Introduction to Centering Prayer

Ideally, Contemplative Outreach teaches Centering Prayer and its conceptual background over six to twelve weeks as participants develop a daily practice of prayer. The components are:

	A 6 hour Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop…
	Six to twelve weekly sessions …
	A final session on Lectio Divina (spiritual praying of scripture.)

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The Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop

A six-hour introductory workshop, conducted by a commissioned Presenter, trained by Contemplative Outreach, is typically held on a Saturday. Though it can be split into two sessions, it is not advisable to spread the workshop over more than a two-day period.

The goal of the workshop is to teach the method of Centering Prayer and encourage a daily prayer practice. The workshop consists of four conferences, and two periods of practicing Centering Prayer. Topics covered are:

	Prayer as a relationship with God. Centering Prayer and the Christian contemplative heritage.
	The method of Centering Prayer, taught and practiced
	The use of the Sacred Word in Centering Prayer explained
	The fruits of Centering Prayer and extending the benefits into daily life.

 

Weekly Sessions - An Essential Element of the Introduction

Through six to twelve weekly sessions, Contemplative Outreach supports participants during the weeks after the Introductory Workshop, as they are establishing a daily commitment to a practice of Centering Prayer. The weekly sessions, conducted by a Facilitator trained by Contemplative Outreach, generally consist of:

	A twenty minute period of Centering Prayer
	Viewing a video tape by Fr. Thomas Keating which provides both a conceptual background for Centering Prayer and consideration of the Christian Contemplative Heritage
	A twenty-minute period of questions and sharing related to the videotapes and the experience of Centering Prayer

Centering Prayer in a group can be very supportive and encouraging to those establishing a daily prayer practice. The sharing and discussion period guided by the Facilitator can prove helpful to integrating Centering Prayer with more familiar forms of prayer. A videotape series by Fr. Thomas Keating offers a deeper understanding of the method of Centering Prayer and its conceptual background. It touches on the place of Centering Prayer in our Christian Contemplative Heritage.

Lectio Divina

An optional final session may be offered on Lectio Divina as a personal prayer practice. Lectio Divina, a spiritual praying of scripture, is a deepening experience of different senses of scripture, from more active modes - verbal, discursive and affective prayer -- to receptive prayer. This dynamic process opens us to the gift of God's presence within us, that is contemplative prayer.

While Centering Prayer is distilled from the tradition of Lectio Divina, it is not Lectio Divina itself, but another method, a distinct approach to contemplative prayer. A regular and established practice of Centering Prayer, greatly facilitates the dynamic process of Lectio Divina, particularly its movement into contemplative prayer.

To avoid confusion between the two prayer practices, Lectio Divina is generally offered after participants are well familiarized with Centering Prayer.