John Chrysostom’s Rhythms of Prayer

Draw on centuries-old tradition of singing Psalms and Canticles in the Liturgy of the Hours to discover a conceptual framework for bringing your own experiences, ideas, and musical background into creative conversation with liturgy and prayer. Experience Rhythms of Faith—no musical experience required!

Listen in to an engaging conversation between Kimberly Belcher ‘03 MA, ‘09 Ph.D., associate professor of theology, J. J. Wright ‘14 MSM, ‘17 DMA, Grammy® Award winner and Director of the Notre Dame Folk Choir, and Dr. Blake Leyerle, a professor of Early Christianity at the University of Notre Dame, about the social and cultural history of early Christianity. Dr. Leyerle shares her unique approach, focusing not on the renowned figures of the time but on the everyday lives of ordinary people. The conversation covers everything from Dr. Leyerle’s detective-like historical research process, the creative interpretation of scant ancient data, to the importance of emotion in ethical formation as seen through the sermons and personality of John Chrysostom, an influential early church figure. She also touches on the role of music, the intersections of home and liturgical spaces, and the parallels between ancient and modern-day Christian practices. Finally, Dr. Leyerle reflects on the misconceptions about early Christianity and discusses her recent work, ‘Christians at Home’, which explores the integration of religious practices into domestic spaces.