Finding a path

“Seek by reading and you will find by meditating; cry in prayer and the door will be opened in contemplation.”   — John of the Cross

Sunday School – January 28, 2024 Prayer and Temperament

Good Afternoon Friends,

Last week we began our general discussion about various Myers-Briggs types, and the foundation of prayer that the Church inherited via the early Church tradition of the desert fathers and mothers.  Two forms of prayer that are accessible to most types and temperaments come from these ancient roots – Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer.

This week we will look more closely that these two prayer forms, as well as take our first dive into the particularities of the NF – Augustinian; SP – Franciscan; NT – Thomistic; and SJ – Ignatian temperaments. 

We will then have a candid conversation about Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer, and what it might be like to give ourselves in a disciplined way to these prayer forms.  I have lately been revisiting the book below.  It is a great resource for those who might want to go more deeply into their personality type.  The author treats with more nuance how to more accurately embrace the particularities of type, and how the aspects of introversion/extroversion; sensing/intuition; thinking/feeling; perceiving/judging – interact both as interconnected aspects of personality, as well as individually.  I would recommend it to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the Myers-Briggs type.

Like a thumbprint, personality type provides an instant snapshot of a person’s uniqueness. Drawing on concepts originated by Carl Jung, this book distinguishes four categories of personality styles and shows how these qualities determine the way you perceive the world and come to conclusions about what you’ve seen. It then explains what they mean for your success in school, at a job, in a career and in your personal relationships.

For more than 60 years, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) tool has been the most widely used instrument in the world for determining personality type, and for more than 25 years, Gifts Differing has been the preeminent source for understanding it.

I hope that you will join us in the Garden Room @9.15 as we continue to discover the path in prayer that God has laid in our own hearts and souls.

Blessings,

Alston