centering prayer - diocese of rochester · 2016-04-18 · the prayer pack during the 1980’s a...

The Prayer Pack

Duringthe1980’sagroupofTrappistmonks,amongthemThomasKeating,setouttorecoverthecontemplativedimensionoftheGospel.DrawingonthewritingsoftheDesertFathers,theChristianmystics,and-inparticular–theanonymous14thcenturyEnglishclassiconprayer,TheCloudofUnknowing,theydistilledamethodof silent prayer suitable for the present day. It has become known as CenteringPrayer. It can be used by itself, or alternativelymany use it in associationwithotherformsofprayersuchalectiodivina.

CenteringPrayer -unliketheconcentrativemethod(basedontherepetitionofamantra)developedbyJohnMain–isareceptivemethodinwhichweconsent, inever-renewed interior silence, to the presence and transformative action of theHolySpiritwithinus.

Resourcesandcontacts

Keating,Thomas(1987)OpenMind,OpenHeart.

ContemplativeOutreachistheworld-wideassociationestablishedbyThomasKeatingtoteachandfosterthepracticeofCenteringPrayer:ContemplativeOutreachInternationalOfficeContemplativeOutreachLtdButlerNJ,USA+1973-838-3384office@coutreach.orgwww.contemplativeoutreach.orgContemplativeOutreachEastandSoutheastEnglandinfo@centeringprayer.org.ukwww.centeringprayer.org.uk

Frontcoverimage:www.Pixabay.com

CenteringPrayer

SilenceisGod’sfirstlanguage…

ThiswayofprayingcancentreusandgroundusinGodaswemoveintootherprayersorprayerpractices.

ChooseasacredwordasthesymbolofyourintentiontoconsenttoGod'spresenceandactionwithin.

ThesacredwordexpressesourintentiontoconsenttoGod'spresenceandactionwithin.

ThesacredwordischosenduringabriefperiodofprayertotheHolySpirit.Use a word of one or two syllables, such as God, Jesus, Abba, Father,Mother,Mary,Amen.OtherpossibilitiesincludeLove,Listen,Peace,Mercy,letGo,Silence,Stillness,Faith,Trust.

The sacred word is not sacred because of its inherent meaning, butbecauseof themeaningwegive itas theexpressionofour intentionandconsent.

Havingchosenasacredwordwedonotchangeitduringthetimeofprayerasthatwouldbetostartreflecting.

Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silentlyintroduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God'spresenceandactionwithin.

‘Sittingcomfortably’means relatively comfortable soasnot toencouragesleepduringtheprayertime.Whateversittingpositionwechoose,wekeepthebackstraight.

Wecloseoureyesasasymboloflettinggoofwhatisgoingonaroundandwithinus.

We introducethesacredword inwardlyasgentlyas layinga featheronapieceofcottonwool.

When you become aware that you are engaged with your thoughts,returneversogentlytothesacredword.

‘Thoughts’ is an umbrella term for every perception, including bodilysensations, sense perceptions, feelings, images, memories, plans,reflections,concepts,commentariesandspiritualexperiences.

Thoughtsareaninevitable,integralandnormalpartofCenteringPrayer.

By ‘returning ever so gently to the sacred word’ a minimum of effort isindicated.This is theonlyactivitywe initiateduringthetimeofCenteringPrayer.

During the courseof CenteringPrayer the sacredwordmaydisappear orbecomevague.Thisisitselfalsopartofthepracticeoflettinggoofallourthoughts.

Attheendoftheprayerperiod,remaininsilencewitheyesclosedforacoupleofminutes.

Theadditional2minutesenablesustobringtheatmosphereofsilenceintoeverydaylife.