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The Source of Love A
Christian Meditation Retreat May 16 - 22, 2008 Deeply written into human nature is the need for love. As life unfolds the individual discovers many aspects and forms of love, not without realizing that the greatest joy can also occasion the greatest pain. Life can be seen as the search for that source of love which has so many different kinds of manifestations. In this retreat Fr. Laurence will explore the range of love and our ways of understanding (and misunderstanding) it. In the tradition of John Main, he will focus on how meditation opens us to the ever-present mystery of the source of love. All are welcome and both new and more experienced meditators will find the retreat a renewal of their spiritual journey. A recommended preparation would be a reading of John Main's Door to Silence.
Laurence Freeman, director of this retreat, is a Benedictine monk of the Congregation of Monte Oliveto and Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation. He was born in England where he was educated by the Benedictines and studied English Literature at Oxford University. Before entering monastic life he had experience with the United Nations, banking and journalism. In the monastery his spiritual teacher was John Main with whom he studied and whom he helped in the establishment of the first Christian Meditation Center in London. In 1977 he went with John Main at the invitation of the Archbishop of Montreal to establish a Benedictine community of monks and lay people dedicated to the practice and teaching of Christian Meditation. Fr Laurence studied theology at the Universite de Montreal and at McGill University, made his solemn monastic profession in 1979 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1980. After John Main's death in 1982 he continued the work of teaching meditation that had now begun to develop a global community. In 1991 Fr Laurence returned to England to establish the International Center of the newly formed World Community for Christian Meditation that is now present in about a hundred countries. Laurence Freeman is the
author of many books and articles including Light Within,
Selfless Self, Web of Silence, Common Ground,
A Short Span of Days, Your Daily Practice and Jesus:
The Teacher Within. He is also the editor of John Main's works
and a member of the Board of Medio Media, the publishing arm of
the World Community. He has conducted dialogues and peace initiatives
such as the historic Way of Peace with the Dalai Lama and is active
in inter-religious dialogue with other faiths as well as in encouraging
the teaching of Christian meditation to children and students
and in the re-appropriation of the contemplative wisdom tradition
in the Church and society at large. Inquirers should note that by “Christian Meditation” is meant not just any form of contemplative or meditative prayer in the Christian tradition, but the specific form of mantra prayer taught by John Main, OSB, the World Community for Christian Meditation and hundreds of meditation groups around the world. Time: The retreat begins Friday 7:30 PM and ends Thursday 12:00
Noon. If space is still available on April 1, a shorter
weekend option will be offered for those who cannot make the entire
retreat. Cost: The retreat fee is $515 for the six days for a private room and meals beginning with the first meal at Saturday breakfast. The cost for the weekend only option is $315. A $50 deposit is due when you register. Those who wish to make the weekend only will be notified after April 1, on a first come first served basis, whether we are able to accommodate them. Location: Manresa Jesuit Retreat House Register on line or mail our application form with $50 check made out to Manresa. Please specify whether you will stay until Thursday midday (5/22) or would like to stay only until Sunday midday (5/18).
NEXT
YEAR from
7:30 PM Friday, March 20 , 2009
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This
is a silent retreat that offers the experience of meditation for
beginners and practitioners, as well as teachings on the process
of our growth in the Christ-life and how meditation helps one
be transformed in Christ. These teachings will draw upon the Scriptures,
the major liturgical themes, and the teachings of John of the
Cross, Ignatius of Loyola, and John Main, founder of the World
Community of Christian Meditation. Times for yoga exercises will
be offered as well.