Centering Prayer on March 24

Hi All,

We have invited Greg Carbone and Karen Beidel from St. Peter's parish to join us to discuss Centering Prayer.

Centering Prayer was developed following the Second Vatican Council by three Trappist monks, Fr. William Meninger, Basil Pennington and Thomas Keating. Drawing from the Church's ancient tradition of contemplative prayer and lection divina, the three developed a simple method of silent prayer for contemporary people.

From the "Contemplative Outreach" website:

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.

We look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday, March 24 at Delaney's Music Pub & Eatery in Five Points from 6 PM to 8 PM.

Christ's Peace,

Zach and Matt