Centering Prayer

Centering Prayer is rooted in the wisdom saying of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount:

“ …But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret, And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you …” (St. Matthew 6:6)

It is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, that is prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than choosing, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. It consists of responding to the Spirit of Christ by consenting to God’s presence and action within.

Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of verbal prayer into a more receptive prayer of resting in God. This method of prayer is a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him. It is the opening of heart and mind – our whole being – to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond words, thoughts and emotions.

As such Centering Prayer stands in the mainstream of the Christian Spiritual Tradition. The conceptual background to the practice, as taught by Fr. Thomas Keating, draws on the work of major contributors to the Christian contemplative heritage including: John Cassian; the anonymous author of “The Cloud of Unknowing”; Francis de Sales; Teresa of Avila; John of the Cross; Thérèse of Lisieux and Thomas Merton.

THE METHOD OF CENTERING PRAYER

“When the day comes you will know that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.” (John 14:20).

The Guidelines

1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.

2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.

3. When engaged with your thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.

4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.

To find out more about the details of the prayer method download the leaflet.

HOW TO GET STARTED

If you feel drawn to the contemplative dimension of Christian teaching and practice and want to make a start with silent prayer download and study this Method of Centering Prayer leaflet (just click on the name).  Find a space of solitude and silence where you won’t be interrupted for 20 minutes and follow the Method Guidelines. These become clearer with practice.

You might also like to watch this short YouTube video called “What is Centering Prayer and how do we do it?”

Be alert to how your experience develops. If you feel called into a Centering Prayer practice read Thomas Keating’s “Open Mind, Open Heart” which will clarify your understanding and carry you deeper.

CENTERING PRAYER ONLINE INTRODUCTORY SERIES    

Our occasional two- or four- session Introduction to Centering Prayer includes both teaching and practice in a method that fosters contemplative prayer. Grounded in sixteen centuries of Christian tradition, this prayer, as taught by Thomas Keating and Basil Pennington, helps us bring our whole being to God: beyond words, beyond thoughts, beyond images. The sessions include the practice of Centering Prayer, the teachings of Thomas Keating plus the Wisdom and insights of Cynthia Bourgeault and other Mystics ancient and modern in this lineage. There is also time for discussion and questions.

Please check https://www.cpny.org.uk/forthcoming-events/ for any forthcoming dates for the Centering Prayer Introductory series.

Centering Prayer Introductory Days and Events:  To find out more about these please visit https://www.cpny.org.uk/forthcoming-events/

Centering Prayer Circles: It helps to join a prayer circle to nurture you in your practice; to find one in the North-East or Yorkshire regions, please contact: Rev’d Mel King: york@contemplativeoutreach.org.uk