Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton

Originally Published on the website of Oblate School of Theology

March 31 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Recurring Event (See all) $40.00

Thursdays, March 3 – April 21 | 1:00PM – 3:00PM Central Time | ONLINE EVENT VIA ZOOM

Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton is a small group experience that invites people into contemplative dialogue. The course is rooted in a series of readings from a book edited by Jonathan Montaldo and Robert G. Toth of the Merton Institute for Contemplative Living. The text explores aspects of contemplation and the meaning of contemplative living. Each week a reading from Thomas Merton is read and discussed. Short readings from other Christian and non-Christian wisdom figures are also studied.

This series gently leads participants on a path toward personal spiritual transformation and a more contemplative and peace-filled life. This Lent and Holy Week book offers an introduction to Merton and contemplative living through a collection of eight sets of weekly readings that include prayers, Psalms, selections from Merton and other spiritual writers, and participation in small group dialogue.

Participants will need to obtain a copy of Lent and Holy Week (Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton) for the assigned readings of the course. The text can be purchased from Ave Maria Press, Amazon.com or other book retailers. Please note: Shipping delays may occur. Please consider ordering your book early.

At each session we will:

— begin with the quieting of our minds by using prayerful reflection rooted in the Psalms

— spend time listening to and reflecting on the voice of Thomas Merton as well as other wisdom figures

— take time to write down our personal reflections

— participate in small group discussions

— close with prayer

Class Dates

All classes will take place on Thursday afternoons, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Central Time, ONLINE via Zoom.

Portions of each class session will be recorded and made available to registered participants through May 5, 2022. Please note that periods of participants’ sharing in small and large group settings will not be recorded. In general, the following portions of each class session will be recorded: opening prayer, period of silence, body prayer, journaling period, and teaching period.

Lent and Holy Week: Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton

Session 1	March 3	Introduction and Week of Ash Wednesday: Where Do We Turn for Forgiveness?
Session 2	March 10	First Week of Lent: Living More Deeply in Christ
Session 3	March 17	Second Week of Lent: A Season for Compunction and Tears
Session 4	March 24	Third Week of Lent: In All Things, Always Seeking God
Session 5	March 31	Fourth Week of Lent: Choosing with Christ to Love the World
Session 6	April 7	Fifth Week of Lent: In the Service of Peace through Humility and Prayer
Session 7	April 14	Holy Week: Returning to the Source of Our Unity in Christ
Session 8	April 21	The Resurrection of the Lord: Liberated to Redeem the World

Facilitator

Thomas C. Langham grew up in the culturally fluid world of southern and central California in the 1960s. This led to his interest in social thought and spirituality which he developed through obtaining a BA in Anthropology and MA in History at San Diego State University and Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin. He has taught at the University of South Dakota, McNeese State University, and Our Lady of the Lake University. He served at Our Lady of the Lake as the chair of the Sociology Department and authored more than fifty publications on the borderlands, rural life, social thought, and popular religion. He has a deep interest in the application of the principles and insights of contemplative living to daily life.

Registration Fee: $40 (fee includes cost for entire 8-week series)

Please note: We will send you a Zoom link and login instructions via email approximately two weeks before the series begins.

For information or to register by phone, contact Associate Registrar, Victoria Rodriguez, at vrodriguez@ost.edu or (210) 341-1366 EXT 240.

Continuing Education events are free* to all enrolled OST students. All other students, 50% off with student ID. To receive discount, register with Associate Registrar, Victoria Rodriguez, at vrodriguez@ost.edu or (210) 341-1366 EXT 240. *Does not apply to meals and lodging.

All refunds subject to 10% processing fee.