Week 1: Centering Prayer
Your God Direction: Close mouth, open ears and be still
I know this direction sounds rude, but when I was growing up I was told that you can't hear with your mouth open. Think about it, if you are talking can you really hear? And if you think about it so many times when we have a conversation with someone often we are thinking about what we are going to say next instead of truly listening. This is true with our relationship with God. We need to learn to be still, not talk or think and just listen. That is part of what we will learn with Centering Prayer.
Centering Prayer maybe one of the more difficult ones but all the other prayers we study build off this one.
Centering Prayer is a method designed to facilitate the development of Contemplative Prayer by preparing our faculties to receive this gift. It is an attempt to present the teaching of earlier times in an updated form. Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer: rather it casts a new light and depth of meaning on them. It is at the same time a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. This method of prayer is a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him… Centering Prayer is based on the wisdom saying of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:
“...But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.” Matthew 6.6 (New American Bible)
It is also inspired by writings of major contributors to the Christian contemplative heritage including John Cassian, the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing, Francis de Sales, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Thomas Merton.1
I know this direction sounds rude, but when I was growing up I was told that you can't hear with your mouth open. Think about it, if you are talking can you really hear? And if you think about it so many times when we have a conversation with someone often we are thinking about what we are going to say next instead of truly listening. This is true with our relationship with God. We need to learn to be still, not talk or think and just listen. That is part of what we will learn with Centering Prayer.
Centering Prayer maybe one of the more difficult ones but all the other prayers we study build off this one.
Centering Prayer is a method designed to facilitate the development of Contemplative Prayer by preparing our faculties to receive this gift. It is an attempt to present the teaching of earlier times in an updated form. Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer: rather it casts a new light and depth of meaning on them. It is at the same time a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. This method of prayer is a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him… Centering Prayer is based on the wisdom saying of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:
“...But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.” Matthew 6.6 (New American Bible)
It is also inspired by writings of major contributors to the Christian contemplative heritage including John Cassian, the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing, Francis de Sales, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Thomas Merton.1
Prayer Time:
Guidelines: I say guidelines because I cannot instruct you how to prayer. It is hard to explain but until you have prayed this way you will not fully understand what is going on. With that in mind these are guidelines or suggestions on how to pray the Centering Prayer.
- Before starting your prayer you will need to choose a sacred word. The sacred word reflects our intentions to consent to God’s presence and action within us. The best way to choose a word is through a brief prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide you in choosing a sacred word.
Examples include but are not limited to: Jesus, Christ, God, Father, Amen, Mercy, Grace, Love, Peace, Trust, Surrender, etc.
After choosing the sacred word do not change it during your prayer time because doing so would cause you to start thinking again. The sacred word is not sacred because of its meaning but because we give the meaning of consent for God’s presence and action within us. - We should sit, stand, kneel or lie down in a position of comfort (but not so comfortable that we will fall asleep) and close our eyes. If we fall asleep return to the prayer upon wakening. We close our eyes in order to block out or let go of all things around us. It is helpful if we keep our backs straight. If our prayer spot is also used during the day we should do something to set it apart during prayer time. Like using a blanket or lighting a candle.
- We should sit, stand, kneel or lie down in a position of comfort (but not so comfortable that we will fall asleep) and close our eyes. If we fall asleep return to the prayer upon wakening. We close our eyes in order to block out or let go of all things around us. It is helpful if we keep our backs straight. If our prayer spot is also used during the day we should do something to set it apart during prayer time. Like using a blanket or lighting a candle.
- After you take your position slowly relax by breathing in through the nose and breathing out through your mouth letting go with each breath. Make sure your hands are open and relaxed. As you breathe slowly introduce your sacred word, repeating with each inward breath and each outward breath. Use the word to focus on God and His presence in and around you. Give all your being to God. Let go ever so gently, release all thought and movement and just rest in God’s presence.
- As you relax slowly let go of your sacred word. When thoughts enter your mind gently introduce the sacred word and then let go of everything again. Thoughts are any perceptions, including sense of touch, sound, or smell, feelings, images, memories, plans, reflections, concepts, commentaries, and spiritual experiences. These thoughts will occur and are a part of the centering prayer experience. We gently introduce the sacred word again, gently meaning with very little effort. Gently introducing the sacred word is the only activity that we will intentionally use during the prayer time.
- When prayer time is over remain with eyes closed in silence for a couple more minutes then gently say the Lord’s Prayer. This allows for a gentle movement into everyday life.
Pointers:
- The minimum time recommended for this prayer is 20 min. We should strive for 30 min twice a day.
- You may want to use a timer to help indicate the end of prayer time. The timer should not make noise until the alarm sounds.
- You may experience physical sensations during prayer time such as, slight pains, itches, and/or twitches in various parts of your Body. You may experience a general sense of restlessness. These are usually caused by the untying of emotional knots through out the body. If you itch you should scratch the spot but if that itch isn’t satisfied and continues you need to ignore it and let it go. After each sensation gently return to your sacred word.
- We will generally experience little to nothing during prayer time but the results will be noticed during our daily life.
- As we continue to practice this prayer we will at times feel we are wasting our time. This is a normal reaction. Remember the devil doesn’t want any of us to develop a closer relationship with God. He will use all the tricks in the book. Noises will occur; we will feel we don’t have time to do it; we will get frustrated because it seems to not work. You must persevere. It isn’t easy and will require discipline.
- Centering prayer helps us to understand and hear God in His first language, silence.
What Centering Prayer Is and Is Not
- It is not a technique but a way of cultivating a relationship with God.
- It is not a relaxation exercise but it may be refreshing.
- It is not a form of self-hypnosis but a way to quiet the mind while maintaining its alertness.
- It is not a charismatic gift but a path of transformation.
- It is not a para-psychological experience but an exercise of faith, hope and selfless love.
- It is not limited to the “felt” presence of God but is rather a deepening of faith in God’s abiding presence.
- It is not reflective or spontaneous prayer, but simply resting in God.1
Practice this style of prayer for a full week. At the end of the week, move on to the next section. If you wish, you may continue in this prayer for a longer period but give it at least a week to start.
1taken from the web site www.centeringprayer.com
