John Main
Encyclopedia
John Main OSB was a Roman Catholic Benedictine
monk and priest who presented a way of Christian meditation
which utilized a prayer-phrase or mantra
. In 1975 Main began Christian meditation groups which met at Ealing Abbey
, his monastery in West London, England and, later, in Montreal, Canada. These were the origins of the ecumenical network of Christian meditation groups which have become the World Community for Christian Meditation
(WCCM).
as Douglas Main. He was the fourth of six children of David and Eileen Main. His siblings were Kathleen (Kitty), David John (Ian), Yvonne, Diane and Patrick Alan. In the late 1940s he joined the Canons Regular of the Lateran
and studied at the diocesan seminary of St Edmund's College, Ware in England before being chosen to pursue theology studies at the Pontifical Athenaeum Angelicum in Rome
. He then began to doubt his vocation to the priesthood and decided to leave his order to go to Dublin (where his family then lived). In Dublin, he studied law at Trinity College
. He graduated in 1954 and joined the British Colonial Service.
Main was assigned to Kuala Lumpur
in Malaysia, where he met Swami
Satyananda, who taught him meditation using a mantra
as the means to arrive at meditative stillness. The swami taught Main to meditate by giving him a Christian mantra.
In 1956 Main returned to Dublin and taught law at Trinity College. In 1959 he decided to join the Benedictines
at Ealing Abbey in London. He took the name of John, in honour of St John the Apostle
. He was ordained a priest in 1963. Following his ordination he taught at St Benedict's School
, Ealing, which is governed by the monastic community of Ealing Abbey.
In 1970 Main was appointed the headmaster of St. Anselm's Abbey School
in Washington, D.C.
. It was here that he began to study seriously the writings of the desert father
John Cassian for the first time. Main saw parallels between the spiritual practice taught by Cassian and the meditative practice he had been taught by the swami in Kuala Lumpur.
In 1974 Main left Saint Anselm's Abbey
in Washington and returned to Ealing Abbey in London, where he began Christian meditation groups at an old house on the monastery grounds. He was assisted in this work by Laurence Freeman
, also a monk of Ealing Abbey. In 1977 Main and Freeman were sent to establish a new Benedictine monastery in Montreal
. Here too, they taught Christian meditation groups.
Main died of cancer in 1982. Freeman continued Main's work, travelling widely to establish Christian meditation groups across the world. In 1991 these Christian meditation groups were networked together into the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM). Each year the WCCM hosts the John Main Seminar, which has been led by Mary McAleese
, Huston Smith
, the Dalai Lama
, Charles Taylor
, Father William Johnston, Father Richard Rohr
, O.F.M.
, Sister Joan Chittister
OSB, Anglican archbishop
Rowan Williams
, Greek Orthodox bishop Kallistos Ware, Abbot
Thomas Keating
, Dom Bede Griffiths
OSB Cam
and others.
Both Main and Freeman recommended using the prayer-phrase Maranatha
, which is Aramaic
for "Come, Lord", as in I Corinthians
16:22 and Revelation
22:20.
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
monk and priest who presented a way of Christian meditation
Christian meditation
Christian meditation is a form of prayer in which a structured attempt is made to get in touch with and deliberately reflect upon the revelations of God. The word meditation comes from the Latin word meditārī, which has a range of meanings including to reflect on, to study and to practice...
which utilized a prayer-phrase or mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
. In 1975 Main began Christian meditation groups which met at Ealing Abbey
Ealing Abbey
Ealing Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastic foundation in West London, England, and part of the English Benedictine Congregation.-History:...
, his monastery in West London, England and, later, in Montreal, Canada. These were the origins of the ecumenical network of Christian meditation groups which have become the World Community for Christian Meditation
World Community for Christian Meditation
The World Community for Christian Meditation was founded in 1991 to foster the teachings of Benedictine monk and priest, Fr. John Main, O.S.B. Fr. Main taught a way of Christian meditation which he based on parallels he saw between the spiritual practice taught by Desert Father John Cassian and...
(WCCM).
Life
John Main was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as Douglas Main. He was the fourth of six children of David and Eileen Main. His siblings were Kathleen (Kitty), David John (Ian), Yvonne, Diane and Patrick Alan. In the late 1940s he joined the Canons Regular of the Lateran
Canons Regular of the Lateran
The Canons Regular of the Lateran , formally titled Canons Regular of St. Augustine of the Congregation of the Most Holy Savior at the Lateran is an international religious order of priests and Brothers in the Catholic Church....
and studied at the diocesan seminary of St Edmund's College, Ware in England before being chosen to pursue theology studies at the Pontifical Athenaeum Angelicum in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He then began to doubt his vocation to the priesthood and decided to leave his order to go to Dublin (where his family then lived). In Dublin, he studied law at Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. He graduated in 1954 and joined the British Colonial Service.
Main was assigned to Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
in Malaysia, where he met Swami
Swami
A swami sometimes abbreviated "Sw." is an ascetic or yogi who has been initiated into the religious monastic order founded by Adi Sankara, or to a religious teacher.The Oxford English Dictionary gives the etymology as...
Satyananda, who taught him meditation using a mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
as the means to arrive at meditative stillness. The swami taught Main to meditate by giving him a Christian mantra.
In 1956 Main returned to Dublin and taught law at Trinity College. In 1959 he decided to join the Benedictines
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
at Ealing Abbey in London. He took the name of John, in honour of St John the Apostle
John the Apostle
John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...
. He was ordained a priest in 1963. Following his ordination he taught at St Benedict's School
St Benedict's School
St Benedict's School is a co-educational independent Roman Catholic school situated in Ealing, West London. The school is part of Ealing Abbey and is governed by the Abbot and monks of Ealing. As the only day school of the English Houses of the English Benedictine Congregation, the school does not...
, Ealing, which is governed by the monastic community of Ealing Abbey.
In 1970 Main was appointed the headmaster of St. Anselm's Abbey School
St. Anselm's Abbey School
St. Anselm's Abbey School is an all boys's preparatory school for grades six through twelve in Washington D.C.. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. It was here that he began to study seriously the writings of the desert father
Desert Fathers
The Desert Fathers were hermits, ascetics, monks, and nuns who lived mainly in the Scetes desert of Egypt beginning around the third century AD. The most well known was Anthony the Great, who moved to the desert in 270–271 and became known as both the father and founder of desert monasticism...
John Cassian for the first time. Main saw parallels between the spiritual practice taught by Cassian and the meditative practice he had been taught by the swami in Kuala Lumpur.
In 1974 Main left Saint Anselm's Abbey
Saint Anselm's Abbey
St. Anselm's Abbey is a Benedictine Abbey located at 4501 South Dakota Avenue, N.E., in Washington, D.C.. It operates the prestigious boys' middle and high school St. Anselm's Abbey School.- History :...
in Washington and returned to Ealing Abbey in London, where he began Christian meditation groups at an old house on the monastery grounds. He was assisted in this work by Laurence Freeman
Laurence Freeman
Laurence Freeman OSB is a Benedictine monk and Catholic priest of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto. He is the Director of the World Community for Christian Meditation, a global network of Christian meditation groups that practice the way of Christian meditation, and of its Benedictine...
, also a monk of Ealing Abbey. In 1977 Main and Freeman were sent to establish a new Benedictine monastery in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. Here too, they taught Christian meditation groups.
Main died of cancer in 1982. Freeman continued Main's work, travelling widely to establish Christian meditation groups across the world. In 1991 these Christian meditation groups were networked together into the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM). Each year the WCCM hosts the John Main Seminar, which has been led by Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
, Huston Smith
Huston Smith
Huston Cummings Smith is a religious studies scholar in the United States. His book The World's Religions remains a popular introduction to comparative religion.-Education:...
, the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
, Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor (philosopher)
Charles Margrave Taylor, is a Canadian philosopher from Montreal, Quebec best known for his contributions in political philosophy, the philosophy of social science, and in the history of philosophy. His contributions to these fields have earned him both the prestigious Kyoto Prize and the...
, Father William Johnston, Father Richard Rohr
Richard Rohr
Richard Rohr, O.F.M. is a Franciscan friar ordained to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church in 1970. He is an internationally known inspirational speaker and has published numerous recorded talks and books....
, O.F.M.
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
, Sister Joan Chittister
Joan Chittister
Sister Joan D. Chittister, O.S.B., is a Benedictine nun, author and speaker.She is a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania, where she served as prioress for 12 years. Sister Chittister writes a web column for the National Catholic Reporter, "From Where I Stand"...
OSB, Anglican archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
, Greek Orthodox bishop Kallistos Ware, Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
Thomas Keating
Thomas Keating
For the famous art forger of the same name, see Tom Keating.For the American football player of the same name, see Tom Keating .Fr...
, Dom Bede Griffiths
Bede Griffiths
Bede Griffiths OSB Cam , born Alan Richard Griffiths and also known, by the end of his life, as Swami Dayananda , was a British-born Indian Benedictine monk who lived in ashrams in South India and became a noted yogi...
OSB Cam
Camaldolese
The Camaldolese monks and nuns are part of the Benedictine family of monastic communities which follow the way of life outlined in the Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century...
and others.
Teaching
Main's teaching was simple: sit still and upright for a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 30 minutes, close your eyes and silently recite the prayer-phrase (mantra). The prayer-phrase is a sacred word or phrase which is repeated continually.Both Main and Freeman recommended using the prayer-phrase Maranatha
Maranatha
Maranatha is an Aramaic word occurring twice in the New Testament and also in the Didache which is part of the Apostolic Fathers' collection. It is transliterated into Greek letters rather than translated, and is found at the end of Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians...
, which is Aramaic
Aramaic language
Aramaic is a group of languages belonging to the Afroasiatic language phylum. The name of the language is based on the name of Aram, an ancient region in central Syria. Within this family, Aramaic belongs to the Semitic family, and more specifically, is a part of the Northwest Semitic subfamily,...
for "Come, Lord", as in I Corinthians
First Epistle to the Corinthians
The first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians, often referred to as First Corinthians , is the seventh book of the New Testament of the Bible...
16:22 and Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
22:20.