Our second WPRPS conference was held in Melbourne from 6-8 July 2005 in conjunction with the 4th triennial Prayer and Spirituality in the Early Church conference hosted by Australian Catholic University. A good number of Japanese scholars were able to attend and their presence highlighted the existence of the society for many of the Australians present at the conference. A meeting of the society members was held and future plans discussed.

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The conference opened with an address from Robert Charles Hill, "The Art of Prayer (Chrysostom on Psalm 4". The four keynote speakers were Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Brown University, whose paper was entitled "Praying Bodies, Bodies at Prayer: Ritual Relations in Early Syriac Prayer"; Philip Rousseau, Catholic University of America, whose paper was entitled "Ancient Ascetics and Modern Virtue: The Case of Anger"; Philip Esler, St Andrew's University, whose paper was entitled "Understanding the Death of Jesus in its Ancient Context: Perpetrator and Victim Perspectives," and Alan Fitzgerald, OSA, from Villanova University, whose paper was entitled "Augustine on Eucharist: 'Your only Son...my ransom price, which I eat, drink and dispense to others' (Conf. X.43.70)".

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In addition 46 shorter papers were presented in 16 sessions. There was a sacred concert, a state reception, and a conference dinner at Latana. Thanks to Lawrence Cross who convened the conference.