Centering Prayer

Centering Prayer is a relatively recently developed term for the very ancient practice of preparation for contemplation. It brings us into the presence of God, allowing for an atmosphere that maximizes the potential for listening and receiving. Centering prayer is intended to cultivate an attitude of interior quiet.

In our normal daily lives we typically operate on a very superficial level of consciousness, where our thoughts and feelings constantly crowd out any awareness of God's presence. However there is in each of us a divine presence towards which our souls constantly yearn, and which in turn continuously longs for communion with us. Thus the goal of Centering Prayer is to quiet our interior, not so that we become emptied or blank, but so as to become filled with an awareness of the presence of God. Only in the presence of God's reality can we become aware of our true nature, not dictated by the expectations and norms of our culture, friends, and families, but rather defined by God's expectation of being who God intended us to be.

Attention vs. Intention: There is a wide range of practices that fall under the heading of centering prayer. Thomas Keating makes the distinction between two extremes in understanding these practices: attentive vs. intentive prayer.

On the one hand are those prayers that are attentive, meaning that the individual is consciously attending by thought to something in his/her prayer. For example, a person praying with icons is concentrating and directing his/her energies externally as a means of quieting the interior, and creating space for God's presence. On the other extreme is intentive prayer, where the individual is absolutely receptive to the presence of God, and the mind is directed inwardly. In the case of intentive prayer the person is completely consenting to the presence of God. It is not a state of blankness, because the mind is very focused; but rather than the focus being on a mantra, a posture, or an image in intentive prayer the mind is focused on utter surrender to God. This Keating defines as Centering Prayer.

The sacred word/symbol: Keating recommends that when one is engaged in Centering Prayer, one should expect that thoughts will continuously assail one's attempts to achieve interior quiet. This is especially true at first, and can lead to marked frustration, and annoyance. He recommends that the individual choose a word or image that can be repeated silently to help you redirect your mind gently away from the distracting thoughts back towards the intentive prayer. This sacred symbol should not be distracting itself, but rather some word or image that can be brought to mind to refocus you and quiet you, and then be released. The sacred symbol should not be thought of as something to be said repetitively (or continuously visualized), for it then becomes a point of attention, moving you away from the goal of centering prayer.

Lectio Divina: This is the ancient practice of listening to texts of the Bible as a means of cultivating contemplative prayer. This can take many forms, but most typically "lectio" involves repetitive readings of a Scripture passage with the intent of becoming more intimate with God through the Word. As I will apply this term, lectio involves three readings, with a different intention from the listener after each time:

meditatio (meditation): listen to the passage and allow a word or phrase to stick with you. During the following silence allow this word or phrase (not your sacred word) speak to you and your life. (five minutes)

oratio (prayer): after this reading allow a prayer to well up within you from your listening. This may be a prayer of praise, thanksgiving, intercession, or confession. Whatever it may be, this is a prayer offered fully and completely to God. It leaves you. (five minutes)

contemplatio (contemplation): after this final reading you release all of your attention, and cultivate "resting in God." (twenty minutes)

The Four Guidelines to Centering Prayer

1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence within. This is a word that expresses one's desire to rest in God. Therefore it is a word that brings one before God without having a strong emotional content that would become the focus of your attention.
2. Sit comfortably and silently and introduce the sacred word. Slowly introduce the sacred word gently several times, and then let the word go.
3. When thoughts engage our attention ever-so-gently return to the sacred word. Thoughts are inevitable, and so we treat them gently, with a minimum of effort. When the sacred word has brought our attention back to the intent to consent to God's presence we release the sacred word.
4. Pray in this way for 20 minutes, twice a day.

Links to Additional Information National Contemplative Outreach Atlanta Contemplative Outreach St. Mary's Retreat Center in Sewanee (University of the South/Sewanee Theological Seminary)