Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself.
This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.
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.
Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.
The source of Centering Prayer, as in all methods leading to contemplative prayer, is the Indwelling Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ. The effects of Centering Prayer are ecclesial, as the prayer tends to build communities of faith and bond the members together in mutual friendship and love.
The Method of Centering Prayer
A Centering Prayer period typically should last for twenty minutes. As one develops the practice this period can be extended. Two periods of the prayer are recommended daily, one first thing in the morning and a second in the afternoon or evening. The method of Centering Prayer is based on four simple guidelines:
- Choose a sacred word as a symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
- Sitting comfortably, (but not too comfortably which may induce sleep) your back straight and with your eyes closed, settle briefly and then silently introduce the sacred word as a symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
- When you engage with thoughts, return ever so gently to the sacred word.
- At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence for a few minutes with your eyes closed.
Prayer before Centering Prayer
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Alive at the centre of my being.
I wish to spend this time with you,
consenting in love to your divine presence and action within.
May my sacred word, that I will pray when distracted by anything else,
be a sign and symbol of my intention.
Amen
If you would like to find out if there is a Centering Prayer Group meeting near you you can check it out on the website of Centering Prayer Ireland here