Centering Prayer

[Joysong]

Welcome, Thomas,

Your message is filled with wisdom and the rightful balance that should be present in the workshops that circulate throughout our dioceses, but which is not always the case. That is what causes so much confusion and harboring ill-will toward proponents of C.P. - needlessly. I am one who formed wrong conceptions based on what I read in the links of those who are strongly opposed to C.P. Based on this, I joined the bandwagon, too, in condemning it.

For the first time this morning, I found the actual excerpts from “Open Mind, Open Heart” and discovered that many of these links I read contained errors. What a difference it makes to read the thoughts of the author, before listening to his opponents!

Methods of Centering Prayer

During the prayer period, various kinds of thoughts may arise.

Ordinary wanderings of the imagination or memory.

Thoughts and feelings that give rise to attractions or aversions.

Insights and psychological breakthroughs.

Self-reflections such as, “How am I doing?” or, “This peace is just great!”

Thoughts and feelings that arise from the unloading of the unconscious.

When engaged with any of these thoughts return ever-so-gently to your sacred word.

During this prayer we avoid analyzing our experience, harboring expectations, or aiming at some specific goal such as:

Repeating the sacred word continuously.

Having no thoughts.

**Making the mind a blank. **

Feeling peaceful or consoled.

Achieving a spiritual experience. (cf. Open Mind, Open Heart, chap. 6-10)

The bolded statements of having no thoughts or emptying the mind, making it a blank, are the misconceptions that I formed. Apparently, I was totally wrong in my understanding of C.P.

However, I fully agree with you that it is not meant to be a short-cut to contemplation, but may well assist those who are proficient and truly entering the dark night. This is the difference that should be taught in the workshops, but is not.

Thanks so much for being a God-send to this thread - so wonderfully on-time!

 

[gnome]

(Pope John Paul II, Homily at Avila, Nov. 1, 1982, in The Pope Speaks 28 pp. 114-15)

Pope John Paul II spoke against such proposals of blankness, in a homily given at Avila, for the Fourth Centenary of the death of the great mystic St. Teresa of Avila. He said that St. Teresa opposed books of her day which presented contemplation as a vague assimilation into divinity or thinking about nothing. The Pope added that her reaction “. . . applies also in our days against some methods of prayer which . . . practically tend to rescind from Christ in favor of an empty mental state.” He said that the contemplation taught and lived by St. Teresa was not “a search for subjective and hidden possibilities through technical methods which are without interior purification.”

 

[Joysong]

Dear Gnome,

The Pope added that her reaction “. . . applies also in our days against some methods of prayer which . . . practically tend to rescind from Christ in favor of an empty mental state.” He said that the contemplation taught and lived by St. Teresa was not “a search for subjective and hidden possibilities through technical methods which are without interior purification.”

Right on, Gnome, and I support the Pope’s statement. This was my misconception from the links I came across that showed a concentration on a mantra and the emptying of the mind. That, dear friend, is New Age! Those who are rightfully discerning evil in the New Age theories, somehow have read into C.P., as I did, that they were the same thing.

This is what I saw this morning at the author’s website:

So long as you experience the undifferentiated, general, and loving presence of God beyond any thought, don’t go back to the sacred word. You are already at your destination.

As I mentioned above, the goal is to acquire, as did Brother Lawrence, and Abraham, our Father in faith, a loving, habitual “practice of the Presence of God.” Genesis 17:1. This was God’s directive to Abraham, “Walk in My presence, and be perfect.” This is something I have desired all of my life, and something Brother Lawrence achieved and wrote a book about it.

And if this quote from Keating’s writings is understood in this light, I have to admit it is good ---- ONLY, if it is undertaken by proficients who have achieved interior purification, as the Pope wrote. That is my main objection, that the teachers of C.P. do not understand this properly, and teach indiscriminately in their workshops to people of any spiritual level, including babes! — what Keating did not write and did not intend. (IMO)

Anyway, there is no danger of my adopting C.P., for we have two wonderful saints/Doctors who are bonifide and authentic, very safe for us to follow. Why look for others?

 

[Joysong]

Dear Gnome,

The Pope added that her reaction “. . . applies also in our days against some methods of prayer which . . . practically tend to rescind from Christ in favor of an empty mental state.” He said that the contemplation taught and lived by St. Teresa was not “a search for subjective and hidden possibilities through technical methods which are without interior purification.”

Right on, Gnome, and I support the Pope’s statement. This was my misconception from the links I came across that showed a concentration on a mantra and the emptying of the mind. That, dear friend, is New Age! Those who are rightfully discerning evil in the New Age theories, somehow have read into C.P., as I did, that they were the same thing.

This is what I saw this morning at the author’s website:

So long as you experience the undifferentiated, general, and loving presence of God beyond any thought, don’t go back to the sacred word. You are already at your destination.

As I mentioned above, the goal is to acquire, as did Brother Lawrence, and Abraham, our Father in faith, a loving, habitual “practice of the Presence of God.” Genesis 17:1. This was God’s directive to Abraham, “Walk in My presence, and be perfect.” This is something I have desired all of my life, and something Brother Lawrence achieved and wrote a book about it.

And if this quote from Keating’s writings is understood in this light, I have to admit it is good ---- ONLY, if it is undertaken by proficients who have achieved interior purification, as the Pope wrote. That is my main objection, that the teachers of C.P. do not understand this properly, and teach indiscriminately in their workshops to anyone without regard to the level of spirituality, what Keating did not write and did not intend. (I think!)

Anyway, there is no danger of my adopting C.P., for we have two wonderful saints/Doctors who are bonifide and authentic, very safe for us to follow. Why look for others?

 

[RThomas]

Dear Joysong -

Forgive me if this repeats some things - I think I lost a message, trying to post it…

I wanted to thank you for your reply, and to say that even the presence of the many counterfeit forms of spirituality that are being circulated, at least confirm the presence of a beautiful hunger. People are hungering for a personal communion with God - and that is good.

We need to search for ways and for open doors, to try to help people discover the great treasures of the Catholic Faith, and to also help them discern the barren and lifeless counterfeits that are being offered these days.

Thomas

 

[Augustine]

buzzcut:

I still don’t know what to make of Centering Prayer.

IMHO, don’t focus on it, focus on Jesus.

God bless you.

 

[springbreeze]

RThomas:

Dear Joysong -

Forgive me if this repeats some things - I think I lost a message, trying to post it…

I wanted to thank you for your reply, and to say that even the presence of the many counterfeit forms of spirituality that are being circulated, at least confirm the presence of a beautiful hunger. People are hungering for a personal communion with God - and that is good.

We need to search for ways and for open doors, to try to help people discover the great treasures of the Catholic Faith, and to also help them discern the barren and lifeless counterfeits that are being offered these days.
Thomas

Dear friend

That’s so true!

The whole choice of ‘religious’ organisations, of which are as you say ‘counterfeit’ is confusing for most people and nicely hides away the true Catholic faith under the pile of all the other untrue beliefs out there.

Most people are looking for God and seeking Him.

God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa

 

[Jenlyn]

Joysong,

I thought I would put your answer from the other thread here. Where in “Fire Within” does is talk about centering prayer? There are two places and they are as follows.

pg. 51

“St. John is incomparable. While ordinary spiritual writers go on and on in their descriptions of meditative methodologies, oriental and occidental, discursive and centering, this saint so on fire with love cannot hold back from jumping almost immediately into the I-don’t-know-what lofty mystical communion. And he is right, of course: people who live the Gospels as saints do, that is, without compromise and corner cutting, do soon find the infused flame being given to them.”

pg. 92

"Centering prayer is not new. St. Teresa is careful not to suggest it for all stages of the spiritual life, and she insists that, whatever activity is called for during the prayer in the fourth mansions, one should proceed gently and noiselessly. “The will calmly and wisely must understand that one does not deal well with God by force and that our efforts are like the careless use of large pieces of wood which smother this little spark.”

I think St. Teresa is saying that centering prayer is used in a way of quieting our vocal prayer/ praises so that God can do be in us. So we quiet or mind and let God in.

Peace,
Jen

 

[buzzcut]

Jenlyn:

I think St. Teresa is saying that centering prayer is used in a way of quieting our vocal prayer/ praises so that God can do be in us. So we quiet or mind and let God in.

Hi, Jenlyn, I was thinking about this and also about what AlanFromWichita said (in August of last year!) … perhaps Centering Prayer is an apophatic version of the prayer of recollection? What do you think?

 

[RThomas]

Jenlyn:

Joysong,

pg. 92

"Centering prayer is not new. St. Teresa is careful not to suggest it for all stages of the spiritual life, and she insists that, whatever activity is called for during the prayer in the fourth mansions, one should proceed gently and noiselessly. “The will calmly and wisely must understand that one does not deal well with God by force and that our efforts are like the careless use of large pieces of wood which smother this little spark.”

I think St. Teresa is saying that centering prayer is used in a way of quieting our vocal prayer/ praises so that God can do be in us. So we quiet or mind and let God in.

Peace,
Jen

Hello Jen,

Teresa described a process, a journey in prayer that leads up to the 4th mansions in a specific way. Vocal prayer, and the immediate struggles with sin in the 1st mansions lead - if received well and successfully - to the more interior meditative prayer and more interior struggles with temptations of the 2nd. These, if successfully engaged, can lead further into the even more interior engagements of the 3rd and so on.

The somewhat dangerous presumptions of some is that CP is a method of prayer that can be tried without the context of the wholeness of the Faith, or apart from the gradual process of a journey of prayer - without a development of a growing life of relationship in Christ.

It seems to me that if CP is helpful, it is for one who has grown through the grades of prayer without rushing, and faithfully - that is, in one’s moral and sacramental life, and in one’s understanding of the revelation of Christ entrusted to the Church alongside the development of the life of prayer.

But maybe everyone here is assuming all of that anyway. But I think it does need to be said. Growing in prayer is not like eating in a fast-food restaurant! Prayer takes time to “cook”.

Thomas

 

[Mysty101]

Dear friends,

It is good to be cautious, but also please be open. Centering prayer can be a veryeffective guide to more contempletive or mystical prayer.

You cannot fully analyze this type of prayer—it will be different for everyone. If you wish to explore—read and digest the book “Centering Prayer” by Pennington.

Another excellent series on prayer is the series by David Torkington—the 3 stages of prayer

Juvinile prayer—memorized prayer

Adult prayer—Charismatic

Mystical prayer—contempletive

I’ve not read the first 2, but “The Mystic” was wonderfully helpful. I studied this work in a course on Christiam Mystism conducted by a Priest at the Franciscan Center for Spirituality.

 

[Joysong]

Dear Thomas,

Growing in prayer is not like eating in a fast-food restaurant! Prayer takes time to “cook”.

I absolutely delight in your analogy! It reminded me of the importance in our secular lives of the dating relationship, which leads to betrothal, which leads to marital union, which leads in later years to wordless communication born out of intimate knowledge of the other.

Those who are married for many years do not return to the intensity of discovery that took place in their dating years. Often just a glance tells the spouse what the other is feeling or thinking. Exchanges in dialogue are very simple, affective, sometimes only done through a simple nod.

Psychologically speaking, it would be impossible to enter this contemplative dimension of marriage without years of preparation. When dating takes place early on, it seems foolish to expect that concentration on the person’s name or possibly a picture, will bring about a deep knowledge of them that produces love.

Yet later on at the betrothal stage, I remember going about all through my day, easily bringing the loved one into remembrance, and longing for our next meeting or phone conversation. Love had developed into attentiveness, habitual remembrance, with longings for reunion. The remembrance at that point was just an inward glance, with no particular reflection on anything particular - just the beloved himself.

How true all of this is with our relationship to God, if we stop and consider it. We may now repeat your statement: Growing in prayer is not like eating in a fast-food restaurant! Prayer takes time to “cook”.

 

[gnome]

Mysty101:

Another excellent series on prayer is the series by David Torkington—the 3 stages of prayer

Juvinile prayer—memorized prayer

Adult prayer—Charismatic

Mystical prayer—contempletive

then I need to grow out of the “Our Father” taught by Jesus ;-))

 

[DBT]

RThomas:

Teresa described a process, a journey in prayer that leads up to the 4th mansions in a specific way. Vocal prayer, and the immediate struggles with sin in the 1st mansions lead - if received well and successfully - to the more interior meditative prayer and more interior struggles with temptations of the 2nd. These, if successfully engaged, can lead further into the even more interior engagements of the 3rd and so on.

The somewhat dangerous presumptions of some is that CP is a method of prayer that can be tried without the context of the wholeness of the Faith, or apart from the gradual process of a journey of prayer - without a development of a growing life of relationship in Christ.

It seems to me that if CP is helpful, it is for one who has grown through the grades of prayer without rushing, and faithfully - that is, in one’s moral and sacramental life, and in one’s understanding of the revelation of Christ entrusted to the Church alongside the development of the life of prayer.

Thomas, in your few posts here, you are fast becoming a favorite! Your description described so clearly to me what, for so long, has been a bit garbled in my mind.

Here’s something I’m wondering about for all who are posting here. Could the whole debate about “emptying” with regard to CP be explained by Teresa’s mansions?

For example, for those who have progressed through mansions 1-3 . . . those who are immersed in the life of Christ and committed to living a life of holiness . . . could the “emptying” of CP really be another type of “filling” that is so characteristic of the progression through the mansions?

Conversly, when CP is presented to those who have not progressed through the normal stages . . . is the “emptying” then just that - emptying?

Hopefully this question makes sense.

By the way, I truely appreciate how this thread as taken a more charitable turn of late

 

[DBT]

Joysong -

The analogy you presented in post #89 is wonderful

 

[tTt]

so far only extreme liberals at my parish are pushing this, it’s not in the catechism, the new age and eastern influences are obvious.

You can have it. Hope it works out for you, but if it doesn’t don’t say you were not warned.

Contemplative prayer is the simplest expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gift, a grace; it can be accepted only in humility and poverty.

 

[Mysty101]

gnome:

then I need to grow out of the “Our Father” taught by Jesus ;-))

No, not grow out—grow into

These are stages in prayer life, and we do not abandon one because we have reached another. The Mystic explains it far better than I.

Any form of unstructured prayer is difficult to explain, and different for each person. It is more a concept than anything that can be easily defined in black & white.

 

[Mysty101]

Joy,

Interestingly enough—Torkington uses the anology of his parent’s marriage in writing about the stages of prayer.

 

[Jenlyn]

RThomas:

Hello Jen,

Teresa described a process, a journey in prayer that leads up to the 4th mansions in a specific way. Vocal prayer, and the immediate struggles with sin in the 1st mansions lead - if received well and successfully - to the more interior meditative prayer and more interior struggles with temptations of the 2nd. These, if successfully engaged, can lead further into the even more interior engagements of the 3rd and so on.

The somewhat dangerous presumptions of some is that CP is a method of prayer that can be tried without the context of the wholeness of the Faith, or apart from the gradual process of a journey of prayer - without a development of a growing life of relationship in Christ.

But maybe everyone here is assuming all of that anyway. But I think it does need to be said. Growing in prayer is not like eating in a fast-food restaurant! Prayer takes time to “cook”.

Thomas

I totally agree. I had a hard time finding the words to say it. It is on the journey in prayer but don’t you think that maybe she is saying it because she wants to make sure that when you are in the 4 mansion you don’t get in the way of God talking to you? She is warning the person not to keep up with vocal prayer and to quiet the mind so as to hear God? We are being filled with God by God doing it not us emptying our minds so God can enter when he grants us that grace?

Just trying to fully understand what St. Teresa is trying to say.

Peace,
Jen

 

[Augustine]

tTt:

so far only extreme liberals at my parish are pushing this, it’s not in the catechism, the new age and eastern influences are obvious.

Fr. Keating’s “justifications” that CP is necessary because of the “western mindset” are ridiculous. Look at Eastern civilizations and think about what they have to show: communist China, sectarist India, violent Middle East, materialistic Japan, etc. Which East is he refering to? We in the West are not much better, but equally fallen. So why would one be better than the other?

I’ve heard those justifications before as a new ager: they’re theosophical in origin, occultist in popularizaion. Anyone who was misguided by Transcendental Meditation (as promote my the guru Maharish - known for his collection of tens of Rolls Royce cars) before recognizes it in CP.

He suggests nothing about the Christian traditions on meditation and contemplation, which is neither Eastern nor Western, but universal. Rather, he tries to force Christian terms on Eastern practices. The mere fact that he started it all in the 70s is quite telling.

Where is the cross in CP? It subtly promises to end all dryness, but many besides St. Teresa warned about the worth of dryness and any other suffering in varied degrees or forms. Instead, CP promises comfort and no sacrifices.

tTt:

You can have it. Hope it works out for you, but if it doesn’t don’t say you were not warned.

Exactly my intention here. Jesus is more powerful than such follies. But CP’s pedigree is not Christian, but pagan. Hopefully, Jesus will protect all its adherents, as all of us, against the threats to our souls. He is known for drawing straight using crooked lines.

tTt:

Contemplative prayer is the simplest expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a *gift*, a grace; it can be accepted only in *humility and poverty*.

Moreover: neither meditative nor contemplative prayer are necessary to get into Heaven. Any notion that certain practices are necessary to achieve Salvation are foreign to the Church. Salvation is a grace of God and He will give us whatever means we need individually to be worthy of His promises. Just thinking about the Good Thief gives me hope, for I’m worse than him.

God bless us all.