Conferences
The Liturgy of the Hours:
The Public Prayer of the Church as Foundation
for Christian Spirituality
March 21-22, 2006
An academic conference on the campus of Notre Dame
Speakers and Topics
- Gary Anderson
University of Notre Dame
“The Biblical Foundations of Prayer”
Both Jewish and Christian prayer practices have their roots in Israel, and to the Old Testament we must turn in order to establish the foundation of daily prayer. The Scriptures provide the themes of prayer, and the book of Psalms is the very backbone, being recited repeatedly over a course of time. Morning and Evening prayer may be said to consist of “praying the Psalms.” On this topic, liturgy and biblical studies and historical theology must be integrated. The structure and time-pattern of the prayer is only understandable within the Scriptures. - Sr. Benedicta Ward
Oxford University, U.K.
“Monasticism and Christian Prayer”
In the words of John Paul II, “… monasticism was not seen merely as a separate condition, proper to a precise category of Christians, but rather as a reference point for all the baptized, according to the gifts offered to each by the Lord; it was presented as a symbolic synthesis of Christianity” (Orientale Lumen, 9). Although the rise of monasticism could be cited as a factor in the slackening of daily prayer by the laity, the practice of prayer in monasticism can also be a factor in understanding the place of prayer in one’s life. Monks could serve as a reference point for prayer life in the world if properly approached. - Paul Bradshaw
University of Notre Dame, Director of Undergraduate Studies in London
“Historical Foundations of the Liturgy of the Hours”
Recent scholarship has made great strides in focusing upon the structural growth of these units of prayer. The classic distinction between monastic prayer and cathedral prayer formulated by Juan Mateos remains in force, though it has been nuanced by recent work. It is a principle of liturgical theology that it must be grounded in history if it is not to be our speculation. Therefore a presentation on the origins and growth of Christian daily prayer, how it functioned in the Church’s liturgical life, and the causes for its desuetude amongst the laity will be useful in understanding its place and reception today. - Fr. Andrew Louth
University of Durham, U.K.
“Prayer and Spirituality in Eastern Orthodox Christianity”
The eastern churches have maintained an integrity between prayer, theology, liturgy, and spirituality. Evagrius of Pontus said, “If you are a theologian you truly pray. If you truly pray you are a theologian.” At the end of ascetical practice stands contemplation, and living in this prayer is the source of theology. This viewpoint is rather different from western scholastic definitions of theology, and an accurate contrast between the approach of the two traditions will be of immense ecumenical value. In a way it can be said that for the Latin Church to understand the eastern Churches, it must be enabled to see how spirituality emerges from prayer.
