About
This retreat was recorded live online April 20, 2024, hosted by The Contemplative Society. This purchase includes an MP3 audio download with a total running time of approximately 2.5 hours. In this online retreat, Rev. Matthew Wright invites us to encounter Mary as Theotokos—God-bearer—and to reclaim her presence in our own lives. Through teaching, practice, and reflection, we explore Mary’s many dimensions: prophet of God’s fierce compassion, contemplative elder or “holy crone,” Black Madonna, and Womb of Creation. Drawing on the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins, the mysticism of Thomas Merton, Holy Scripture, and the writings of the saints, Matthew reveals how Mary reflects the God-birthing dimension within each of us. In a time of ecological crisis and cultural upheaval, the Divine Mother’s presence is essential for nurturing our devotional hearts and guiding us toward reverence, stewardship, and renewal for all creation. As this is a LIVE recording you may notice some audio variability and background noise. The Rev. Matthew Wright is an Episcopal priest and gifted retreat leader working to renew the Christian Wisdom tradition within a wider interspiritual context. A longtime student of Cynthia Bourgeault, he serves as a teacher for Wisdom Waypoints and The Contemplative Society. Matthew is also a student of the Mevlevi Sufi tradition under the guidance of Shaikh Kabir and Camille Helminski. He lives in Woodstock, NY, with his wife and two cats, where he serves as priest-in-charge at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church. Heather Ruce, M.A., is a Wisdom spiritual director who companions individuals and facilitates practice circles, retreats, and Wisdom Schools focused on the Christian Wisdom tradition. She offers guidance in Centering Prayer, Christian meditation, sacred chant, lectio divina, conscious work, and embodiment practices—all in service of waking up and putting on the mind of Christ. Learn more at heatherruce.com