Centering Prayer and Enneagram are pagan

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No news there, pal. Orthodox Catholics have been condemning this and fighting against this for decades. The fact that it still occurs in Catholic retreat houses only means we’ve still got some work to do until the silly 60’s liberals die out or are sent packing.

Thanks for the reminder, though.
 
Again?
Christian meditation has always been about entering more deeply into union with the Lord Jesus Christ and with Him, God the Father and the Holy Ghost. It consists of turning our thoughts, our hearts, our desires and our love to the Living God.
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Exactly what Centering Prayer is.
In stark contrast, “Centering Prayer” focuses on emptying the mind of all thought through the repetition of a mantra (though proponents of centering prayer don’t use the term “mantra” and would object to me using it). Centering Prayer by emptying one’s mind seeks to achieve an ALC - Altered Level of Consciousness.)
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Author proves she knows nothing about Centering Prayer.

Jim
 
There are ‘two’ (actually probably more) types of Centering prayer.

One is firmly rooted in Catholic tradition and was practiced by many noted Catholic saints.

But it is also for the very spiritually advanced, I am told. I’m sure not ready myself though I’ve read a lot.

Unfortunately, there are some more ‘new age’ centering type prayers which might seem at first glance to be in that tradition, but really aren’t, and are, in fact, pagan or pantheistic. And dangerous.

Any given individual on this forum (or elsewhere) might be a wonderfully spiritually advanced Catholic for whom the centering prayer in the Catholic tradition is helpful and wholesome. And they will usually respond with Catholic writers of the prayers, and will be calm and gentle, not defensive, agreeable, and even careful to warn that centering prayer isn’t for everyone.

But any given individual on this forum (or elsewhere) might be a Catholic who with great spiritual enthusiasm and devotion has been given or shown a centering prayer not in the Catholic tradition, which they find so ‘meaningful’ and feel themselves to be part of something so “special” that even the thought that somebody condemns ‘centering prayer’ becomes to them a personal attack. Since it’s highly unlikely an advanced Catholic using Catholic prayer would become upset, irritated or downright enraged by their ‘perception’ of being ‘attacked’, usually (but not always) the people who are the most vociferous about the wonders and joys and goodness of centering prayer are those most in danger of being tricked into this ‘nonCatholic’ centering prayer.

So be careful. If there is anything that leads you away from Christ in your thoughts, words, or actions, so that “it” becomes more important than “He” is, even if it seems like it is “from” Christ–like a type of prayer–beware.
 
Tantum_ergo said:
There are ‘two’ (actually probably more) types of Centering prayer.

One is firmly rooted in Catholic tradition and was practiced by many noted Catholic saints.

But it is also for the very spiritually advanced, I am told. I’m sure not ready myself though I’ve read a lot.

Unfortunately, there are some more ‘new age’ centering type prayers which might seem at first glance to be in that tradition, but really aren’t, and are, in fact, pagan or pantheistic. And dangerous.

Any given individual on this forum (or elsewhere) might be a wonderfully spiritually advanced Catholic for whom the centering prayer in the Catholic tradition is helpful and wholesome. And they will usually respond with Catholic writers of the prayers, and will be calm and gentle, not defensive, agreeable, and even careful to warn that centering prayer isn’t for everyone.

But any given individual on this forum (or elsewhere) might be a Catholic who with great spiritual enthusiasm and devotion has been given or shown a centering prayer not in the Catholic tradition, which they find so ‘meaningful’ and feel themselves to be part of something so “special” that even the thought that somebody condemns ‘centering prayer’ becomes to them a personal attack. Since it’s highly unlikely an advanced Catholic using Catholic prayer would become upset, irritated or downright enraged by their ‘perception’ of being ‘attacked’, usually (but not always) the people who are the most vociferous about the wonders and joys and goodness of centering prayer are those most in danger of being tricked into this ‘nonCatholic’ centering prayer.

So be careful. If there is anything that leads you away from Christ in your thoughts, words, or actions, so that “it” becomes more important than “He” is, even if it seems like it is “from” Christ–like a type of prayer–beware.
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Heed the words of wisdom from Tantum Ergo.

There are those who will say that contemplative prayer and centering prayer are one and the same, which is misleading. There’s only one way someone is given contemplative prayer: As a gift from God to those who are well disposed to receive it.

Being well disposed to receive contemplation comes from living a holy life: frequent Sacraments, chastity, humility, meekness, charity, constant prayer, etc. One cannot become disposed through breathing techniques, emptying the mind, or the repitition of a word. IMO, I’d stick with Lectio Divina and the Rosary. 👍
 
DesertBrother said:
Heed the words of wisdom from Tantum Ergo.

There are those who will say that contemplative prayer and centering prayer are one and the same, which is misleading. There’s only one way someone is given contemplative prayer: As a gift from God to those who are well disposed to receive it.

Being well disposed to receive contemplation comes from living a holy life: frequent Sacraments, chastity, humility, meekness, charity, constant prayer, etc. One cannot become disposed through breathing techniques, emptying the mind, or the repitition of a word. IMO, I’d stick with Lectio Divina and the Rosary. 👍
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🙂 👍
 
DesertBrother said:
Being well disposed to receive contemplation comes from living a holy life: frequent Sacraments, chastity, humility, meekness, charity, constant prayer, etc. One cannot become disposed through breathing techniques, emptying the mind, or the repitition of a word. IMO, I’d stick with Lectio Divina and the Rosary. 👍
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Being well disposed to contemplation comes from making ourselves open to God in love. Nothing we do, will bring us to union with Him, only what he does in us. Holiness comes from his transforming grace.

Centering prayer is not a technique of emptying the mind, breathing or anything that has been stated. Centering prayer is nothing more than placing ourselves in His presence, and opening our hearts to him. The sacred prayer word, which some refer to as a mantra, isn’t much different than repeating the Hail Mary, when we say the Rosary. It is to help us keep our focus on our intention. So it is with the sacred prayer word. When I repeat the word, “Lord Jesus,” it is not to empty my mind or transcend to some sub-conscience place of external bliss. It’s to keep my focus on my intention, which is to be in the presence of God, when I become aware that my mind has wandered away from prayer.

Misuse of Centering Prayer, by those outside of the Church, doesn’t make it wrong. However, teaching incorrectly about it, is, whether it’s the New Agers themselves, or some misinformed Catholics.

BTW, Lectio Divina is where Centering Prayer comes from.

Peace
Jim
 
An easy guide to centering prayer is this: if the person writing the book about centering prayer is also a massage therapist, run. Especially if she’s a nun.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Being well disposed to contemplation comes from making ourselves open to God in love. Nothing we do, will bring us to union with Him, only what he does in us. Holiness comes from his transforming grace.

Centering prayer is not a technique of emptying the mind, breathing or anything that has been stated. Centering prayer is nothing more than placing ourselves in His presence, and opening our hearts to him. The sacred prayer word, which some refer to as a mantra, isn’t much different than repeating the Hail Mary, when we say the Rosary. It is to help us keep our focus on our intention. So it is with the sacred prayer word. When I repeat the word, “Lord Jesus,” it is not to empty my mind or transcend to some sub-conscience place of external bliss. It’s to keep my focus on my intention, which is to be in the presence of God, when I become aware that my mind has wandered away from prayer.

Misuse of Centering Prayer, by those outside of the Church, doesn’t make it wrong. However, teaching incorrectly about it, is, whether it’s the New Agers themselves, or some misinformed Catholics.

BTW, Lectio Divina is where Centering Prayer comes from.

Peace
Jim
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Hello,
You seem to have a more authentic and orthodox understanding of centering prayer. I should have made it more clear that I was speaking about what is commonly and incorrectly taught to be centering prayer.

What you are saying sounds similar to the “prayer of the heart” or Jesus Prayer of the Christian East. I have absolutely no problem with this form of centering prayer.

Perhaps the name “centering prayer” should be changed. It’s been hijacked by people who are actually teaching self-hypnosis, whether they know it or not, and it’s hard for Catholics to discern the difference.
 
DesertBrother said:
Hello,
You seem to have a more authentic and orthodox understanding of centering prayer. I should have made it more clear that I was speaking about what is commonly and incorrectly taught to be centering prayer.

What you are saying sounds similar to the “prayer of the heart” or Jesus Prayer of the Christian East. I have absolutely no problem with this form of centering prayer.

Perhaps the name “centering prayer” should be changed. It’s been hijacked by people who are actually teaching self-hypnosis, whether they know it or not, and it’s hard for Catholics to discern the difference.
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The name, “Centering Prayer” was from Father Thomas Keating and Basil Pennington, both Trappist Monks at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Mass. who brought the method to us. The method itself isn’t new to the Church, but at the time it was new to secular people. I go St. Joseph’s Abbey often for vespers and Benediction and I will go on my annual retreat in March. I can’t wait for March!

Anyway, in their lectures on Centering Prayer, people from other spiritual movements, including New Age Groups, adopted the practice and spun it for their own means. It’s not Father Keating’s fault, but New Agers also took the Mass and spun it into their own thing. We won’t do away with the Mass on that account. As Father Keating says, if they’re getting something good from it, fine, it may even lead them to Christ. In fact according to many who left the New Age movement and returned to the Church, it has.

If they had called Centering Prayer what it really is, mental prayer as St. Teresa of Avila called it, or quiet prayer, the same result would’ve come about except, we would probably have to defend St. Teresa of Avila, as New Agers use the same title for their version of their own ends. Ridged minded Catholics would’ve protested the Church’s making St Teresa a Doctor Church and condemned her writings.

Just because New Age groups take things out of Catholicism and twist it into their own versions, doesn’t mean we should abandon them.

Keep in mind that the New Age movement not only took things from Catholicism and polluted it, they took things from other religions as well and twisted them, including Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism. People in those traditions have protested the New Age false teachings of these traditions as well. I work with a Indian Hindu, who has expressed his frustration over the twisting of his religious tradition into something it’s not.

Jim
 
Great thread! - Keating, Pennington & also Dubay use “centering prayer” whereby the person “centres” themselves by meditating upon Christocentric thought, this is essentially what the Rosary and Lectio Divina help us to do also.

The New Age or Eastern forms of centering prayer teach them to empty their minds or focus on something which is not Christocentric - that is why people should stay away from these forms of meditation - they lead to love of self, other gods (“nature”), or even worse - Satan himself.

I would recommend those considering starting to practice centering prayer in the Catholic tadition should read Fr. Dubay’s “Prayer Primer” & “Fire Within” before commencing, I have and these books have changed my prayer life forever.
 
Father Mitch Pacwa has an excellent book called Catholics and The New Age. It has a big section on Enneagram and the dangers.
 
I am in the middle of Father Pacwa’s book Catholics and The New Age it is a very good book. I was wondering what anybody thought on labarynths (I dont know if I spelled that correctly).

My parish offers this once in a while for prayer purposes, I guess. But to me it just doesn’t sound right … I have read many articles also on how many nuns are involved with many new age practices.

This really bothers me because if you are a unsuspecting Catholic you will be lead right into this.:eek: That is very scary.
 
DesertBrother said:
Heed the words of wisdom from Tantum Ergo.

There are those who will say that contemplative prayer and centering prayer are one and the same, which is misleading. There’s only one way someone is given contemplative prayer: As a gift from God to those who are well disposed to receive it.

Being well disposed to receive contemplation comes from living a holy life: frequent Sacraments, chastity, humility, meekness, charity, constant prayer, etc. One cannot become disposed through breathing techniques, emptying the mind, or the repitition of a word. IMO, I’d stick with Lectio Divina and the Rosary. 👍
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Actually one cannot be so disposed through your prayer routine either…read Matthew. As for your sticking whith whatever you like, thatsfine for you, but others may not agree.
 
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