Western Christianity is usually thought of the much less embodied of all non secular expressions of humankind. And for good causes, beginning with Saint Augustine lowering faith to a discourse between God and the soul. A fairly disembodied soul, alas.
Many premodern examples of bodily prayer, nonetheless, are sometimes excluded from consideration. One such instance is represented by Saint Dominic (1170-1221), the founding father of the Order of Preachers — popularly referred to as “Dominicans.”
For the reason that sixteenth century, Dominic has been wrongly related to the Inquisition. Despite the fact that it’s true that, after 1230, a number of Dominicans ran the French model of that hellish factor, there are credible sources asserting that, at the least in a single case, Dominic saved a girl accused of heresy from being lynched by the gang.
Dominic is portrayed by the sources as a continuing pray-er. His “9 methods of prayer” are introduced in a single thirteenth century booklet accumulating the testimonies of eye witnesses. And all such 9 methods are involved with the physique.
Dominic bowed profoundly earlier than the time of prayer, and earlier than the picture of the crucified Jesus, and at every point out of the Holy Trinity, with a view to study humility not along with his thoughts, however along with his physique.
Typically he prostrated himself utterly on the bottom, the place he would moan and growl, repeating mantras corresponding to: “My soul lays within the mud” — which makes me consider that portion of the Cosmic Mass when individuals are invited to put down, really feel the ache of the world, and specific their grief accordingly.
The sources, nonetheless, additionally report Dominic partially prostrated not in grief, however in adoration of the majesty of God, and suggesting the youthful friars to study the identical. That is very very similar to what good Muslims do seven occasions a day.
Dominic used to genuflect and arise repeatedly, a whole lot of occasions in a row, whereas repeating sentences from the Psalms corresponding to I cry to you, O God, don’t be silent! As a rule, nonetheless, throughout such holy gymnastics, he stopped abruptly and entered into ecstasy, transfigured by pleasure. Then, his copious tears would quench his deep thirst for divine love.
Typically he prayed standing immobile for lengthy stretches of time, sweetly repeating to himself phrases from Scripture, but additionally opening his arms in a welcoming gesture or placing one hand to his ear, maybe listening to an angel chatting with him.
He did additionally sit, learn, and meditate on the Scripture in utter silence, as you’d count on friar to do. However, at occasions, he stood up and raised his arms as excessive as he might, and you then knew that he was asking one thing from God. He wouldn’t decrease his arms till he bought his reply.
Extra hardly ever, Dominic prayed stretching his arms within the type of a cross. His biographers report that he can be seen in such a place solely when some marvel was going to occur.
He prayed even when travelling on foot. After such strolling prayers, he turned very excited and his phrases would burn like hearth.
The identical booklet additionally studies one type of prayer through which Dominic inflicted ache on himself by way of a whip. This “type of prayer” nonetheless, may be very briefly described — one sentence solely — and I think it might need been launched to justify a later Dominican apply.
I used to be happy and stimulated once I discovered that Saint Dominic prayed consistently along with his physique and that a lot of his prayer — although imbued with Scriptural verses — was intimate, spontaneous, wealthy, and even considerably unhinged, that’s, unregulated and presenting traits that at the moment wouldn’t be thought of acceptable.
Do folks at the moment growl, cry, weep, exult, burn, or take heed to angels once they pray? And are we to guage and condemn our premodern examples of pray-ers, or there’s something we will study from them?
See Matthew Fox, Prayer: A Radical Response to Life
See additionally Fox: One River, Many Wells: Knowledge Springing from International Faiths
And Fox, Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditations
Banner picture: Statue of Saint Dominic. Palencia, Spain. Wikimedia Commons.
Queries for Contemplation
Do you contain your physique in prayer? How?
Really useful Studying
Prayer: A Radical Response to Life
How do prayer and mysticism relate to the battle for social and ecological justice? Fox defines prayer as a radical response to life that features our “Sure” to life (mysticism) and our “No” to forces that fight life (prophecy). How will we outline grownup prayer? And the way—if in any respect—do prayer and mysticism relate to the battle for social and ecological justice? Certainly one of Matthew Fox’s earliest books, initially printed below the title On Changing into a Musical, Mystical Bear: Spirituality American Fashion, Prayer introduces a mystical/prophetic spirituality and a mature conception of the right way to pray. Referred to as a “traditional” when it first appeared, it lays out the distinction between the creation spirituality custom and the autumn/redemption custom that has so dominated Western theology since Augustine. A sensible and theoretical e book, it lays the groundwork for Fox’s later works. “One of many best books I’ve learn on modern spirituality.” – Rabbi Sholom A. Singer
One River, Many Wells: Knowledge Springing from International Faiths
Matthew Fox calls on all of the world traditions for his or her knowledge and their inspiration in a piece that’s excess of an inventory of theological place papers however a brand new strategy to pray—to meditate in a world non secular context on the knowledge all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes which might be foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all of the world non secular traditions supply knowledge about every.“Studying One River, Many Wells is like getting into the wealthy silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you learn this textual content, you mirror, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Really no phrases can absolutely specific my respect and awe for this magnificent contribution to modern spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, creator of Anatomy of the Spirit
Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditations
As Matthew Fox notes, when an getting older Albert Einstein was requested if he had any regrets, he replied, “I want I had learn extra of the mystics earlier in my life.” The 365 writings in Christian Mystics symbolize a wide-ranging sampling of those readings for modern-day seekers of all faiths — or no religion. The visionaries quoted vary from Julian of Norwich to Martin Luther King, Jr., from Thomas Merton to Dorothee Soelle and Thomas Berry.
“Our world is in disaster, and we’d like street maps that may floor us in knowledge, encourage us to motion, and assist us collect our skills in service of compassion and justice. This revolutionary e book does simply that. Matthew Fox takes a few of the most profound non secular teachings of the West and interprets them into sensible each day mediations. Examine and apply these teachings. Take what’s on this e book and train it to the youth as a result of the brand new technology can’t afford to undergo the spirit and moral illiteracy of the previous.” — Adam Bucko, non secular activist and co-founder of the Reciprocity Basis for Homeless Youth.
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