Like a modern-day St. Paul, Benedictine Father Laurence Freeman travels the world teaching Christian meditation to believers and seekers. During his two-day tour in Los Angeles starting on St. Valentine's Day, Father Freeman will talk to seminarians, meet with Buddhists, and teach Lutherans and Catholics how to foster contemplative parishes.

"He's a good, clear teacher. He motivates people," said Dr. Patrick Mitchell, a St. John's Seminary theology professor and twice-daily Christian meditation practitioner.

Mitchell, who gave a St. John's course last semester in contemplative prayer practices, said Father Freeman's talk to the seminarians on prayer Feb. 14 will reinforce their studies on the Christian tradition of contemplation. While other denominations, such as Buddhism, are perhaps better known for meditative prayer practices, Christian contemplative prayer has been around since the early desert fathers.

Father Freeman, director of the London-based International Centre of the World Community for Christian Meditation with practitioners in nearly 100 countries, continues the ministry of the late Benedictine Father John Main, who urged those seeking a deeper prayer life to embark on "the pilgrimage of meditation."

WCCM meditators silently repeat a sacred word called a "mantra" as a way to empty themselves and attain an experience of union with the Lord beyond conscious awareness. Father Main, who died in 1982, favored the mantra "maranatha," a phrase in Aramaic, meaning "Come Lord" (1Cor. 16:22; Rev. 22:20).

Currently, over 1500 WCCM groups of meditators meet weekly in many homes, parishes, offices, hospitals, prisons and colleges. The WCCM website, www.wccm.org, lists international meditation groups and ongoing projects, such as the teaching of meditation to children and the contemporary spirituality of priests.

"Meditation helps to give people a disciplined prayer practice that flows over into everything in the spiritual life," explained Mitchell. "Doing meditation twice a day requires you to reorganize your life around God. It helps you to think more clearly and deepens your spirituality."

"One of the nice things about meditation," added Mitchell, "is it's something we can do with friends from other faith traditions." Father Freeman has conducted peace initiatives such as the historic Way of Peace with the Dalai Lama and is active in inter-religious dialogues, particularly in recent years with Buddhists and Muslims.

He has authored several books and articles, including "Your Daily Practice" and "Jesus: The Teacher Within," and is also the editor of Father Main's works and a member of the board of Medio Media, (www.mediomedia.org), the publishing arm of WCCM.

Southland residents will have two opportunities to hear Father Freeman on his local tour. On Feb. 14, 7-8:30 p.m., he will speak on the transforming of desire through prayer at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1 W. Ave de los Arboles, in Thousand Oaks. On Feb. 15, 7-8:30 p.m., he will talk on how prayer can break the cycle of violence at Immaculate Conception Church, 740 S. Shamrock Ave., in Monrovia.

For information on the Feb. 14 event, e-mail Gary Wessely: gwessely@adelphia.com. For Feb. 15 event info, e-mail Deacon Fred and Maureen Conrey: fredconrey@dslextreme.com.