Did I do the right thing?

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jeanne71350

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Hi there,

Well, one of my Catholic friends just told me that his mom is teaching him centering prayer. Well, I know we aren’t supposed to talk about it on these fourms, but I just want to know if I did the right thing by telling him that from what I understood, it is not a good thing, and told him that he might want to talk to our really Traditionally Catholic religion teacher who can help.

Thanks
J
 
Well, he told me that the teacher won’t like it because it’s opening the soul. And he believes in Jesus but not in the Church and what school teaches… HELP!!!
 
I’m not familiar with the concept of Centering prayer (at least not by this name), however from a quick Google/Wikipedia Search this is what I found. Two interesting bits of information.
Centering prayer is a popular method of contemplative prayer or Christian meditation, placing a strong emphasis on interior silence.
Though most authors trace its roots to the contemplative prayer of the Desert Fathers of early Christian monasticism, to the Lectio Divina tradition of Benedictine monasticism, and to works like The Cloud of Unknowing and the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, its origins as part of the “Centering Prayer” movement in modern Catholicism and Christianity can be traced to several books published by three Trappist monks of St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts in the 1970s: Fr. William Meninger, Fr. M. Basil Pennington and Abbot Thomas Keating.
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The actual practice of centering prayer is not entirely alien to Catholics, who are advised to meditate in some form daily — such as on the rosary, or on Scripture through the practice of lectio divina; also similar is the practice of hesychasm as understood in the Eastern Orthodox Church. However, although the practice makes use of a ‘sacred word,’ Thomas Keating emphasizes that Centering Prayer is not an exercise in concentrating, or focusing one’s attention on something (such as a mantra), but rather is concerned with intention.
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Thus, from it’s roots of Benedictine Monks and Early Christian Monasticism. I would guess their’s nothing wrong with it, so much as the inner reflection and ‘meditation’ is done in the spirit of worship of God.

Besides, Blessed Pope John Paul II was known to contemplate and reflect while in prayer (whether he used centering prayer is not a question I am capable of answering).

This forum itself has answered this question, here.

Another source on the subject.
 
I think a quote from the first link in the first link above explains the difference and the danger perfectly:

*When Catholics repeat over and over again the short prayers of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and focus on the Blessed Sacrament, isn’t this a form of centering prayer except instead of centering on ourselves we are centering on God? *

Notice he mentions where the focus lies in each.

I am also wary of anything described as emptying one’s mind… we should be filling our minds with God.
 
Keep in mind that I am not in school with this guy anymore, and I will not see him. I don’t know if it is my place to tell him anything. Of course I am praying very much.

-Jeanne
 
jeanne71350 said:
Hi there,

Well, one of my Catholic friends just told me that his mom is teaching him centering prayer. Well, I know we aren’t supposed to talk about it on these fourms, but I just want to know if I did the right thing by telling him that from what I understood, it is not a good thing, and told him that he might want to talk to our really Traditionally Catholic religion teacher who can help.

Thanks
J
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I don’t think in general we are in a position to offer second hand spiritual advice to others, especially through their relatives and friends. If we do it might be better to phrase it in reference to ourself: oh, well, I did look into it but was told there were some problems so I did not pursue it. If you like I can find that article or reference for you. I think it is all in how we say it. I think the best part of your advice was to refer him to a really solid person who he already knows and trusts.

Okay and let us please stick with forum rules and NOT discuss CP itself, but OP’s question on what is the best way to speak to a person in her friend’s situation, as a friend. No there is not much you can do if you no longer have even a friend’s influence, but unless the relationship is very close we cannot go around giving spiritual guidance to other people, especially if they have not asked for it.
 
He knows what he’s doing is against the Church. I spoke with my religion teacher, and I just simply told him that I’m not in a place to tell him what to do…but I follow what the Church says. and I told him that I am praying that God grants him a good, true faith. and I asked him to drop the subject. I didn’t want to start a fight. That would’ve made me feel even worse.
 
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