Purpose of Living Flame Program
The Living Flame Program was designed to be experiential as well as informational giving participants the opportunity to evaluate, validate and share their own experience of prayer in the context of community. It was also designed:
To heighten the awareness of the dynamic of contemplative prayer in the context of the Spiritual Journey.
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To offer the understanding needed to stay faithful to the Centering Prayer practice.
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To help discern when the support of psychological skills
may be helpful tools on the journey.
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To access deeper understanding of the purification process in contemplative prayer.
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To provide an opportunity to receive and share personal
experiences in a small faith community committed to the
Centering Prayer practice.
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To expose local communities to the wider Contemplative
Outreach family through inviting national faculty members to participate as Presenters.
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Prerequisites for Attendance
at Living Flame:
Although attendance at an Intensive Retreat is preferable, making a Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop and having a daily prayer practice for at least 6 months is a minimal requirement for participating in the Living Flame Program. Some knowledge of Fr. Thomas Keating's Spiritual Journey tapes and the reading of his book, OPEN MIND OPEN HEART are also required. Knowledge of St. John of the Cross' Dark Nights of the Soul is also most helpful.
A commitment to attending all seven sessions each year is also an essential element for participants of years I and II of the Living Flame Program.
The Living Flame Program is most beneficial when particpants attend Living Flame I and II in succession. This may not always be possible since there are times when a person is not able to commit to the second year's sessions and at least 20-25 participants are needed to meet expenses. In that case, exceptions may be made by the area Coordinator or on-site Coordinator to allow someone to enter the program at the Living Flame II level, making sure all of the above requirements have been met.