I thought Ruth Haley Barton’s article (“Make a Joyful Silence,” February 2009) was awesome. I am the West vocational director for the Lay Cistercians of Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky. We have almost 300 members nationwide and several communities. It is nice to see Protestant churches utilize the ancient method and styles of prayer. The students I am mentoring now were able to gain some insight from the article.
I believe that this lost art is a good way to build dialogue between both denominations. As I tell my students, “You don’t have to be Catholic to study and practice centering prayer or lectio divina.” All Christians can participate in these forms of prayer. They all bind us to one purpose. That purpose is to seek God through Christ.
Walter Poe, North Canton, Ohio
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