From the Stone Age to Thomas Merton: A Short History of Contemplative Prayer

This is a book about prayer, about Christian prayer, about Christian contemplative or meditative prayer as a way of simply being in the loving presence of God. It begins with prayer as that natural sense of the divine, what has been known for centuries as the sensus divinitatis, that consciousness of the mystery of God that is in each of us from the time of our birth. There are many ways of praying, and they all tend toward contemplation or ""mysticism."" That is, toward heightening our conscious connection to God, our awareness of the love of God, our wakefulness to the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in us, through us, and around us. By tracing the origins of contemplative prayer, its practice through the Old and New Testament Scriptures, then across the centuries of the Christian era to the contemporary world, it is hoped that the reader will develop a keener appreciation for the depth, beauty, and richness of the Christian spiritual tradition. ""Larry Hart writes as one who has had long years of experiencing and thinking deeply about the mystery of contemplation. He observes that contemplation is as natural and universal to the human person as eating, drinking, working, and sleeping. It is not only something we can and do often experience in human life, but it is something that is at the very core of what it is to be human. . . . This book is at the top of my list for those who are seeking an introduction to the contemplative life."" –Peter Hickman, ECC Bishop of California, author of The Pastoral Writings of Bishop Peter Elder Hickman ""This latest book by Fr. Larry Hart is engaging and illuminating. It is filled with simple and memorable spiritual insights that help listeners and readers discover those 'thin places' where ancient Celtic Christianity thought the distance between heaven and earth grows thin and the Sacred is most easily seen. . . . He illustrates what we all want and ought to know: that each of us continues to encounter the mystery of God, that we desire nothing more deeply than to experience the presence of God firsthand."" –Marcia Davenport, Episcopal Priest, Pastoral Counselor, and Spiritual Director, Ireland ""Contemplative prayer is 'grown up' prayer and Fr. Larry, in his inimitable way, explains and educates us on the way of contemplative prayer. His writing revisits many of the writers, thinkers, and believers that have been, and continue to be, learned masters of the practice. Fr. Larry's book is accessible, informative, and personal. I would highly recommend reading this book as a companion on the continuing spiritual journey."" –Jon Connor, Priest, Pastor, and former professor of Spiritual Development and Black Urban Studies Larry Hart lives near the Pacific Ocean in Encinitas, California, with his wife Brenda and their dog Jack, where they seek to follow the everyday mysticism of the Jesus Way. He hopes this book will be of some encouragement and help to you in your practice of Christian contemplation.