About Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer was developed in the 1970's to revive the contemplative teachings of early Christianity and present them in updated formats. Click here to learn more about this history.
This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. Through grace we open our awareness to God whom we know by faith is within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. We move beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.
Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer — verbal, mental or affective prayer — into a receptive prayer of resting in God.
The Guidelines
1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.
3. When engaged with your thoughts*, return ever-so- gently to the sacred word.
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
*thoughts include body sensations, feelings, images, and reflections