In modern times, prayer can help make sense of a complex and troubled world
There’s an old saying that “there are no atheists before a shipwreck” and it’s quite true that even in our modern materialistic world we still tend to turn to prayer as a last resort when all else fails.
What we rarely do is turn to prayer as a place of first resort when, at all levels, its more than beneficial to do so. At a very practical level prayer can help rationalise and calm even the most impossible of situations; it can deepen our understanding of ourselves, our individual lives, the decisions we have made and even open our mind up to new potential for the future.
At a deeper, spiritual level prayer can act like a door that takes out of the imperfect and
ofttimes painful world of the mundane and into the world of the greater things that are God’s will. So often as human beings we become so engrossed in and overwhelmed by the ‘small stuff’ of life that we can forget all too easily that life is just a preparatory journey for what comes next. In this context, hard work and mental effort can make life a little better, but only prayer can really make sense of the often inexplicable, frustrating or the unbearable.
Most of the great Christian mystics and theologians across history have emphasised the importance of prayer in bringing meaning to life and closeness to God. The great Carmelite saint, Teresa of Ávila said that true prayer is never just a recitation or repetition, but an act of ‘coming into living contact with Christ’. Her great companion and fellow Carmelite mystic St John of the Cross once said of the process of prayer: “Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction.”
For Carmelites today the act of active prayer – and what it brings to the human spirit – remains at the absolute centre of their daily lives. At the Carmelite Priory at Boars Hill, Oxford, home to the Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality (CACS), the Friars are well known and respected for their regular online and in-person prayer courses, retreats and spiritual formation courses.
“The School of Prayer is something that gathers together the Gospel – and tries to inspire your heart,” says Fr Liam Finnerty OCD.
“We provide our prayer courses for those who realise the importance of prayer in their lives and are seeking deeper relationship with God and support and encouragement in their search.”
On January 18th the friars will be starting their 2025 Deepening Prayer series, an extremely popular online three-part journey in prayer, from basic understandings to empowering participants to discover new pathways to encounter God and deepen their experience of Divine Love.
The Foundations of Prayer course aims to encourage intimacy with God and deepen participants’ understanding and practice of contemplative prayer while forming them as people of prayer in a ten-week course over five months. The wisdom of Carmelite mystics and Doctors of the Church like Saints Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and Therese of Lisieux will be drawn upon to deepen the Carmelite approach to prayer as friendship with God.
The Forms and Traditions of Prayer course will introduce participants to a variety of Christian traditions of prayer practices with the aim of deepening the prayer experience of participants. Each main session focuses on a distinct tradition, inviting participants to explore its historical context, spiritual insights, and unique practices. This course is perfect for anyone looking to grow in their understanding of prayer and draw from the rich tapestry of Christian spiritualities for a richer, more profound prayer life.
These prayer courses are not intended as academic programmes; they are mainly experiential, and participants will be invited to take an active part in spiritual conversation, workshops and small group sharing. They will also include essential reading, intended as a framework and support for the ongoing process of prayer, reflection and growth. For participants, these courses will offer the opportunity to be nourished by the rich treasures of Christian prayer with particular reference to the Carmelite mystical tradition – and at the same time to explore their own prayer journey and share this experience with others.
There are still places available for the Carmelites 2025 Deepening Prayer courses starting on 18th January, and registering online is extremely simple. If you’d like to learn more about this powerful opportunity to explore the meaning and spiritual potential of prayer, please click …