Centering Prayer Guidelines
Centering Prayer is inspired by writings of major contributors of 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, Therese of Lisieux, and Thomas Merton.
Gregory the Great (6th century) in summarizing the Christian Contemplative tradition expressed it as “resting in God.” This was the classical meaning of Contemplative Prayer in the Christian tradition for the first sixteen centuries.
The Guidelines
Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
The sacred word expresses our intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
The sacred word is sacred not because of its inherent meaning, but because of the meaning we give it as the expression of our intention to consent.
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.
“Sitting comfortably” means relatively comfortably so as not to encourage sleep during the time of prayer.
We close our eyes as a symbol of letting go of what is going on around and within us.
We introduce the sacred word inwardly as gently as laying a feather on a pillow.
When engaged with your thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
“Thoughts” is an umbrella term for every perception, including body sensations, sense perceptions, feelings, images, memories, plans, reflections, concepts, commentaries, and spiritual experiences.
Thoughts are an inevitable, integral, and normal part of Centering Prayer.
By “returning ever-so-gently to the sacred word” a minimum of effort is indicated. This is the only activity we initiate during the time of Centering Prayer.
At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
The additional two minutes enables us to bring the atmosphere of silence into everyday life.
Some Practical Points
- The suggested minimum time for Centering Prayer is 20 minutes. Two periods are recommended each day, one first thing in the morning and the other in the afternoon or early evening. With practice the time may be extended to 30 minutes or longer.
- The end of the prayer period can be indicated by a timer which does not have an audible tick or loud sound when it goes off.
- Possible physical symptoms during the prayer: a) We may notice slight pains, twitches in various parts of the body or a generalized sense of restlessness. These are usually due to the untying of emotional knots in the body. b) We may notice heaviness or lightness in our extremities. This is usually due to a deep level of spiritual attentiveness. c) In all cases we pay no attention and ever-so-gently return to the sacred word.
- The principal fruits of Centering Prayer are experienced in daily life and not during the prayer period.
- Centering Prayer familiarizes us with God’s first language which is silence.