David Jackson was born in Bradford 1938. After ordination in 1964, he studied at Cambridge and Lancaster universities and undertook seminary teaching. He married in 1973 and began a career in  Religious Education, subsequently becoming inspector for RE. In 1985 he became the first Coordinator of the Bradford Interfaith Education Centre. From 2000-2011 David was the Leeds diocesan Coordinator for Interreligious Relations and a member of the CBCEW Committee for Other Religions. In 2020 he ‘graduated’ as a Laudato ‘Si animator; he also served on the diocesan Synodal Steering Group. He has been increasingly drawn into the practice of contemplative prayer.

David centres his theme of the necessary ongoing renewal of the Church in the practice of contemplative prayer, a phrase which within the Catholic Church is usually reserved for monks and nuns. However, he points out that in the world at large the reality of contemplative or mystical prayer is a universal phenomenon at all times and in all religions, but under different names. This life of interior prayer leads out into true and fruitful action in the world. These two directions, ad intra and ad extra, are held together by the One who is the Union between Father and Son, the Holy Spirit and he shows how the Synodal Way with its practice of ‘conversations in the Spirit’ as initiated by Pope Francis, can, and perhaps must be, the way in which we find that centre round which the coming Church may live and grow to the glory of God and his Son Jesus Christ.Brian Hamill President of the Newman AssociationDavid Jackson has written a timely book with two major features: the significance of synodality in the Catholic Church, and the underpinnings of the mystical tradition both past and present as the means of experiencing the Spirit of God at work – a task for all the baptised – in a process of ongoing contemplation.Fr Paul Lyons, former director of human and psychological developmentRealising the Sacred is the result of years of reflection by an older sage who loves the Church. He roots the synodal approach of Pope Francis in the person of Jesus and his relationship with the Father. David Jackson’s experience of working with women and men of other faiths enables him to see a similar call to a contemplative dimension in the lives of every person of faith. His imaginative, sometimes profound and occasionally provocative outcomes of taking synodality seriously are a real challenge to everyone in the Church. His reimaging of worship, community building and mission are a breath of fresh air, urging us all to become more open to the inclusiveness, compassion and mercy of the Lord.Fr Jim O’Keefe, former rector of Ushaw CollegeDavid Jackson encourages the reader to face up to all the wonderful challenges as we become Church today, by going to the heart of the matter. His theme: the People of God are self-consciously waking up to the notion that they are on a contemplative journey into new territory, the contours of which are only just beginning to emerge.Fr Nicholas Postlethwaite CP

• CONTENTSForeword vPreface viiAcknowledgements xiiiIntroduction 17Chapter 1: Realising the Sacred the Contemplative Way 23Chapter 2: The Contemplative Spirit of Jesus 63Chapter 3: Worship as Emissary of a Contemplative Church 79Chapter 4: Community as Emissary of a Contemplative Church 111Chapter 5: Mission as Emissary of a Contemplative Church 149Chapter 6: Dreaming 165Select Bibliography 181

David Jackson was born in Bradford 1938. After ordination in 1964, he studied at Cambridge and Lancaster universities and undertook seminary teaching. He married in 1973 and began a career in  Religious Education, subsequently becoming inspector for RE. In 1985 he became the first Coordinator of the Bradford Interfaith Education Centre. From 2000-2011 David was the Leeds diocesan Coordinator for Interreligious Relations and a member of the CBCEW Committee for Other Religions. In 2020 he ‘graduated’ as a Laudato ‘Si animator; he also served on the diocesan Synodal Steering Group. He has been increasingly drawn into the practice of contemplative prayer.

David centres his theme of the necessary ongoing renewal of the Church in the practice of contemplative prayer, a phrase which within the Catholic Church is usually reserved for monks and nuns. However, he points out that in the world at large the reality of contemplative or mystical prayer is a universal phenomenon at all times and in all religions, but under different names. This life of interior prayer leads out into true and fruitful action in the world. These two directions, ad intra and ad extra, are held together by the One who is the Union between Father and Son, the Holy Spirit and he shows how the Synodal Way with its practice of ‘conversations in the Spirit’ as initiated by Pope Francis, can, and perhaps must be, the way in which we find that centre round which the coming Church may live and grow to the glory of God and his Son Jesus Christ.Brian Hamill President of the Newman AssociationDavid Jackson has written a timely book with two major features: the significance of synodality in the Catholic Church, and the underpinnings of the mystical tradition both past and present as the means of experiencing the Spirit of God at work – a task for all the baptised – in a process of ongoing contemplation.Fr Paul Lyons, former director of human and psychological developmentRealising the Sacred is the result of years of reflection by an older sage who loves the Church. He roots the synodal approach of Pope Francis in the person of Jesus and his relationship with the Father. David Jackson’s experience of working with women and men of other faiths enables him to see a similar call to a contemplative dimension in the lives of every person of faith. His imaginative, sometimes profound and occasionally provocative outcomes of taking synodality seriously are a real challenge to everyone in the Church. His reimaging of worship, community building and mission are a breath of fresh air, urging us all to become more open to the inclusiveness, compassion and mercy of the Lord.Fr Jim O’Keefe, former rector of Ushaw CollegeDavid Jackson encourages the reader to face up to all the wonderful challenges as we become Church today, by going to the heart of the matter. His theme: the People of God are self-consciously waking up to the notion that they are on a contemplative journey into new territory, the contours of which are only just beginning to emerge.Fr Nicholas Postlethwaite CP

• CONTENTSForeword vPreface viiAcknowledgements xiiiIntroduction 17Chapter 1: Realising the Sacred the Contemplative Way 23Chapter 2: The Contemplative Spirit of Jesus 63Chapter 3: Worship as Emissary of a Contemplative Church 79Chapter 4: Community as Emissary of a Contemplative Church 111Chapter 5: Mission as Emissary of a Contemplative Church 149Chapter 6: Dreaming 165Select Bibliography 181

David Jackson was born in Bradford 1938. After ordination in 1964, he studied at Cambridge and Lancaster universities and undertook seminary teaching. He married in 1973 and began a career in  Religious Education, subsequently becoming inspector for RE. In 1985 he became the first Coordinator of the Bradford Interfaith Education Centre. From 2000-2011 David was the Leeds diocesan Coordinator for Interreligious Relations and a member of the CBCEW Committee for Other Religions. In 2020 he ‘graduated’ as a Laudato ‘Si animator; he also served on the diocesan Synodal Steering Group. He has been increasingly drawn into the practice of contemplative prayer.

David centres his theme of the necessary ongoing renewal of the Church in the practice of contemplative prayer, a phrase which within the Catholic Church is usually reserved for monks and nuns. However, he points out that in the world at large the reality of contemplative or mystical prayer is a universal phenomenon at all times and in all religions, but under different names. This life of interior prayer leads out into true and fruitful action in the world. These two directions, ad intra and ad extra, are held together by the One who is the Union between Father and Son, the Holy Spirit and he shows how the Synodal Way with its practice of ‘conversations in the Spirit’ as initiated by Pope Francis, can, and perhaps must be, the way in which we find that centre round which the coming Church may live and grow to the glory of God and his Son Jesus Christ.Brian Hamill President of the Newman AssociationDavid Jackson has written a timely book with two major features: the significance of synodality in the Catholic Church, and the underpinnings of the mystical tradition both past and present as the means of experiencing the Spirit of God at work – a task for all the baptised – in a process of ongoing contemplation.Fr Paul Lyons, former director of human and psychological developmentRealising the Sacred is the result of years of reflection by an older sage who loves the Church. He roots the synodal approach of Pope Francis in the person of Jesus and his relationship with the Father. David Jackson’s experience of working with women and men of other faiths enables him to see a similar call to a contemplative dimension in the lives of every person of faith. His imaginative, sometimes profound and occasionally provocative outcomes of taking synodality seriously are a real challenge to everyone in the Church. His reimaging of worship, community building and mission are a breath of fresh air, urging us all to become more open to the inclusiveness, compassion and mercy of the Lord.Fr Jim O’Keefe, former rector of Ushaw CollegeDavid Jackson encourages the reader to face up to all the wonderful challenges as we become Church today, by going to the heart of the matter. His theme: the People of God are self-consciously waking up to the notion that they are on a contemplative journey into new territory, the contours of which are only just beginning to emerge.Fr Nicholas Postlethwaite CP

• CONTENTSForeword vPreface viiAcknowledgements xiiiIntroduction 17Chapter 1: Realising the Sacred the Contemplative Way 23Chapter 2: The Contemplative Spirit of Jesus 63Chapter 3: Worship as Emissary of a Contemplative Church 79Chapter 4: Community as Emissary of a Contemplative Church 111Chapter 5: Mission as Emissary of a Contemplative Church 149Chapter 6: Dreaming 165Select Bibliography 181