Fr John Main OSB

[down_under]

I have never heard of this man. He runs some kind of emptyness prayer thing.

christianmeditationaustralia.org/

is this even catholic, or is this more new age mumbo jumbo mixed with yoga. Repeating the word “Maranatha” while contemplating nothing at all for as long as you can does not occur to me to be particularly Catholicly edifying but is there some more official ruling on the matter.

I ask because I am moving to a new region of the country of Australia and one of the first things I find out about the parish is that it has this prayer group at it. Any ideas anyone.

 

[m134e5]

I think this is called centering prayer. I could be mistaken, but I don’t think its use has been condemned by the Church, however there are reputable people who don’t like it (Mother Angelica, for one). I don’t think we’re supposed to discuss it on here so I won’t go into it- just remember that Christian meditation is not simply emptying your mind- it’s more about letting someone in rather than it is about pushing something out.

 

[christofirst]

I have never heard of this man. He runs some kind of emptyness prayer thing.

christianmeditationaustralia.org/

is this even catholic, or is this more new age mumbo jumbo mixed with yoga. Repeating the word “Maranatha” while contemplating nothing at all for as long as you can does not occur to me to be particularly Catholicly edifying but is there some more official ruling on the matter.

I ask because I am moving to a new region of the country of Australia and one of the first things I find out about the parish is that it has this prayer group at it. Any ideas anyone.

John Main died in 1982. Fr. Laurence Freeman OSB now leads the World Community for Christian Meditation, which is similar to, but distinct from C.P. Official ruling? Cardinal George Pell has welcomed Fr. Laurence and WCCM into his jurisdiction, and also serves on the board of directors as an advisor. The good news for you and others who are wary of this type of prayer is that you are free to ignore Christian Meditation and the prayer group in your new parish. I find that I am much edified by the writings of John Main. May God bless you as you move to your new home.

 

[down_under]

John Main died in 1982. Fr. Laurence Freeman OSB now leads the World Community for Christian Meditation, which is similar to, but distinct from C.P. Official ruling? Cardinal George Pell has welcomed Fr. Laurence and WCCM into his jurisdiction, and also serves on the board of directors as an advisor. The good news for you and others who are wary of this type of prayer is that you are free to ignore Christian Meditation and the prayer group in your new parish. I find that I am much edified by the writings of John Main. May God bless you as you move to your new home.

oh my! you have never been to australia I see this just from the comment. In australia there is not another church just around the corner or 3 in one town. We also have suffered 2 literal heretics for bishops which were removed by Pope Benedict against the wishes of Cardinal Pell who is having his own problems of late (more will be forth coming right now we don’t know him so well is the best answer) both in toowoomba and brisbane. Both of whom are doing some rather interesting cleaning house at seminary.

So you must understand that when I wonder about these things it is not unjustified. Here is a man I really know little about. Except for the fact he went through the seminary of a known heretic. (Who taught things contradictory to the Catholic faith on a regular basis). I see the picture and Roman collar is not on this man even when in vestments. Then I see this prayer group so you got to wonder is this legit. Because if its not and the prayer group is in the church then its a big part of the church life there and it will bleed into everything else you won’t be able to ignore something like that in a small country town. All of Toowoomba is basically one large rural diocese. Its huge in land mass not in people.

But you guys say its a least not suppressed. Or that is the feeling I am getting from what little has been said. If someone knows something I would like to hear it. I don’t care what particular catholic melee people come from but I want to be sure it is catholic is all. I don’t want to stumble into something blindly that could be a bad situation and like I said to my limited experience this sounds a little hochy. Sort of like new age meets yoga. I never heard of it and well it is different. Sorry if I give offense to someone but I am looking for information.

 

[OraLabora]

I see the picture and Roman collar is not on this man even when in vestments.

He is not in vestments in the picture. He is wearing his monastic habit. Monks do not always wear the Roman Collar with their habits. This is perfectly normal as within the monastery priest-monks only distinguish themselves from their non-ordained brothers when fulfilling priestly functions (at Mass, at solemn Lauds and Vespers, hearing confessions…). Otherwise they are considered equal in rank to the non-ordained monks.

John Main was a professed Benedictine monk, hence the initials OSB after his name. He was a monk of Ealing Abbey in London and later went on to found a monastery in Montreal, Canada (which alas did not survive). He was a perfectly legitimate Benedictine monk. You may or may not agree with Christian meditation, but his foundations were solid, in comparing meditation techniques (and not the religious values themselves) between Saint John Cassian and Eastern religions.

Please do not try to find scandal where none exists.

 

[Lion_IRC]

I don’t think Christofirst was suggesting that you attend mass at a different church, just that you are free not to attend the prayer group if you find it hard to accept.

By the way, the word meditate is synonymous with pray/prayer in many places throughout the bible. So I wouldn’t be concerned about any coincidental similarity to Eastern spiritual activities or yoga.

I quite like the idea of meditating/praying on the meaning of the word(s) ‘maranatha’.

Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
(See Revelation 22:20. The last verse of the bible)

 

[JimR-OCDS]

down under;

is this even catholic, or is this more new age mumbo jumbo mixed with yoga. Repeating the word “Maranatha” while contemplating nothing at all for as long as you can does not occur to me to be particularly Catholicly edifying but is there some more official ruling on the matter.

The method of prayer he teaches goes back to the 4th Century Mystics and Fathers of the Desert, like St John Cassian.

There is no emptying of the mind of all thought, but rather, detaching from the erroneous thoughts which come into your mind an pull you away from prayer.

Repeating a prayer word, such as Lord Jesus, or Maranatha, is merely to keep the intention of your will on being in the presence of God dwelling within. When you become aware of an erroneous thought which has taken you away from your focus of being in God’s presence, you merely return to the prayer word. The prayer word merely serves like a compass needle, pointing you back toward prayer.

It’s the similar to praying the Rosary. As we advance in this prayer, we don’t focus on the words of the Hail Mary prayer, but instead we focus on the mysteries of the Rosary. If we find that we have been daydreaming about something other than the mystery, we merely bring our attention back to saying the Hail Mary, which points us back to meditation on the mystery.

I ask because I am moving to a new region of the country of Australia and one of the first things I find out about the parish is that it has this prayer group at it. Any ideas anyone.

’
If you want to deepen your prayer life by learning contemplative prayer, or “prayer of quiet,” which opens you up to contemplation, I would recommend joining the prayer group and learning about the method of prayer.

Centered In Christ Jesus
Jim

 

[christofirst]

oh my! you have never been to australia I see this just from the comment. In australia there is not another church just around the corner or 3 in one town. We also have suffered 2 literal heretics for bishops which were removed by Pope Benedict against the wishes of Cardinal Pell who is having his own problems of late (more will be forth coming right now we don’t know him so well is the best answer) both in toowoomba and brisbane. Both of whom are doing some rather interesting cleaning house at seminary.

So you must understand that when I wonder about these things it is not unjustified. Here is a man I really know little about. Except for the fact he went through the seminary of a known heretic. (Who taught things contradictory to the Catholic faith on a regular basis). I see the picture and Roman collar is not on this man even when in vestments. Then I see this prayer group so you got to wonder is this legit. Because if its not and the prayer group is in the church then its a big part of the church life there and it will bleed into everything else you won’t be able to ignore something like that in a small country town. All of Toowoomba is basically one large rural diocese. Its huge in land mass not in people.

But you guys say its a least not suppressed. Or that is the feeling I am getting from what little has been said. If someone knows something I would like to hear it. I don’t care what particular catholic melee people come from but I want to be sure it is catholic is all. I don’t want to stumble into something blindly that could be a bad situation and like I said to my limited experience this sounds a little hochy. Sort of like new age meets yoga. I never heard of it and well it is different. Sorry if I give offense to someone but I am looking for information.

You’re right, I’ve never been to Australia! Sorry for any misunderstanding. All I meant was that no one is ever obliged to join a prayer group. My parish has a Christian Meditation group which meets weekly, but it has nothing to do with the Mass and the sacraments and the rest of parish life. A few of us attend, but the vast majority of my parish is not interested. Our pastor approves, but rarely if ever attends our meetings. He has other things to do. I assumed it might be that way in your new parish.

The way I see it, Christian Meditation has as more to do the Jesus Prayer of the Eastern Church than it does with yoga or navel-gazing. Its true, John Main was influenced by a Hindu teacher during his time working in Malaya before he joined the Benedictines, but his basis for Christian Meditation came from the Conferences of St. John Cassian, a 4th century Desert Father, venerated by both Catholics and Orthodox, and also the 14th century classic, The Cloud of Unknowing.

But this way of prayer is not for everyone, and it seems to be especially contentious here on these forums, hence my reluctance to say much more. Hope this helps

 

[OraLabora]

down under;

The method of prayer he teaches goes back to the 4th Century Mystics and Fathers of the Desert, like St John Cassian.

There is no emptying of the mind of all thought, but rather, detaching from the erroneous thoughts which come into your mind an pull you away from prayer.

Repeating a prayer word, such as Lord Jesus, or Maranatha, is merely to keep the intention of your will on being in the presence of God dwelling within. When you become aware of an erroneous thought which has taken you away from your focus of being in God’s presence, you merely return to the prayer word. The prayer word merely serves like a compass needle, pointing you back toward prayer.

It’s the similar to praying the Rosary. As we advance in this prayer, we don’t focus on the words of the Hail Mary prayer, but instead we focus on the mysteries of the Rosary. If we find that we have been daydreaming about something other than the mystery, we merely bring our attention back to saying the Hail Mary, which points us back to meditation on the mystery.

’
If you want to deepen your prayer life by learning contemplative prayer, or “prayer of quiet,” which opens you up to contemplation, I would recommend joining the prayer group and learning about the method of prayer.

Centered In Christ Jesus
Jim

All great points! I would also suggest exploring Lectio Divina. Here’s a link to a great talk on Lectio by another Australian monk:

benedictine-oblates.org/2013/txt/txt-03-en.pdf

 

[down_under]

see that is what I wanted to know. thank you to everyone who did not take particular offense to my ignorance on the matter. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

 

[OraLabora]

see that is what I wanted to know. thank you to everyone who did not take particular offense to my ignorance on the matter. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Well, from what I can read your initial query came across as quite hostile and starting from the position that it seemed like mumbo-jumbo. Perhaps a more charitable query would have been something along the lines of simply asking for more information about what they’re all about, and whether it was a legitimate movement.

Or you could have simply googled “John Main, OSB” first and read his quite lengthy Wikipedia entry and asked for confirmation or clarifications.

Perhaps I’m getting too cranky in my old age…

 

[down_under]

Well, from what I can read your initial query came across as quite hostile and starting from the position that it seemed like mumbo-jumbo. Perhaps a more charitable query would have been something along the lines of simply asking for more information about what they’re all about, and whether it was a legitimate movement.

Or you could have simply googled “John Main, OSB” first and read his quite lengthy Wikipedia entry and asked for confirmation or clarifications.

Perhaps I’m getting too cranky in my old age…

No worries mate I will keep that in mind just understand that instructing the ignorant is a work of mercy and you have got ahead in heaven. peace.

 

[Lion_IRC]

I have never heard of this man. He runs some kind of emptyness prayer thing.

christianmeditationaustralia.org/

is this even catholic, or is this more new age mumbo jumbo mixed with yoga. Repeating the word “Maranatha” while contemplating nothing at all for as long as you can does not occur to me to be particularly Catholicly edifying but is there some more official ruling on the matter.

I ask because I am moving to a new region of the country of Australia and one of the first things I find out about the parish is that it has this prayer group at it. Any ideas anyone.

Which parish are you moving to?

 

[down_under]

stmarysparishwarwick.org.au/index.html

This is the parish. It is fairly rural I have not worked out if the priest in question is in fact a priest or is some sort of brother. As someone else mentioned maybe he is a monk. I really don’t know too much about it. If I get the job I will be investing more time in finding out.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

stmarysparishwarwick.org.au/index.html

This is the parish. It is fairly rural I have not worked out if the priest in question is in fact a priest or is some sort of brother. As someone else mentioned maybe he is a monk. I really don’t know too much about it. If I get the job I will be investing more time in finding out.

Looks like a very active parish.

There are a range of prayer groups from Charismatic to Lay Carmelites.

Jim

 

[down_under]

Looks like a very active parish.

There are a range of prayer groups from Charismatic to Lay Carmelites.

Jim

I am so HAPPY about that you have no idea how happy. It seems to be a fairly active place, but I have never heard of this type of prayer. And given the history of this this diocese I have to ask these questions. I am fairly happy to hear it has nothing to do with new age and almost nothing to do with yoga. The town seems like a good place to raise kids.