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The Cathedral Chapter has initiated, in response to the spiritual hunger among the members of our congregations and the wider society, a ministry of spiritual development to assist participants as they grow in God's spirit, to learn practices of prayer, and to develop relationships of love and trust within community. Growth in the life of the Spirit encourages people to live God's compassion, peace, and justice in the world. The Cathedral Meditation Center teaches the practice of meditative prayer as taught by the World Community for Christian Meditation and seeks "to communicate and nurture meditation as passed on through the teaching of Dom John Main in the Christian tradition in the spirit of serving the unity of all."
Program of the Cathedral Meditation Center
The Cathedral Chapter has identified these objectives for this important cathedral ministry: (1) to introduce Christian Meditation to parish and diocesan leaders; (2) to assist parishes in establishing local groups; (3) to continue to offer "Introduction to Christian Meditation" at the Cathedral and in other parishes or deaneries; (4) to provide support/training for parish leaders to teach/mentor local groups; (5) to develop a physical space for a Christian Meditation Center at the Cathedral; (6) to continue an annual quiet day with an outside presenter to offer teaching on spirituality; (7) to provide resources for the Center's ministry by building a lending library of books, tapes, CDs, and videos; and (8) to encourage attendance at national and international events of the World Community for Christian Meditation. Most of these programs are available at St. Paul's Cathedral, and many may be offered in your parish or deanery. Contact Dean Ken Poppe for more information.
Christian Meditation Day
At least one day is held at St. Paul's each year and is designed for anyone who wants to explore this ancient spiritual path as well as for people who are currently practicing Christian meditation. The day-long program offers teaching on Christian Meditation, a video presentation from the World Community for Christian Meditation, two meditation sessions of practice, questions and discussion, and information about the Cathedral Meditation Center.
Introduction to Christian Meditation
This five-week course or overnight retreat teaches the practice of meditative and contemplative prayer as taught by the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM). This course also lays out the context of Christian Meditation in 4th century Desert Christianity (John Cassian and the Jesus prayer), Benedictine monasticism (lectio divina) and The Cloud of Unknowing as well as its modern development by John Main OSB, Laurence Freeman OSB and WCCM. We teach a consistent practice of non-discursive meditation - silent, imageless, 'pure' prayer - using a prayer word or mantra to seek God in the silence and stillness beyond word and thought. We also teach a way to pray the scriptures through discursive methods. We encourage participants to experience contemplative prayer for themselves, to learn the origins and development of this kind of prayer in Christian tradition and to choose how they will pray.
Weekly Meditation Groups
These groups are an important anchor for the practice of Christian Meditation. This form of silent, imageless prayer using a prayer word or mantra, rooted in the New Testament, was taught by John Cassian and the 4th century Desert Christians, and is found in the fourteenth century, The Cloud of Unknowing. Meditation, also known as contemplative prayer, seeks God in silence and stillness beyond word and thought. Newcomers are always welcomed to the groups to discover this ancient prayer tradition for contemporary men and women. The meetings include quiet music, a short talk on meditation, 30 minutes of silent meditation, followed by a question and answer period and ending with a short prayer service. Participation in a weekly group is an important support for meditators and people interested in contemplative living. Groups meet on Tuesday evenings at 7:00, Wednesdays at 10:30 am, and Friday mornings at 7:15. The Friday morning group does not meet during July and August; the Tuesday and Wednesday groups continue throughout the year.
Vermont "School for Teachers"
The Vermont School for Teachers of Christian Meditation is held periodically and is sponsored by the Cathedral Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral and its Meditation Center, a center of the World Community for Christian Meditation (<http://www.wccm.org/> www.wccm.org).
The first part of the School is the "Workshop on the Essential Teaching" - an experience of the community that meditation creates together with a sense of the wonderful tradition in which it is grounded. It is designed for meditators who have been on the path for some time and already feel that a commitment to a personal practice is growing and enriching their life. It is an opportunity to share the experience, its problems and challenges as well as the fruits we experience. The weekend builds community among the participants, and friendships discovered during the workshop are a gift in themselves.
The Essential Teaching Workshop will help you arrive at a deeper insight into what this experience means. You may also see ways you can share it with others - a quite natural step that arises at the right time on the journey. An integral part of your weekend experience will be an opportunity for participants to work in groups to prepare an introductory talk on
Christian meditation as taught by John Main. The weekend will give you a clearer sense of how personal meaning and practice, the tradition, and the sharing within groups, come together to create community. And that community can continue beyond the workshop.
There are four linked aspects in the Essential Teaching workshop: (1) the basic elements of the teaching passed on by John Main, (2) an overview of the mystical Christian tradition, (3) a survey of the personal, psychological stages of the journey and (4) the role of the meditation group. The spirit of the workshop is relaxed, informative and friendly. Participants raise questions, share experiences, learn new things and put it all together in a way that will enrich and strengthen their practice.
Many meditators attend the Essential Teaching Workshop more than once because it is always slightly different. However long you have been leading a group it is always beneficial to hear the ideas and insights of others.
Annual Quiet Day
A Quiet Day is led each year by a guest presenter to encourage various types of spiritual development, different from but complimentary to Christian Meditation. The day is structured differently, depending on the presenter and topic, but usually it runs from 10 am to 3 pm on a Saturday, with a catered lunch in the middle of the day, and includes times for presentation, quiet reflection, worship, and conversation. A Quiet Day was in January 2009 with iconographer Zachary Roesemann from Brattleboro, Vermont. Another Quiet Day was held in October 2009 with Andrew Marr, OSB, Abbott at St. Gregory's Abbey in Three Rivers, Michigan.
Roots of Christian Mysticism
"Roots of Christian Mysticism" was offered on six Sundays in the fall of 2009, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The course provides a unique opportunity to explore the history of Christian mysticism and is taught by scholars and practitioners. The syllabus focuses on some of the key figures of the Christian mystical tradition. Contact Dean Ken Poppe for more information.
Another venture under study and development at this time is to provide youth with an experience of religious pilgrimage.
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