Breath prayer is an ancient Christian prayer practice dating back to at least the sixth century. Historically, it is associated with the Eastern Church, particularly Greek and Russian Orthodox churches. Known as the “Jesus Prayer” or “Prayer of the Heart,” early practitioners would repeat to the rhythm of their breath the phrase, “Lord Jesus Christ, […]
by Mindy Durias I often think about these words from Jesus, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” What was so special to Jesus about children, that he would gift them the kingdom of God? I’ve been raising children […]
by Mindy Durias Our world is moving forward at an unprecedented pace. The ability to be so easily connected to one another has made this planet very small indeed. Endless information and people around the world are literally a touch away. Yet, it is quite possible that we have never been more disconnected from our […]
Centering Prayer is a modernized prayer method based on the intuitive prayer rooted in Lectio Divina. It is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience the Divine’s immanent presence with us. Centering prayer is grounded in relationship with God, through Christ, and is […]
The Loving Kindness meditation is an unconditional, inclusive meditation practice that aids in the development of radical compassion for yourself and others. Called metta bhavana in the Buddhist tradition, this practice may be adapted or used as a tool for coming into greater awareness of your own belovedness. When practicing a Loving Kindness meditation, […]
by Elisabeth Barahona Marriage is a mysterious journey of learning how to consent to God in order to learn how to say “yes” to one’s spouse. It is a delicate interdependence of honoring both the I and the we in this journey towards marital togetherness. Archbishop Desmond Tutu provides a powerful framework called Ubuntu that […]
Browse below for articles about Gravity. April 20, 2015 Unity Online Radio’s “Radical Spirituality and Sacred Activism”…Contemplative Prayer Builds a Just Society, an interview by Adam Bucko Phileena and her husband Chris have spent their lives in social justice work, among the world’s poor, helping to build the New Friar movement. For nearly 20 years […]
by Mindy Durias I am pretty new to contemplative prayer, but not new to faith. I have spent more than half of my life seeking God and learning about Him. But two years ago I was introduced to contemplative prayer. To be honest, I struggled with it at first. I found that there were obstacles […]
“Listen in silence because if your heart is full of other things you cannot hear the voice of God” – Mother Teresa Contemplative prayer practice incorporates some degree of solitude, silence and stillness. To support your journey in contemplative spirituality, we encourage you to explore these nine practices. Each one will vary in its degree […]
by Phileena Heuertz Our recent presidential election has exposed and emphasized a great rift in the people who make up our nation. Political, economic, social, and religious ideologies may not have ever been more at odds with one another. Our new millennia has brought with it so much change. It’s as if our world has […]
by Mindy Durias The alarm rings. It’s 5:00am. I drag myself out of bed, prepare my favorite French pressed coffee, grab my stack of books and settle on the loveseat for the hour or so I have before the rest of the house begins to stir. I read words of wisdom and hope from […]
We learned this simple prayer of being from Fr. Richard Rohr. The text comes from Psalm 46:10 of the Hebrew Scriptures: “Be still and know that I am God.” Instruction 1) Find a quiet place, gently close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Prepare to pray the Psalm in 5 consecutively diminishing sentences. […]