John Main has become regarded as a modern spiritual master, whose teaching on contemplative prayer inaugurated a global community and movement. John Main studied Law at Trinity College Dublin (1950-54). After a short career as a diplomat in Malaya, where he discovered meditation as part of the universal wisdom, he taught Law at Trinity from 1956–58. After becoming a Benedictine monk he discovered meditation in his own tradition and dedicated the rest of his life to restoring it to the heart of the Church. Set in the university context that helped form him this conference will seek to explore all aspects of his life and spiritual thinking. John Main’s teaching and practice is rooted in the Christian mystical theology tradition which continues to have great relevance today. The conference will address that tradition and the significance of his insights on contemplation and prayer for today.