The John Main Prayer – Some Reflections

Heavenly Father, Open Our Hearts to the silent Presence of the Spirit of your Son.
Lead us into that mysterious Silence where Your Love is revealed to all who call.

These reflections on the John Main Prayer were written by Noel Keating, a meditator from Carlow, Ireland. Noel loves the simplicity of this opening prayer which meditators say before their twice-daily practice of Christian Meditation. On the one hand there is something ironic in writing so much about a prayer which is not in itself discursive. But, on the other hand, because there is a danger than any form of words repeated often dulls their meaning, there is real benefit in any reflection that may lead meditators to a greater appreciation of its rich depths of meaning.
            Christian Meditation communities across the globe often recite a closing prayer, which is considerably longer and more discursive than the opening prayer, at the end of a weekly gathering of meditators in their local meditation group. Noel includes here (Reflection No 8) a simpler closing prayer which individuals or groups may wish to recite after their daily meditation or at the conclusion of their group meditation. The penultimate reflection examines the relationship between the John Main Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer and the final reflection explores the Trinity as the fundamental Trinitarian nature of the John Main Prayer.