Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault



Cynthia Bourgeault, hermit, christian, meditation, centering prayer, Benedictine

Hermit priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader, Cynthia Bourgeault divides her time between solitude on Eagle Island, Maine, and a much more extraverted schedule in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she serves as Principal Teacher for the Contemplative Society and an adjunct faculty member at the Vancouver School of Theology.

She is the author of five books: Chanting the Psalms, Mystical Hope, The Wisdom Way of Knowing, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening and Love is Stronger Than Death. She is also responsible for many articles and CDs on the Christian Spiritual Life. She is a past Fellow of the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural research at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, MN, and an oblate of New Camaldoli Monastery in Big Sur, California.

As well as her role with the Contemplative Society, she is also a retreat and conference leader, teacher of prayer, writer on the spiritual life, and Episcopal priest. Cynthia is passionately committed to the recovery of the Christian contemplative path and has worked closely with Fr. Thomas Keating as a teacher of Centering Prayer, Fr. Bruno Barnhart, and other Christian contemplative masters, She is also committed to working with leaders of other religious traditions.

Listen to Cynthia Now


Listen to Cynthia talk on Word and Life in Santa Barbara

(The book Cynthia refers to in her talk is called “Religion in Exile” by Diarmid O’Murchu)


Click audio icon to listen.


Listen to Cynthia BourgeaultIntroduction

Listen to Cynthia BourgeaultMeditation

Listen to Cynthia BourgeaultPresentation 1

Listen to Cynthia BourgeaultPresentation 2



Cynthia's Writings

Click on the scroll to read Cynthia's writings.


"Read Cynthia's Spring 2008 letter here



“Read Cynthia’s Fall 2007 Letter here



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"In Memory of Frere Roger" a letter from Cynthia, August 22, 2005"




“Cynthia’s notes on Christophany by Raimon Panikkar”






A new piece of Cynthia's writing has just been published. An essay "Walking (Hobbling, Flapping) North" is included in a new collection called HEAVEN edited by Roger Ferlo published by Church Publishing Company. The collection contains pieces by Maggie Ross, Alan Jones, Barbara Brown Taylor, and about a dozen major spiritual writers an unusually strong and well worth a read. Cynthia's essay reflects on twelve years of spiritual journeying beyond the grave with her teacher/beloved Raphael, and the implications for our usual notions of death as "rest."



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The Divine Feminine in Hebrew Scripture and Biblical Wisdom Literature - Cynthia's foreword to Rami Shapiro's new book



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Passion Sunday Homily Aspen Chapel, April 2, 2006




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Libretto for The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a new opera by Ray Vincent Adams and Cynthia Bourgeault



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Homily Roots of Mysticism - Talk Given by Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault at Aspen Chapel on March 7, 2004, marking a month-long focus on mysticism



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For more of Cynthia's writing, visit her Regular Column on beliefnet.com



Cynthia's Books

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Click book to see Cynthia's books.