Turning to the Mystics for Guidance in Contemplative Prayer and Daily Life

Oblate School of Theology
2013 Summer Institute
June 17-19, 2013
Turning to the Mystics for Guidance in
Contemplative Prayer and Daily Life
James Finley Mirabai Starr Ron Rolheiser, OMI
Whitley Theological Center

Turning to the Mystics for Guidance in Contemplative Prayer and Daily Life
In this series of presentations James Finley explores the teachings of the mystics that offer encouragement
and guidance in the practice of contemplative prayer. An emphasis will be given to each mystic’s
guidelines for the actual practice contemplative prayer and the ways in which it brings us to profound
experience of God’s presence in our lives.
Mon. June 17, 2013 7:00PM Contemplation in the teachings of Thomas Merton
In this presentation the following themes in Merton’s spiritual teachings will be explored: The cosmic
dance in which we are intimately awakened to moments of contemplative communion with God. The
fundamentals of contemplative prayer in which we awaken to our true self hidden with Christ in God
from before the origins of the universe. And prayer as a call to experience our poverty in which God’s
loving presence, revealed in Christ’s cross and resurrection, flows through us into the world.
Tues. June 18, 2013 7:00 PM Contemplation in the Teachings of Saint Theresa of
Avila and John of the Cross
This presentation focuses primarily on contemplation as taught by Saint Theresa of Avila in her classic
work The Interior Castle. An emphasis will be given to Theresa’s understanding of how contemplative
prayer embodies our transforming journey through the seven mansions of the soul in which we come to
profound experience of God’s oneness with us in all things. Mention will also be made to the teachings
of Saint John of the Cross, who was a contemporary and friend of Theresa’s. Special attention will be
given to John of the Cross’ teachings on the ways in which contemplative prayer embodies the dark
night of the soul in which, he says, God, the divine lover and we, God’s beloved, are transformed into
each other.
Wed. June 19, 2013 7:00 PM Contemplation: Christian and Buddhist
Perspectives
In a short text titled “How to Raise a Water Buffalo” the thirteenth century Japanese Zen master Dogen
provides rich insights into meditation and enlightenment that resonate with the spirit and insights of
the Christian mystics. This presentation weaves passages from Dogen and other Buddhist sources with
passages from Meister Eckhart and Thomas Merton that shed light on the universal path of contemplation
and the fulfillment to which it leads.
James Finley, Ph.D. lived as a monk at the cloistered Trappist
monastery of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where
the world-renowned monk and author, Thomas Merton, was
his spiritual director. James Finley leads retreats and workshops
throughout the United States and Canada, attracting
men and women from all religious traditions who seek to live
a contemplative way of life in the midst of today's busy world.
He is also a clinical psychologist in private practice with his
wife in Santa Monica, California. He is the author of: Merton's
Palace of Nowhere, The Contemplative Heart and Christian
Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God.
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Tues. June 18, 2013 9:15 AM One Love -- The Interconnected Wisdom of the
World's Spiritual Traditions
This presentation will include a discussion of the streams of mystical longing and social justice as
they mingle in the common heart of all faiths. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience chanting
the names of God in different languages, savoring recited prayers and sacred poetry, and sitting in
silence. It will also include ample time for questions and responses.
Mirabai Starr was born in New York in 1961 to a secular Jewish family. Artistic and socially conscious,
Mirabai’s parents were active in the anti-war protest movement of the Vietnam era. In 1972, the
family uprooted from their suburban life and embarked on an extended oddesey that led them through
the jungles of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, where they lived for many months on an isolated Caribbean
beach, and ended in the mountains of Taos, New Mexico. There, the family embraced an alternative,
“back-to-the-land” lifestyle, in a communal effort to live simply and sustainably, values that remain important
to Mirabai to this day.
As a teenager, Mirabai lived at the Lama Foundation, an intentional spiritual community that has
honored all the world’s faith traditions since its inception in 1967, and where she holds lifetime membership.
It was at Lama that Mirabai encountered many of the leading teachers and timeless teachings
of diverse spiritual paths: Hindu; Buddhist; Sufi; Jewish; Christian and Native American. She was especially
influenced by Ram Dass, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and the teachings of Murshid Samuel
Lewis. This interfaith experience became formative in the universal quality that has infused Mirabai’s
work ever since.
Mirabai has been an adjunct professor of Philosophy and World Religions at the University of
New Mexico-Taos since 1993, where she received a fellowship award for outstanding cultural achievement
and service to the community. Her emphasis is on making connections between the perennial
teachings found at the heart of all the world’s spiritual paths, in an effort to balance action with contemplation
and engage in a life of conscious service.
She has received critical acclaim for her translations of Dark Night of the Soul, by St. John of the
Cross, and The Interior Castle and The Book of My Life, by St. Teresa of Avila. She is the author of the 6volume
Sounds True series on the mystics: St. Franicis of Assisi, Hildegard of Bingen, St. Teresa of Avila, St.
John of the Cross, Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Archangel Michael, as
well as a contributing author to Living Fully, Dying Well. Mother of God,
Similar to Fire is a collaboration with iconographer priest, William Hart
McNichols. Her latest book, GOD OF LOVE: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism,
Christianity and Islam has garnered numerous awards and positions
Mirabai at the forefront of the emerging Interspiritual Movement.
Her new translation of the Showings of Julian of Norwich is forthcoming
in the Fall of 2013. She blogs for the Huffington Post.
Mirabai lives in the mountains of Northern New Mexico with her
husband, Jeff Little (Ganga Das).
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Wed. June 19, 2013 9:15 AM Obstacles to Contemplation – The Struggle for
Contemplative Awareness and Entry into
the Present Moment
There is a sacrament inside the present moment, but the present moment is the most elusive
thing on earth. In our restless lives we long for solitude, but solitude also mostly eludes us. Why? Why is
contemplative awareness such an elusive thing? It is hard to be inside the present moment of our lives
because our heartaches, headaches, and restlessness consistently blind us to the depth and richness of
our own experience. An examination of the narcissism, pragmatism, and excessive restlessness within
us that conspires against contemplation.
Rev. Ron Rolheiser, OMI
President of Oblate School of Theology, Fr. Rolheiser is a lecturer, retreat
leader, author and community builder. He has a weekly column that appears
in over 65 newspapers world wide. He teaches and writes in the areas of
Systematic Theology, Philosophy, Augustine, Mysticism - especially John of
the Cross and Therese of Lisieux, and Spirituality - contemporary spirituality,
contemporary questions (ecology, feminism, masculine spirituality, religion
and culture).
The 2013 Summer Institute takes place in the new Whitley Theological Center.
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Tuesday 1:30 PM
Break-out Speakers
1-A The Prayer of the Heart: Contemplation and Stillness in the Christian Hesychast Tradition
The great medieval German theologian and mystic Meister Eckhart once said that "the noblest attainment
in this life is to be silent and let God work and speak within." Hesychasm (from the Greek word
meaning "stillness" or "rest") is an ancient Christian contemplative tradition designed to facilitate this
silence leading to an experiential knowledge of God. Hesychasm is rooted in the Eastern Christian spiritual
tradition and the writings of Evagrius Ponticus, Maximus the Confessor, Symeon the New Theologian
and Gregory Palamas. The tradition flourished at Mt. Athos and has been transmitted to the West
through classic texts such as The Way of the Pilgrim and The Philokalia. Above all, Hesychasm is a way of
prayer and contemplation leading to union with God through faithful recitation of the Jesus prayer or
"prayer of the heart". In this workshop we will examine this rich contemplative tradition and explore the
ways it can be utilized by women and men today. Time permitting, we will also experience this prayer
tradition through a brief group exercise.
Cliff Knighten oversees the Master of Arts in Spirituality program at Oblate School of
Theology. He is an active spiritual director, retreat leader, and teacher in the areas of
Scripture, prayer, spirituality, and mysticism.
Cliff earned a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies from Denver Seminary and a Mas-
ter of Arts in Spirituality from Oblate School of Theology. He is a member of Spiritual
Directors International, the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality, and the
American Academy of Religion.
1-B "LIGHTHEARTEDNESS IN BEARING LIGHT" - The Spiritual Gifts of Humor in the Contemplative
Life
In our desire and practice for a deeper contemplative life, we can often be overwhelmed with outside
distractions of time and responsibilities, and inward distractions of perfectionism and intense efforts.
The wisdom of the great contemplative writers such as Thomas Merton, St. Teresa, and the mystics
of all faith traditions saw the gift of humor as opening the door to a deeper and more authentic contemplation.
This workshop will explore the gifts of humor as it lightens our own journey and widens our
compassion for all people.
Sylvia Maddox teaches Prayer and Spirituality at The University of the Incarnate
Word where she serves on The Interfaith Council. A published author of Celtic Spirituality,
she has lead retreats and workshops in a variety of ecumenical and interfaith
settings such as The International Thomas Merton Society, Spiritual Directors International,
Iona School for Ministry, Logsdon Seminary, Mo Ranch, Baylor University,
Baptist University of the Americas, Oblate Lay Ministry Institute, and Visitation
House Ministry.
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Tuesday 3:30 PM
2-A Teresa of Avila’s Stages of Payer
Teresa of Avila, teacher of prayer, describes the stage of prayer and spiritual growth. Prayer is the heart
of Teresa of Avila’s life and teaching, her “way of perfection.” Prayer means to be in touch with the Center
of one’s life, who is “the Divine Majesty” who dwells in the depths of our soul. Prayers is this contact
deep within, where we merge with God and are transformed into God-centered persons. Teresa teaches
her four mystical degrees for prayer using the symbolism of watering a garden. The four ways of watering
the garden reveal the progress of the soul in the growth of prayer. The Prayer of Recollection and
the Prayer of Quiet will be covered in this workshop. Participants will be invited to experience these
ways prayer.
Cecilia von Bertrab is a full-time spiritual director, retreat leader and teacher in the
areas of spiritual direction, contemplative prayer and spiritual formation. She holds
an MA in Education and an MA in Spirituality from Oblate School of Theology. She is
a frequent instructor in the Oblate School of Theology Tepeyac West program, LMI
and IFP. Cecilia is a formator for St. Peter Upon the Water, Spiritual Direction Program
for the Diocese of San Antonio.
2-B From the Great Awakening to On the Road: Contemplation in the American Tradition
There are three fundamental or foundational tendencies in the American tradition of thought and spirituality:
the Puritan, the transcendental and the pragmatic. This session will explore these three
tendencies and the effect that they have on the role of religion, public life and personal selfunderstanding
in the American cultural ethos. We will also examine the understanding of contemplation
that these three tendencies encourage and the expression of these modes of contemplation in contemporary
American life.
Fr. John J. Markey, O.P., PhD., is currently the Director of the Ph.D. in Spirituality
Program at Oblate School of Theology. He received his doctorate in Theology and
Philosophy from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. He published
a book in 2004 entitled Creating Communion: The Theology of the Constitutions
of the Church, and he has just finished writing a new book, Moses
in Pharaoh’s House: A Liberation Spirituality for North Americans, due out this
year. Professor Markey is a member of the Order of Preachers (commonly called the
Dominicans) and is originally from San Antonio.
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Enjoy a walk around the
beautiful grounds of Oblate
School of Theology campus,

Wednesday 1:30
3-A "Earth’s crammed with heaven" : Contemplating the Quotidian God
Using a few lines from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem Aurora Leigh* as inspiration and Luke 4:14-
21 as a scriptural touchstone, this workshop will focus on developing a practical means for living now
according to the vision of God's Reign (i.e., contemplative living).
*Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries,
And daub their natural faces unaware.
fr. Wayne Cavalier, OP, PhD is the Prior of San Juan Macias Dominican Priory in
San Antonio, TX. He is the founding Director of the Congar Institute for Ministry
Development established by the Dominicans to provide excellent lay ecclesial
ministry formation resources to under-served dioceses. He also directs the Doctor
of Ministry Program at Oblate School of Theology. He is a practical theologian and
has taught practical theology at the doctoral level for the last 10 years.
His educational background includes a B.A. in secondary education, a Masters
in Religious Education from the Catholic University of America, an MDiv and an MA in theology
from the Graduate Theological Union, and a PhD in theology and education from Boston College. He has
completed a 120-hour training program in process facilitation from Still Point Institute in Canada. In
addition to teaching at almost every level from First Communion preparation to lay ecclesial ministry
formation to doctoral students, Wayne has ministered in a variety of contexts from parish to campus to
prison to hospice ministry.
3-B The Long Tender Gaze: Contemplation in the Stages of a Woman’s Life
This session will explore how women throughout the life-stages are called to contemplation in the thick
of activity, by virtue of being keepers and stretchers of life, and in the feminine paradox of both holding
voice yet letting go. Along the way we will marry the stages of a woman’s life with some of the writings
of the mystics.
Mary Wilder, MA, BSN, is a spiritual director and retreat leader who frequently engages
others through the lens of Ignatian spirituality, and the spirituality of women.
Mary is a guest instructor in the Pastoral Institute of the Oblate School of Theology.
She received her BSN in nursing from Creighton University and a M.A. in Spirituality
from Oblate School of Theology. Mary has been published in the field of spirituality
and nursing. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International.
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Wednesday, 3:30 PM
4-A Tending the Divine Habitat of the Body
Drawing on the presenter’s book, Marvelously Made: Gratefulness and the Body, this session will explore
contemplative practice as a way of befriending our bodies as God’s own handiwork. In that befriending,
we are led to gratefulness, and to deepening compassion for the bodies of others. Participants
will have an opportunity to become acquainted with the wonder of the body—its intricate systems
and phenomenal organs. The session will include reflecting on scriptural reference
to the body, on the wonder of our physicality, and meditation.
The Rev. Mary C. Earle, Episcopal priest, author, retreat leader and spiritual director.
Currently at work on a book about Julian of Norwich for SkyLight Paths, her
most recent publication is Marvelously Made: Gratefulness and the Body, released
June 2012. Her website is www.marycearle.org
4-B "Earth’s crammed with heaven”: Contemplating the Quotidian God 2.0
Building on Workshop 3-A that explored theological reflection as a means to live
more intentionally now according to the vision of God's Reign or as an introduction
to the practice of theological reflection as a means to live contemplatively, this workshop
will engage participants in the transformative practice at a deeper level.
(Attendance of Part 1 not required.)
Fr. Wayne Cavalier, OP (See previous page)
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Institute participants may reserve a room
at the Oblate Renewal Center where delicious
chef-prepared meals are served.

Meals
__ 6/17 dinner $8.50
__ 6/18 breakfast $6.50
__ 6/18 lunch $7.50
__ 6/18 dinner $8.50
__ 6/19breakfast $6.50
__ 6/19 lunch $7.50
__ 6/19 dinner $8.50
— 6/20 breakfast $6.50
Total meals $_______
Lodging
_____ single occupancy / $55 per night
_____ double occupancy / $35 per person per night
Roommate name: _____________________________
___ June 17 ___June 18 ___ June 19
_____ Commuter
Oblate School of Theology 2013 Summer Institute
Registration $80
Early bird —Postmarked
by May 10, 2013: $65
Total lodging $_____
Mail registration to
OST Summer Institute
285 Oblate Drive
San Antonio, TX
Turning to the Mystics
for Guidance in Contemplative Prayer and Daily Life
June 17-19, 2013 Whitley Theological Center
Name: ______________________________________________________ home phone ________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________ cell phone _______________________________
City __________________________________ State ______________ zip code ___________________________
E-mail ____________________________________________________
Special needs: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
For more information
call Brenda at
210-341-1366
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______ Registration Fee ($80)
______ student ($40)
______ Meals
______ Lodging
______ early bird fee ($65)
———– Mon. eve lecture only ($20)
Method of payment:
$ _____________ Total
Make check payable to
Oblate School of Theology
□ Check # _______
□ MasterCard □ Visa □ Discover
Name (print) on credit card:
James Finley, Ph.D.
Mirabai Starr
Ron Rolheiser, OMI
________________________________________________
Credit card number ______________________________
Expiration date ____________ 3 digit code ______
Total amount charged: __________________
Signature: __________________________________