Hon blessing WCCM Christian Maranatha Meditation group in Hong Kong	World Community for Christian Meditation World & US, UK - Christian Meditation with Children - Meditation as 11th step of the 12-step addiction programs

4. Prayer of the Heart, as taught by St. Theresa of Avila It's a preparation for the Prayer of Quiet, where God does all the work >> Contemplative prayer start
Witness: Interview with Sr Donna on the Prayer of the Heart (noisy soundtrack) www.AMORVINCIT.com University of St Thomas Aquinas, Rome
Prayer of the Heart of St Theresa of Avila - Part I	Prayer of the Heart of St Theresa of Avila - Part 2	Prayer of the Heart of St Theresa of Avila - Part 3
Prayer of the Heart of St Theresa of Avila - Part 4	Prayer of the Heart of St Theresa of Avila - Part 5	Prayer of the Heart of St Theresa of Avila - Pt 6 In Prayer of Quiet, God does all the work.

6. Lectio Divina, consisting of 4 'moments': Lectio, Meditatio, Oratio and Contemplatio 1. Lectio: Attentive slow listening; 2. Meditatio: Pondering what strikes my spirit; 3. Oratio: Responding; 4. Contemplatio: resting in the Presence Some thoughts ("pondering" rather than analysis, explanations etc) and possibly feelings, are involved in the first three 'moments' of Lectio Divina, but the fourth moment is a contemplative one. In the traditional monastic (as distinct from scholastic) model, I let the Spirit prompt me as to which 'moment ' to experience at any time. >> Contemplative prayer start
Chanting - a liturgical chant in Latin	How do I practice Lectio Divina? Fr Jim Martin	Lectio Divina with Archibishop Collins
Daily brief Gospel readings for lectio divina are available at http://www.dailygospel.org/ «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68

6. Prayer of the Heart after Fr/St John Cassian >> Contemplative prayer start
Prayer of the Heart (John Cassian's 10th Conference) , 1/3	Prayer of the Heart (John Cassian's 10th Conference , 2/3)	Prayer of the Heart (John Cassian's 10th Conference , 3/3)


MUSIC for the SOUL: Contemplative prayer is practiced in silence, not with music, as music tends not to help the consciousness settle as deeply as silence can. But before contemplation you may wish to soothe the mind from the clamour of the day for a few minutes. (UP)

Medley of 3 contemplative pieces by the Super groovers - saxophone	T he Fountain, St John of the Cross (1542 - 1591) - spanish guitar	Prayer of St Francis by Ryan Cayabyab - with singer, Italian & English
Cosmic Blessing - flute and electronic isntruments	Relaxing Piano Music / Butterfly images	Zen Garden - flute
Daiwagauku meditative shakuhachi slideshow	Adagio Trio - Greensleeves - harp, flute, cello	Reprise - piano
Angelicum Choir, University of St Thomas Aquinas, Rome	Church of Trees - slow piano	Release into I AM
Meditation in A - Dorion - electric guitar