Practice guide · about 20 minutes
How to Practice Centering Prayer
Silent prayer of consent to God's presence and action within.
By Robin Kencel, spiritual director · Last updated
What is Centering Prayer?
Centering Prayer is a silent, receptive form of Christian prayer. Rather than speaking or thinking, you rest in God and consent to God's presence and action within you. It is a prayer of intention, not concentration: the sacred word is a sign of your consent, not a mantra.
The method was developed in the 1970s at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, by Trappist monks Fr. William Meninger, Fr. Basil Pennington and Fr. Thomas Keating. It draws on the fourteenth-century The Cloud of Unknowing and the prayer of the desert mothers and fathers, and it is taught worldwide by Contemplative Outreach, founded in 1984.
The four guidelines
- Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within. A simple word of one or two syllables, such as God, Jesus, Abba, Love, Peace or Be still.
- Sitting comfortably with your eyes closed, settle briefly, and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent.
- When you notice you are engaged with your thoughts, return ever so gently to the sacred word.
- At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with your eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
Contemplative Outreach recommends a minimum of 20 minutes, twice a day. Many begin with 10 minutes and grow toward 20.
Guidelines paraphrased from Contemplative Outreach.
What it is, and isn't
- It is not repeating a word continuously; the word is used only to return.
- It is not emptying the mind or a relaxation technique.
- “Thoughts” include feelings, images, memories, plans and even spiritual insights. Each is let go of gently.
- It complements other prayer, such as Scripture, the Eucharist and Lectio Divina, rather than replacing it.
Common difficulties
“My thoughts never stop.” That is normal. Each gentle return to the sacred word is itself the prayer.
“Nothing happens.” Centering Prayer is not judged by what you feel during the prayer. Many notice its fruit, if at all, in daily life.
“I feel restless.” Shorten the time for a while and return to the word without blaming yourself.
Some Christians have questions about this method. Fr. Thomas Keating's own explanation in Open Mind, Open Heart is a good place to explore them.
Guided Centering Prayer with Robin
Centering Prayer with Robin Kencel (Short)
23 minutes
A guided Centering Prayer with Robin, short version: a brief introduction from Robin, then 20 minutes of silent prayer.
Centering Prayer with Robin Kencel (Long)
25 minutes
A guided Centering Prayer with Robin, long version: a fuller introduction from Robin, then 20 minutes of silent prayer.
Sources and further reading
- The Method of Centering Prayer (Contemplative Outreach)
- Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart
- M. Basil Pennington, Centering Prayer: Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form
- The Cloud of Unknowing (anonymous, 14th century)