Session 1
September 29, 2022
11:00 - 12:30
Session 2
October 6, 2022
11:00 - 12:30
Session 3
October 13, 2022
11:00 - 12:30
Session 4
October 20, 2022
11:00 - 12:30
Session 5
October 27, 2022
11:00 - 12:30
Session 6
11:00 - 12:30
Session 7
11:00 - 12:30
Session 8
11:00 - 12:30
Session 9
11:00 - 12:30
Session 10
11:00 - 12:30
Session 11
11:00 - 12:30
Session 12
11:00 - 12:30
Session 13
11:00 - 12:30
Session 14
11:00 - 12:30
Session 15
11:00 - 12:30
Session 16
11:00 - 12:30
Session 17
11:00 - 12:30
Session 18
11:00 - 12:30
Session 19
11:00 - 12:30
Session 20
11:00 - 12:30

London Jesuit Centre

Online Course Details    

‘Prayer is a fundamental gesture of belief, faith, dependence and connectedness’ Cunningham and Egan, Christian Spirituality (Paulist Press, 1996) This course invites participants on a journey to consider and engage in Christian personal prayer. It goes back to basics to offer an introduction to prayer (or a re-introduction for those who feel they could do with a refresher), in order to see prayer in a new way and experience a fresh dimension to life. It is suitable both for those who are beginners to prayer and those who want to re-engage with the basic principles of what helps us as we pray.

The themes of each week offer material for discussion and reflection as well as a guided prayer experience.

Our set text is “Learning to pray” by James Martin SJ, price £12.77 hardback, £7.99 kindle. Please purchase a copy before the course begins.

Week 1:  Why pray?


We will look at how we are drawn to engage with prayer and at what might stop us from praying. We consider ‘God moments’ as invitations to prayer and realise some of the ways we could be praying unawares. How are we being drawn to disconnect sometimes from our noisy world and seek stillness and silence?

Prayer experience: stillness

Week 2: Who are we praying to?

We ask ourselves the questions ‘Who is God for me? How do I see God?’ We consider our images of God and reflect on the confusion of dual images of God that we may have picked up. What is this God like who is seeking relationship with me? We also consider issues of language and how this affects prayer.  

Prayer experience: praying with different images of God

Week 3 - What is prayer?

We look at how Jesus prayed and the different types of prayer that take place in the liturgy we celebrate as Christians. We consider what some of the saints have shown us about prayer and see the breadth of ways that prayer can be seen and experienced. How do we handle distractions in prayer?

Prayer experience: praying with a poem

Week 4 -  Different ways of praying

The rich variety of ways that we can engage in personal prayer, both known and new to us. We will consider traditional prayers, petitionary prayer, praying with Scripture, images and nature, along with such practices as taking a prayer walk, journaling and making ordinary life a prayer.

Prayer experience: praying a traditional prayer

Week 5 -  Life is a pilgrimage; prayer is a conversation

We consider being pilgrims on a journey through life and prayer as a personal relationship with God. How am I being called deeper in this relationship? How can I grow in having a dialogue with God? What in practice does this mean in my life?

Prayer experience: praying with gratitude

Course
Resources

Introductory video

Week 1 - Why pray?

In preparation for this session please read “Learning to pray” by James Martin, Chapters 1 and 2.

Video

Questions for reflection

  1. What is drawing you to prayer at this time and to doing this course?
  2. What prevents you from praying or puts you off?
  3. In what ways have you been praying unawares?
  4. What steps could you make to disconnect from our noisy world in order to better connect with God?

References

St Augustine, Confessions, Book 1

Cunningham, Lawrence and Egan, Keith, Christian Spirituality, Themes from the Tradition (Paulist Press, 1996)

Martin, James, Learning to Pray, a guide for everyone (William Collins, 2021)

Macquarrie, John, Paths in Spirituality (Morehouse, 1992)

Merton, Thomas, Contemplative Prayer (Herder & Herder, 1969)

Week 2 - Who are we praying to?

In preparation for this session please read “Learning to Pray” by James Martin, Chapter 5 - Beginning a friendship with God.

Video

Questions for reflection

  1. What has been my image of God? How has it changed?
  2. What aspects of God am I drawn to at this time?
  3. What aspects of God am I drawn to at this time?
  4. What aspects of language do I find helpful/ unhelpful in relation to God?
  5. Which images to speak of God hold meaning for me?

References

Cunningham, Lawrence and Egan, Keith, Christian Spirituality, Themes from the Tradition (Paulist Press, 1996)

Hughes, Gerald, God of Surprises (revised edition Darton, Longman and Todd 2008)

Lewis, C.S, Prince Caspian (first published 1951, HarperCollins Children’s Books 2009)

Martin, James, Learning to Pray, a guide for everyone (William Collins, 2021)

Week 3 - What is Prayer?

In preparation for this session please read “Learning to pray” by James Martin, Chapter 5 – What is prayer?

Video

Questions for reflection

  1. “Prayer presupposes some kind of relationship” What do I think about the idea of prayer as a relationship with God?
  2. What aspect of prayer struck me or attracted me among the various ones considered?
  3. What does prayer look like in my life currently and what helps me/might help me in dealing with distractions in prayer?  

References

Cunningham, Lawrence and Egan, Keith, Christian Spirituality, Themes from Tradition (Paulist Press, 1996)

Lewis, C.S, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (first published 1950, Harper Collins Children’s Books 2009)

Martin, James, Learning to Pray, a guide for everyone (William Collins, 2021)

Oliver, Mary, Felicity poems (Penguin, 2016)

Thibodeaux, Mark, Armchair Mystic: Easing into Contemplative Prayer (Franciscan Media, 20120

Week 4 - Different ways of praying

In preparation for this session please read “Learning to pray” by James Martin, Chapter 7, “Everyone needs help” (petitionary prayer) and Chapter 8, “Now I lay me down to sleep” (rote and other formal prayers)

Video

Questions for reflection

  1. What is my experience of the benefits and limitations of praying traditional prayers?
  2.  What do I think and feel about asking for help from God for myself and others?
  3. What experience do I have of praying with Scripture and/or images and/or nature?
  4. What new way of praying am I being drawn to at this time?

References

Cunningham, Lawrence and Egan, Keith, Christian Spirituality, Themes from the Tradition (Paulist Press, 1996)

Griffiths, Colleen, Praying with Images, article in Catholic Spiritual Practices (Paraclete Press, 2012)

Healey, Charles SJ, The Ignatian Way, Key Aspects of Jesuit Spirituality (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist, 2009)

Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God (Martino Publishing, Mansfield Centre, CT, 2016)

Martin, James, Learning to Pray, a guide for everyone (William Collins, 2021),

Ulanov, Ann and Barry, Intercessory Prayer, article in Catholic Spiritual Practices (Paraclete Press, 2012

Week 5 - Life is a pilgrimage; prayer is a conversation

In preparation for this session please read “Learning to pray” by James Martin, Chapter 11. How do I know it’s God? Discerning God’s voice and/or review Chapter 6 – Beginning a friendship with God

Video

Questions for reflection

  1. What do I think about the idea of spiritual growth as being a pilgrim on a journey? In what ways do I experience being a pilgrim on a journey with God?
  2. How am I drawn to the idea of prayer as a relationship with God and how do I currently experience prayer in that way?
  3. How can prayer be a two-way conversation?
  4. At the end of this course what are the key insights that I am taking with me?
       

 

References

Buchanon, Mark, The Rest of God (Thomas Nelson, 2006)

Cunningham, Lawrence and Egan, Keith, The Spiritual Journey, Christian Spirituality, Themes from the Tradition (Paulist Press, 1996)

Groome, Thomas, Keepon Practising, article in Catholic Spiritual Practices (Paraclete Press, 2012)

Martin, James, Learning to Pray, a guide for everyone (William Collins, 2021),

Silf, Margaret, Close to the heart: a Practical Approach to Personal Prayer (Loyola Press, 2001)

Evaluation

We would appreciate your feedback on this course. It only takes a few minutes. You can give feedback online here. Thank you

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Tutors

Sheila Jones

Sheila is part of the extended team at the London Jesuit Centre. Trained as an HR adviser, life coach and spiritual director, Sheila brings her love of Ignatian spirituality and the creative arts to all she does. She is married with four adult daughters and is based in the south-east of England.

Ann Dunne

Ann is a member of the extended spirituality team at the London Jesuit Centre where she facilitates courses and offers spiritual accompaniment. She has lived in a housing co-operative in London for over forty years and enjoys ecclesiastical embroidery.

MY LJC