A Contemplative Foundation

A 10-week course to introduce the groundwork for deep spiritual formation.

 

Journey through A Contemplative Foundation with your church small group, with some spiritual friends, or to prepare you to begin postulancy with the Order of the Common Life.

In-person and online groups led by members of the Order launch each spring. You can check back around February 2027, or begin sooner with some people around you.

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What to expect

 

Each week features a video or two, a simple practice to “try on” through the week, and some points of reflection before meeting with your group.

Most groups will meet for 60-90 minutes. They’ll begin by engaging a short practice of prayer together, share their experiences of the practice, watch the next video together and pray for one another.

Each practice is meant to build progressively toward additional tools to help support contemplative life (one that remains attentive to the love of God).

  • Week 1: Welcome & Introductions // daily journaling

  • Week 2: Noticing Your Life // daily journaling

  • Week 3: Noticing You // examen prayer

  • Week 4: Noticing You More Deeply // daily journaling

  • Week 5: Growing in Awareness // “SIFT” exercise

  • Week 6: Praying Simply // breath & statio prayer

  • Week 7: Silence & Stillness // silent meditation

  • Week 8: Identifying Movements // consolation & desolation

  • Week 9: Rest // rest & play

  • Week 10: Reflecting on Your Life // spiritual location exercise

 

Preview

 
 

FAQs

 

  • Virtually anyone can join an ACF group—regardless of where you find yourself in your faith or in the world—if you’re willing to make a good-faith commitment to try something for 10 weeks. We just ask that you show up honestly, humbly and respectfully with others.

  • Each ACF group that the Order of the Common Life runs is facilitated by a member of the Order with a history of contemplative formation.

    However, we also offer this curriculum freely to be run out of local churches by individuals who have simply gone through an ACF group themselves.

    You can also lead one yourself. We’ll provide you with a facilitator’s guide available here.

  • No. It’s completely free to join an ACF group, and there are no books or materials required.

  • A spiritual director isn't required during ACF, but at one point in the course, we will invite you to reach out to one and at least explore the possibility of beginning to meet with a spiritual director as you journey forward.

    Anyone who wishes to go on to begin postulancy in the Order will be expected to meet monthly with a spiritual director as a part of our shared way of life.

    Find a spiritual director.

  • Postulancy is an eight-month formational journey through the Order’s shared rule of life, walked out with an online (sometimes in-person) cohort community, accompanied by a spiritual director, and lived out in daily prayer, practice and reflection.

    Discover more about postulancy.

 
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