By Jeanne Tonkovich
Father Christopher Hayden, a scripture scholar, spiritual director, published author, and parish priest in the Diocese of Ferns, Ireland, presented a seminar, “Praying the Scriptures,” on June 1,2, and 3, 2015, at the Monastery of the Poor Clares of Montana. Morning and evening sessions were held, with approximately forty-five people attending the evening sessions, and thirty participating in the morning sessions.
Father Chris Hayden has a doctorate degree in New Testament studies and holds special interest in biblical spirituality, theology, and the relationship between faith and culture. He was a contributor to Scripture in Church, and with John Dutto, is the author of Lectio Divina (1999). He is also the author of The Diocesan Priesthood: An Explanation and an Invitation (2000), Praying the Scriptures: A Practical Introduction to Lectio Divina (2001), and Come, Let Us Adore: Exploring the Crib at Christmas (2010).
He was Spiritual Director of the Irish College in Rome, and was a former student, later a colleague, of Father Oliver Doyle’s, at St. Peter’s Seminary in Wexford, Ireland, when Father Doyle was Director of Spiritual Formation and President of St. Peter’s Seminary. Father Oliver Doyle is Pastor of St. Ann’s Cathedral, and he invited Father Chris Hayden to present this seminar. Father Chris has been a priest at Miles City for a short time, and also led a retreat at St. Ann’s Cathedral.
“Praying the Scriptures” was an information-packed, engaging three-day seminar. The first day focused on prayer, the second day on scripture, and the third day on praying scripture, specifically Lectio Divina.
According to Father Chris Hayden, prayer involves a relationship with God, in which God’s love always prompts us before our response, and in which listening is just as important as speaking. Prayer is an instinct that arises from deep within us.
Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Father Chris stated that prayer is built on three “pillars” – humility, heart, and listening. Prayer to God involves humility in acknowledging that we are looking beyond ourselves for hope and thanksgiving; we are not God. This fact is encapsulated in scripture in the words of John the Baptist: “I am not the Messiah.”
The “heart” in prayer refers to our intentions and interior motives when we pray. Our intention to pray sincerely is more important than having a completely attentive prayer with no distractions. If we take time to pray, it will affect our actions and we will seek to live a life that is God-centered.
Listening in prayer requires silence. We need to create silence. In explaining the need for prayer, Father Chris Hayden cited passages from C.S. Lewis which stated reasons to persevere in prayer. When we pray, we are recognizing our neediness, as well as acknowledging solidarity with those who need our prayers. We are reminded of our limited ability to help, yet are obligated to help as much as we can. In addition, prayer is seeking God’s will for ourselves
Page 2: Father Christopher Hayden Presents Seminar “Praying the Scriptures”
and others, and opening ourselves to grow in God’s plan. Prayer is rooted in scripture, and God’s overall plan is found in scripture.
According to Father Chris, knowledge of scripture and the Bible can help to transform our lives, and our understanding of scripture is deepened by living the Word. By many pertinent examples he demonstrated that the Bible can be viewed as a “four act drama” consisting of “Creation, the Fall, Redemption, and Fulfillment.” Occurrences in the Old Testament paralleled those in the New Testament to show the interplay between fall (the effects of sin) and God’s intervention and redemption. The overarching theme of the Bible is God’s love. Father Chris showed time and again how the Bible is “bookended” by Creation: the “Tree of Life” in Genesis (the beginning) and the “New Order” in Revelation (the end), and how Jesus is the fulfillment, the Alpha and the Omega.
Praying the scriptures, specifically Lectio Divina, (“Divine Reading”), can be described as reading God’s word in a moment of prayer. Lectio Divina can consist of reading a passage of scripture, meditating on it, praying about it, and contemplating it (sitting in God’s presence, being silent before the Lord). In reading scripture we need to ponder what the writer meant, to consider the context in which it was written, and the major characters. We can place ourselves in the situation in the text and ask the meaning of the passages for ourselves, and what values are important for us. We can memorize some consoling passages of scripture, as well as some challenging ones, so that they will come to mind when needed.
Through many parallels and examples, Father Chris showed how we are “rooted in the Word of God” (Mark 14:12-16, 22-26). He explained the Sunday readings of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), and demonstrated how the words of consecration mirrored the Exodus. When God brought the Chosen People out of Egypt, he liberated them; Jesus is our liberator. When participating in the Mass, we can ask ourselves, “From what have we been liberated by Jesus, and from what do we still need liberation?” We can rejoice in God’s works and thank Him for our blessings; we can repent of our failures; and we can resolve to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice (in accordance with the words of St. Paul). Then, we can contemplate (sit in God’s presence).
Everyone who attended Father Chris Hayden’s seminar enthusiastically appreciated his efforts and words, and was happy that Father Oliver Doyle had invited him to come to Great Falls. We look forward to having him return for more enlightenment. 
Photos courtesy of Brian Waranauskas
Please help us continue
