About

ABOUT CENTERING PRAYER  

Centering Prayer is a Christ-centered form of silent meditation. It is not meant to replace other forms of prayer, but rather it casts a new meaning and depth on them.  In essence, Centering Prayer is both a deepening relationship with God and a spiritual discipline to foster and strengthen that relationship.

The method of Centering Prayer is based on Matthew 6:6, which reads “When you pray, enter into your inner room, close the door, and there pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” This passage suggests that the method of Centering Prayer consists of three steps:

  • The first step is to enter your “inner room.” We enter our inner room by setting aside two 20-minute periods of Centering Prayer each day.
  • The second step is to “close the door” to our engagement in external sensations, activities, and internal commentaries, memories, plans, needs, wants, emotions.
  • The third step is to “pray to your Father in secret.” We pray to our Father in secret when we remain in our 20-minute period of Centering Prayer twice a day.

IMPORTANT READING MATERIAL

The conceptual basis of Centering Prayer can be found in the following books By Fr. Thomas Keating:

  • Open Mind Open Heart
  • Invitation To Love
  • Intimacy With God

These books can be purchased from Contemplative Outreach, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores.

SEE ALSO: The Method of Centering Prayer Brochure

Contemplative Outreach is a spiritual network that is committed to renewing the contemplative dimension of the gospel in everyday life.  The contemplative dimension of the gospel is the experience of the living Christ in our daily lives.

The spiritual network consists of the following elements:

  • Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. – Our national organization
  • Contemplative Outreach Chapters – Contemplative Outreach of North San Diego (CONSD) is a Chapter of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.
  • Centering Prayer groups – There are currently more than 20 Centering Prayer Groups in North San Diego.  Go to the “Prayer Groups” tab to find a Centering Prayer Group near you.
  • Individuals practicing Centering Prayer

WATCH: “Contemplative Outreach: Celebrating 30 Years of Grace & Gratitude” (12-minute 2014 YouTube Video).