Centering Prayer

[PatienceAndLove]

Proof, please? I have not seen anywhere that it is ‘condemned’ other than by certain authors who misunderstand it and send out the militia, or who rightly warn about the dangers I mentioned in my last post, with which we agree.

You are only 23 years old and a student. Do you have understanding either experientially or by study (which is almost impossible to grasp until the Lord grants them) with regard to the prayer types and interior progression described by DBT? Yet you, too, seem ready to denounce the entire practice based solely on what you READ or HEARD, not what you KNOW. If you knew it by experience, you would be supporting it.

Since this belongs properly to those in the stage of prayer DBT described, it is never going to be commonly understood by anyone casually reading about CP. And that is the difficulty some have in defending it.

I am a former witch and I have been through more spiritual torment than I would ever care to go through again. I have read up on CP and find entirelly too many similarities between it and what I did to “commune with nature” “commune with the goddess” “commune with the spirits” etc.

DO NOT for ONE SECOND assume that my age and my “job” define what I know. I could tell you experiences that would make you shudder and hide. You would, most likely, cower in fear from the indescribable things that I have encountered. Have you ever been physically assaulted by evil? Have you ever come to from “meditation” and “centering” (grounding and centering before spell work is one of the most important things that a witch can do) and found bloody scratches all over your arms and legs that required medical attention? I have.

 

[blessedstar]

Proof, please? I have not seen anywhere that it is ‘condemned’ other than by certain authors who misunderstand it and send out the militia, or who rightly warn about the dangers I mentioned in my last post, with which we agree.

You are only 23 years old and a student. Do you have understanding either experientially or by study (which is almost impossible to grasp until the Lord grants them) with regard to the prayer types and interior progression described by DBT? Yet you, too, seem ready to denounce the entire practice based solely on what you READ or HEARD, not what you KNOW. If you knew it by experience, you would be supporting it.

Since this belongs properly to those in the stage of prayer DBT described, it is never going to be commonly understood by anyone casually reading about CP. And that is the difficulty some have in defending it.

uch:

 

[Joysong]

I am a former witch and I have been through more spiritual torment than I would ever care to go through again. I have read up on CP and find entirelly too many similarities between it and what I did to “commune with nature” “commune with the goddess” “commune with the spirits” etc.

What you read up on and understand about it is not the true form whatsoever if it is similar to what you knew as a witch. This is exactly the esoteric and dangerous form many of us will gladly support in denouncing, and rightfully warn against. It is not christian centering but a dangerous form of mind control open to outside spirits that are not exactly the ones any of us need to meet up with.

As has been said, if you are not called to it by God, and have not been given proper understanding of it, then DO NOT TRY IT! It’s that simple. OTOH, do not judge the true form of it by your bad experience.

 

[blessedstar]

What you read up on and understand about it is not the true form whatsoever if it is similar to what you knew as a witch. This is exactly the esoteric and dangerous form many of us will gladly support in denouncing, and rightfully warn against. It is not christian centering but a dangerous form of mind control open to outside spirits that are not exactly the ones any of us need to meet up with.

As has been said, if you are not called to it by God, and have not been given proper understanding of it, then DO NOT TRY IT! It’s that simple. OTOH, do not judge the true form of it by your bad experience.

Is this the true form of CP as taught by Fr Keating and Pennington?

In the Living Prayer of my life

 

[Joysong]

You need to look back at the thread contemplative.net and refresh yourself on the teaching of it that was discussed there. I remember posts that cited Practice of the Presence of God, and Way of Perfection using the guidance of St. Teresa on recollection, which some might also call ‘centering.’

Did you ever read Keating’s book? The prayer form was taught to monks and was not originally written for the general public. Monks are cloistered and give their entire lives to prayer all day long. They would quickly come to know the prayer of recollection, and need to know how to deal with distractions. It was solely for them that the book was written, but gradually became available to the public who did not have God’s preparation spiritually to understand or enter into it.

Therefore, this was indiscriminately taught to those who should never have tried it, by some well meaning people who did a lot of harm in not cooperating with God’s leading or understanding His gradual progression in prayer. It does not negate the original concept, though, and that’s probably always going to be misunderstood in the general arena.

 

[blessedstar]

Dear Joysong

Why is it that you seem to think that only a select few develop in their prayer life to deeper levels. Everyone is called to holiness as proper to their state in life, therefore it is no more extraordinary for a layperson to be drawn close to God than it is for a religious Sister or Priest or Brother or such as yourself who are a lay person who feels called to a life of prayer because all who seek will find and all who ask will receive.

What makes you think people are misunderstanding? These methods have been described by Priests and by those living in prayer very closely all day long as erroneous methods.

You equate recollection to centering prayer. When a soul thinks of God are they not recollected? Do their thoughts and meditation upon Christ Jesus not brng about recollection? Can God not assail a soul and recollect the soul to Himself with the soul never using any method? God frequently brings Sacred Scripture to the mind of a soul to recollect them to Himself. Didn’t St Teresa say avoid the temptation of methods but rather meditate upon the Passion of Christ Jesus? This progression in prayer is not a strict formula because purgation, illumination and union are inter-changing states, a soul may be purged and illuminated at the same time and switch back and forth.

A habit of prayerful meditation increases in the soul recollection of God and it is not necessary to employ the methods of CP nor will CP make this any quicker, nor will it provide contemplation as you know.

If CP is recollection as you state then tell me exactly how the method recollects the soul to God and know Him and His Beauty through Divinely revealed Truths ‘stored up in the heart and pondered upon’. How does CP internalise these Truths which then must manifest in the Christian life? CP could be seen as a relaxation method borrowed from eastern traditions as a preparation to authentic Christian prayer, but it is in itself not recollection, but a preparation to being recollected to God if it is used to prepare the soul to be intimate in prayer with God. However in employing this method of ‘preparation’ (CP) various dangers are encountered. Authentic Christian prayer contains no dangers for the Christian faithful because the prayer is firstly (name removed by moderator)sired by the Holy Sirit who safeguards the soul in prayer if He is the One who is allowed to lead the prayer and all prayer is open to every member of the Body of Christ with no fear of pursuing Christian prayer. Moreover recollection is not a method.

**St. Teresa had previously discussed the prayer of recollection in Chapters 15 and 16 of The Life and in Chapters 28 and 29 of The Way of Perfection. Consequently, in The Interior Castle she makes only a brief reference to it, saying that “in the prayer of [acquired] recollection it is unnecessary to abandon [discursive] meditation and the activity of the intellect” (Fourth Mansions, chap. 3). In the subsequent literature on the practice of prayer this acquired recollection will be called by various names: prayer of simplicity, prayer of simple regard, acquired contemplation, and the loving awareness of God. **domcentral.org/study/aumann/teresasgr.htm

Souls may indeed struggle in prayer and this is an essential part of prayer and is a union in and of itself. Employing methods will be of no avail and so clearly to progress souls must abandon themselves to the Divine will for their prayer. Whilst souls are to dynamically participate in grace which leads to prayer and upholds prayer they are to be open to the Holy Spirit who forms and creates the prayer within the soul, imparting to the soul inspiration to deeper prayer and Ways and Paths that may seem uncomfortable but duly benefit the soul.

If someone has found themselves led by God into deep prayer they would be wisely advised as has been stated in the documents to be led by a Spiritual Director.

In society today people are hungry for a deeper relationship with God and it is understandable they may desire to employ methods that assist them along the way. But there are methods and there are erroneous methods and whilst I appreciate you have your thoughts on this Joysong I have searched my soul and prayed a great deal because I am not about the business of slurring a good method of prayer, there would be no sense in that, but when so many objections arise from reputable sources and not simply from some ‘fool’ on a site, then I cannot advocate this method of CP. I cannot promote it in all certainty because there is no certitude from the Church on the matter. If this causes offense that is not my intent, I am gravely concerned that a method is promoted widely that has dangers, that is open to many errors and is promoted on this site indiscrimnately by some members who do not know who they are promoting it to.

continued

 

[blessedstar]

I am sure that God will protect His children and I am hopeful at some point after further analysis and questioning into the method that there will at some point be a definitive document actually ‘naming’ CP on it from the Church and we can all rest easy in that Authority, presently the document does not specifically name CP, but seeing as it is a method that does employ eastern methods as Fr Keating himself states then we can logically apply the advise in that document to CP.

In the Living Prayer of my life

 

[DBT]

Thanks for that Dave. There are some who will say that contemplative prayer and centering prayer are not the same thing by what I have found on the subject on the net. By my limited experience, by the description I read of contemplative prayer, I have reached this before with no self effort, but as an intervention for conversion. The suspension of self and memory is what caught my eye the most in the description. So I may be coming from a different approach to this then some may, but found it was the Lord that did this to me, not something I willed because my self and was in no shape to be self guided at that point. I have the same problem with charismatic thought, in that it seems like there is a control technique or formula to make this happen. Maybe I’m misunderstanding both types of prayer, but I would think you can’t manipulate union, but that the Lord prompts the conversation in some way, then if you accept the grace to pray, He is the one who directs what happens and the soul responds. Not trying to instigate an arguement, but expressing why I have not tried centering prayer. Thanks, Tim

Hi Tim -

You have a very good understanding of things . . . much better than you might think. Read carefully what I said . . . not the words placed in my mouth . . . and you will see we are in complete agreement. Pay particular attention to the transition between ACTIVE RECOLLECTION and PASSIVE RECOLLECTION . . . this is the most important part from what you are addressing above. Better yet, pay no attention to me and go straight to the proof texts I provided. With those there will be no whiff of controversy

And for the record for all following along, I don’t give a fig about CP or promoting it in any way shape or form. What I care about is RECOLLECTION as this is the proximate means to union with God in infused prayer. Not my idea . . . it is the teaching of every saint and Doctor of the Church.

Peace please.
Dave

 

[Joysong]

but seeing as it is a method that does employ eastern methods as Fr Keating himself states then we can logically apply the advise in that document to CP

Once again you have managed to twist this subject into your mode of rejection, even though you have read hundreds of responses that negate your thinking in several other threads. I asked you if you read Keating’s book, and it is clear you have not. Yet you persist in putting words in his mouth, for he never ‘himself states’ that it is an eastern method. We have repeatedly pointed out that CP, in the context we have been discussing, is a useful and valid method for SOME people, NOT ALL.

Talking about promoting, you are doing your best to be devil’s advocate in every thread where people question it, and you apparently believe that is your mission. At this point, I think only GOD himself can convince you. I’m done.

BTW, I saw your other post before you edited it, so yes, this was your real intent.

 

[blessedstar]

Once again you have managed to twist this subject into your mode of rejection, even though you have read hundreds of responses that negate your thinking in several other threads. I asked you if you read Keating’s book, and it is clear you have not. Yet you persist in putting words in his mouth, for he never ‘himself states’ that it is an eastern method. We have repeatedly pointed out that CP, in the context we have been discussing, is a useful and valid method for SOME people, NOT ALL.

Talking about promoting, you are doing your best to be devil’s advocate in every thread where people question it, and you apparently believe that is your mission. At this point, I think only GOD himself can convince you. I’m done.

BTW, I saw your other post before you edited it, so yes, this was your real intent.

I didn’t use the edit feature in that post at all as can be clearly seen by the lack of the edit note at the bottom of that post. You’ve no idea about my intent Carole.

I am not the devil nor his advocate, nor am I evil nor am I motivated by an evil spirit as two of your posts strongly suggest. Why resort to this kind of talk?

If you want to assasinate my character you are doing an admirable job and frankly I am past caring, go ahead, break your neck, why not call me a bad Catholic to boot. I’ll just post and take whatever you have to say about me.

I have done my level best not to attack a person’s soul, but yes I have strongly opposed in debate the method of CP and I am free to do so just as you are free to strongly debate for the CP method.

I asked you not to try and establish where people you don’t know are on their spiritual journey nor to assess them as uneducated or inexperienced as you cannot know that or say such things to people and I believe you are very upset I did that and this is the reason you speak to me as you do. I’m sorry if saying that to you has upset you, but it wasn’t meant to upset you but just to point out you cannot know those things about stangers on the internet.

In the Living Prayer of my life

 

[blessedstar]

You know debating is one thing but trying to get someone’s goat is another. I’m sorry I can’t continue to post back to you Joysong.

In the Living Prayer of my life

 

[Joysong]

There is a small time frame that permits editing before the software shows that it was edited. Why are you being deceitful about the fact that you did this, not only once, but twice?

I asked you not to try and establish where people you don’t know are on their spiritual journey nor to assess them as uneducated or inexperienced as you cannot know that or say such things to people

This is merely an instant replay from 2004, remember? If you have short memory, read your old old posts. Members reading this thread do not want to witness your personality issues. Kindly stop the harrassment. Your activities are publicly available, and you are presently reporting this post.

As DBT said,

PEACE, Please!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I posted this in the last debate on Centering Prayer. I’m re-posting it here, because it fits with the context of this thread.

I have read through this document. Its obvious that those who have attacked Centering Prayer and have even taken quotes from this document, did not read or left out the part below.

LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON
SOME ASPECTS OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

1. The majority of the “great religions” which have sought union with God in prayer have also pointed out ways to achieve it. Just as "the Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions,"18 neither should these ways be rejected out of hand simply because they are not Christian. On the contrary, one can take from them what is useful so long as the Christian conception of prayer, its logic and requirements are never obscured. It is within the context of all of this that these bits and pieces should be taken up and expressed anew. Among these one might mention first of all that of the humble acceptance of a master who is an expert in the life of prayer, and of the counsels he gives. Christian experience has known of this practice from earliest times, from the epoch of the desert Fathers. Such a master, being an expert in “sentire cum ecclesia,” must not only direct and warn of certain dangers; as a “spiritual father,” he has to also lead his pupil in a dynamic way, heart to heart, into the life of prayer, which is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
   ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFMED.HTM

Emphasis is in bold is mine.

That all being said, “Centering Prayer,” as Father Keating, one of the founders of it has said, did not come out of Eastern Religion, but from Catholic Tradition. Fr Keating and Basil Pennington, used “The Cloud of Unknowing,” as a tool to teach it, which is an old Catholic classic read by monks for centuries. Also, anyone familiar with St. Teresa of Avila or St. John of the Cross, will quickly link Centering Prayer with them, as does Fr Keating and Basil Pennington.

So the accusations that Centering Prayer is from Eastern religion is false, but even if it had such a link, the above quote from Cardinal Ratzinger, should give people some ease about it.

Jim

 

[InLight247]

That all being said, “Centering Prayer,” as Father Keating, one of the founders of it has said, did not come out of Eastern Religion, but from Catholic Tradition. Fr Keating and Basil Pennington, used “The Cloud of Unknowing,” as a tool to teach it, which is an old Catholic classic read by monks for centuries. Also, anyone familiar with St. Teresa of Avila or St. John of the Cross, will quickly link Centering Prayer with them, as does Fr Keating and Basil Pennington.

So the accusations that Centering Prayer is from Eastern religion is false, but even if it had such a link, the above quote from Cardinal Ratzinger, should give people some ease about it.
Jim

That was what I have been thinking.
As long as CP prayer is Christ centered, even if it incorporated some eastern method, there should be no problem.

I hesitate to join discussion of CP ever since contemplativeprayer.net in 2006.
I have only read one Fr. Keating’s book about CP. Without a thorough knowledge, I don’t feel I can really give good (name removed by moderator)ut. I am afraid to act like St. Paul persecuting Christian without knowing Christ or vice versa.

But I regret to see a discussion thread gets into heat after sincere and well-intentioned (name removed by moderator)uts. So I am chipping in some of my shallow understandings.

Though I am not familiar with Zen, coming from an oriental background, I have a vague knowledge of it. It seems to me the influence of Zen to CP is to utilize some techniques like “gin” (be still, be quiet) and “din” (settle one’s mind and focus) (These are sound translation of Chinese pronunciation).

In CP, when one is to be still, one is not to be quiet into emptiness, but to be quiet in front of the Lord. When one settles his mind, he is not settling his mind onto void, but to focus on Christ. I don’t see any problem by doing so.

In Zen, the “gin” and “din” techniques are to rid of all thoughts.
In CP, it uses sacred word such as “Jesus” to rid of all other thoughts but Jesus.

Some of you had objection of using the word “God” or “love” instead of “Jesus”, saying that was like new age. But if you pay close attention, you will notice several posters either in this thread, or in contemplativeprayer.net, have repeatedly explained that CP is not for everyone, and it is important when one is to utilize this method.

For a beginner who has not developed a profound friendship with Christ yet, CP method could make no sense or benefit. In this case, the word “Jesus” or “God” simply will not bring in any rich recollections. But for a person who has walked with the Lord for long, who has a solid foundation in prayer, even not using the very word of “Jesus”, even just use the word “God” or “love”, there will be no chance for such a person to address to any new age God but the God in our true faith.

And again, we are objectively discussing CP. It does not mean we have to engage in this format of prayer.

 

[inthecloud]

"In CP, when one is to be still, one is not to be quiet into emptiness, but to be quiet in front of the Lord. When one settles his mind, he is not settling his mind onto void, but to focus on Christ. I don’t see any problem by doing so.

In Zen, the “gin” and “din” techniques are to rid of all thoughts.
In CP, it uses sacred word such as “Jesus” to rid of all other thoughts but Jesus.

That is the big difference between Zen and Christian Meditation.
Zen is monistic, the goal is emptyness itself.
Christian prayer the goal is to empy yourself to let Jesus in, that is the big difference.
But the gin and din techniques of Zen are very similar with John of the Cross “estando ya mi casa sosegada” (placing my home in stillness) in Dark Night of the Soul.

“Some of you had objection of using the word “God” or “love” instead of “Jesus”, saying that was like new age. But if you pay close attention, you will notice several posters either in this thread, or in contemplativeprayer.net, have repeatedly explained that CP is not for everyone, and it is important when one is to utilize this method.”

I thing that many objections to the Centering Prayer come from letting the person elect their word. Merging that with the words of the EO Jesus Prayer will lift those objections.

JimR-OCDS are you a discalced carmelite?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

"In CP, when one is to be still, one is not to be quiet into emptiness, but to be quiet in front of the Lord. When one settles his mind, he is not settling his mind onto void, but to focus on Christ. I don’t see any problem by doing so.

In Zen, the “gin” and “din” techniques are to rid of all thoughts.
In CP, it uses sacred word such as “Jesus” to rid of all other thoughts but Jesus.

That is the big difference between Zen and Christian Meditation.
Zen is monistic, the goal is emptyness itself.
Christian prayer the goal is to empy yourself to let Jesus in, that is the big difference.
But the gin and din techniques of Zen are very similar with John of the Cross “estando ya mi casa sosegada” (placing my home in stillness) in Dark Night of the Soul.

“Some of you had objection of using the word “God” or “love” instead of “Jesus”, saying that was like new age. But if you pay close attention, you will notice several posters either in this thread, or in contemplativeprayer.net, have repeatedly explained that CP is not for everyone, and it is important when one is to utilize this method.”

I thing that many objections to the Centering Prayer come from letting the person elect their word. Merging that with the words of the EO Jesus Prayer will lift those objections.

JimR-OCDS are you a discalced carmelite?

First, yes, I’m a Secular Order Discalced Carmelite.

The focus of Christian prayer and meditation, is what makes it different than other forms of meditation. Christ is the center of desire.

In prayer, the intention of the will and heart toward love of God, is what makes it perfect prayer. As we open ourselves up to Christ, and allow him to transform us into His way of love, we will begin to draw closer to that spiritual marriage, the union with Him.

In the Centering Prayer, the focus is always on Christ. The prayer word, is merely a tool to direct us back toward Christ, when we find our minds wandering of with thoughts that have taken us away from our prayer.

So many times I hear of people struggling with prayer, and how they find themselves thinking about all sorts of things, other than their prayer. CP is a method which not only helps us during this form of prayer, but in other forms as well. When I say the Rosary, if I find myself distracted with thoughts other than the misteries, what do I do? I do, the same thing I do in Centering Prayer, gently return to the Hail Mary, which is essentially the same thing as the sacred prayer word in CP.

As Jesus said, where your treasure is, so will your heart be.

In prayer, our hearts are to be with Christ, who is at the center of our very being.

In Christ Jesus
Jim

 

[Joysong]

JimR-OCDS:

When I say the Rosary, if I find myself distracted with thoughts other than the misteries, what do I do? I do, the same thing I do in Centering Prayer, gently return to the Hail Mary, which is essentially the same thing as the sacred prayer word in CP.

I have been reading the links supplied in opposition to CP, and even, sorry to say, one referring to Father Serpa, CAF’s apologist. [Since he wrote over two years ago, his opinion may be more informed at this point in time.] He wrote:

Centering prayer was devised by two American monks who were concerned that many Catholic young people were looking to eastern religions for meditation. So they attempted to offer a Christian version of such practice. The only problem is that it is not Christian. There is absolutely no evidence of emptying the mind in the history of Christian spirituality. For Zen Buddhists such emptiness leads to enlightenment.

These well-intentioned souls see articles from a noted apologist like this one and take it to the bank, so to speak, absolutely refusing to listen to sound teaching. It is clear to me that Fr. Serpa has not read the book, and is himself influenced by illogic reasoning from other new age literature and propaganda. As I wrote earlier, this was NOT the reason for the book. Keating wrote for monks to help them with distractions, just as you spoke about so simply and understandably above, Jim.

The posts that some have shared here attempted to describe it correctly, but were obliterated by certain persons’ preconceived notions and it become impossible to shout from the hilltops that this is NOT what any of us have been saying; i.e., that the mind is ‘emptied’ as taught in New Age literature or some aspects of oriental thought/religion.

I have read Pennington’s work, and it is peppered with ideas that I don’t believe were held by Fr. Keating, and I disagreed with several points. Now HE did write to reach the public, and he wrote to those who were not ready spiritually. That was his major error.

I also read the entire lengthly link that described new age in detail, and my assumption again is that nobody read it – just quoted it because someone else previously supplied it. There is not a shred of new age ideas in what has been shared here throughout this thread.

A few ideas from this document that I defy anyone with common sense to say you or anyone else here has promoted or shared:

Mysticism: New Age mysticism is turning inwards on oneself rather than communion with God who is “totally other”. It is fusion with the universe, an ultimate annihilation of the individual in the unity of the whole. Experience of Self is taken to be experience of divinity, so one looks within to discover authentic wisdom, creativity and power.

Reincarnation: in a New Age context, reincarnation is linked to the concept of ascendant evolution towards becoming divine

Spiritualism: While there have always been attempts to contact the spirits of the dead, 19th century spiritualism is reckoned to be one of the currents that flow into the New Age.

It distresses me greatly that ill-informed people are attacking and denouncing, rather than asking honest questions and listening to the answers.

 

[inthecloud]

“These well-intentioned souls see articles from a noted apologist like this one and take it to the bank, so to speak, absolutely refusing to listen to sound teaching. It is clear to me that Fr. Serpa has not read the book, and is himself influenced by illogic reasoning from other new age literature and propaganda. As I wrote earlier, this was NOT the reason for the book. Keating wrote for monks to help them with distractions, just as you spoke about so simply and understandably above, Jim.”

Also there must be some different traditions between orders. Do not know Fr Serpa’s order and tradition but I’m a bit familiar with John of the Cross, as JimR must be, and some of the ideas I have gathered here about the CP do remind me of John of the Cross teachings.
But St. John also wrote for people that had spirituals directors. He was one after all. So I understand why the concern about New Age misuses. Hey I have seen texts giving New Age readings of St Teresa de Avila and St. Therese de Lisieaux. Does that means that those sainty women were New Age or that they are been missused? Again the risk might be into a New Age missuse of the CP. Not the CP.

 

[ncjohn]

Blessedstar,

You have made several comments about people “promoting” CP. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I for one have not come here “promoting” CP at all. What I have come for, as my previous post mentioned, was to make it clear that some people are called to this type of prayer by God and that when that is the case they should not be ignoring that call.

I made clear, as have others, that it is not everyone that is called to it, for various reasons. None of those reasons though have anything to do with it being an unacceptable prayer form. There is ample documentation, both here and from authoritative sites, as to what CP actually is. And if one truly takes the time to sort through the sources, especially from those who have firsthand knowledge, the arguments for authentic centering prayer are very sound. Yes, there are distortions of it, and misteachings of it, just as there are of pretty much any form of prayer or doctrine. Just as there are misreadings and misapplication of the Bible itself for that matter. But the fact that some misread or distort things doesn’t make the genuine application invalid.

The danger that I see in much of this vehement opposition is in any one of us supplanting God’s own personal call to an individual who is indeed called to this kind of prayer. None of us can know how God is going to speak to another and to think that we can condemn someone else’s prayer style is a dangerous move in my opinion.

I know from personal experience that it has been of great benefit to me. I know many others who have also found great peace in resting in God’s presence in this way. I am fortunately far enough along to not be hurt or insulted that you think my prayer to be invalid and ineffective. But it does worry me that others who may be led to the joy that I have experienced may become worried and cynical about God calling to them, or that they may be second-guessed over how God calls to them.

Somehow we are all called to place ourselves quietly in the presence of God so we can hear his still, small voice. For some that happens through the rosary. For others it may be at adoration. For others it may come through placing ourselves actively in a scripture passage or doing Lectio Divina. But for some of us it happens through centering prayer.

Please try to open your mind enough to give the benefit of the doubt that God may have lures for some of us that are just different from what you might prefer or have experienced.

Peace,

 

[rosary_for_life]

Thank you all for your replies. I may be just an old fuddy duddy, and I mean that, but it seems kind of strange to me to empty your mind, I would think it could be opening a person up to anything, maybe good, maybe bad. How can you be sure that it is God communicating with you? I did find an article on this site from The Rock on centering prayer. Any thoughts on this?

catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9711fea1.asp

If Catholic.com/This Rock warn against centering prayer, I would take that very seriously.