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"Centering prayer is an exercise in letting go.
That is all it is."
— Thomas Keating
About Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer or meditation
which prepares us to receive the gift of God's presence. It
consists of responding to the Spirit of Christ by consenting to
God's presence and action within. Quieting our mental faculties,
even for a short period of time, allows us to realize the gift of
God's presence.
Founded on the ancient prayer practices of our Christian
contemplative heritage and emphasizing a personal relationship
with God, Centering Prayer fosters this relationship through the
regular, daily practice of silent prayer. The principal effects of Centering Prayer are experienced in
daily life, not during a Centering Prayer session. Daily 20-minute sessions, one in the morning and one in the late
afternoon or early evening, are recommended.
Consisting of
novice, intermediate and experienced practitioners, the Holy Family Centering Prayer group's weekly
sessions provide an excellent ongoing opportunity for
developing and deepening one's contemplative practice. We welcome practitioners of any
form of silent, sitting meditation. Please join us.
Meetings
Every Tuesday
-
Centering Prayer, 7:00 p.m.-7:20 p.m. in the Eremos Chapel of the Pastoral Center
- In support of Disciples in Mission, the usual Centering Prayer faith sharing/discussion, 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in the Galilee Room of the Pastoral Center will not meet during Lent.
Guidelines
for Centering Prayer
- Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent
to God's presence and action within. To choose a sacred word sit quietly and ask the Holy Spirit
to inspire one especially suitable for us.
- Examples: God, Jesus, Abba, Father, Mother, Mary, Amen,
Love, Peace, Mercy, Listen, Let Go, Silence, Stillness,
Faith, Trust, Yes. One or two syllable words seem best.
For some, simply noticing one's breath may serve the same
purpose as a sacred word.
- Do not change your sacred word during the prayer period,
as that would be to start thinking again.
- Sit comfortably with your back straight and eyes closed.
After a few breaths introduce your sacred word as the symbol
of your consent to God's presence and action within.
At Holy Family it is our tradition to have a participant
read aloud a brief prayer and then a bell is intoned
beginning our prayer period. We sit in silence for about
20 minutes.
- During Centering Prayer when thoughts arise, simply and
ever-so-gently resume your sacred word.
- "Thoughts" is an umbrella term for every perception,
including sense perceptions, feelings, images, memories,
plans, reflections, concepts, commentaries, and spiritual
experiences.
- Thoughts are an inevitable, integral
and normal part of Centering Prayer.
- "Ever-so-gently resume your sacred word" indicates that a minimum of effort is used. This is the
only activity we initiate during the time of Centering
Prayer.
-
During the course of Centering Prayer, the sacred word
may become vague or even disappear.
-
At the end of the prayer period, a bell is again intoned and
following the facilitator's cue, we pray aloud together the
Lord's Prayer.
Resources
For more information on Centering Prayer, please read Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open
Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel (New York: Continuum, 2006), especially chapter 5, and William A. Meninger, The Loving
Search for God: Contemplative Prayer and the Cloud of Unknowing (New York: Continuum, 1995). These and other books on
Centering Prayer are available in the Holy Family Bookstore.
If you are new to Centering Prayer, please read Centering
Prayer Guidelines
Christian Meditation Links
Contemplative Outreach
The Process of Lectio
Divina
World Community for Christian
Meditation
Contact
Mark & Marion Melchiorre
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