The Heart of Centering Prayer (audio teaching by Cynthia Bourgeault)
The following audio teaching was recorded at an event presented by the Cathedral of St. Philip and Contemplative Outreach Atlanta, on March 17, 2018
Cynthia presented on her book The Heart of Centering Prayer. This day-long conference included lectures, discussion and question & answer, and time for centering prayer itself.
Today’s gospel (Mark 1:29-39) was about how Jesus grasped the hand of Simon’s mother-in-law who was sick with a fever. He helped her up and the fever left her and she waited on them. My mind just focuses in this piece of the gospel because this is the way how I started my spiritual journey jumping to the unknowing with my total trust that He will take my hand and guide me. I remember that I bought a bible and used the parish bulletin to guide me with the daily readings. This strategy forces me to know my parish and get involved and to be faithful to the daily readings. Little by little, I began to be attracted to silent. I was exposed to a Centering Prayer group few years later and realized that I was praying in similar way intuitively. My participation in this group began and I learn about this prayer more formally. The path has been slow because changes are slow. Every time I reach a dead end in my way, I usually got a little anxious until I remember that I am not in charge that He is guiding me. With time, the image of holding His hand has been with deeper trust and confidence. The daily practice of Centering Prayer has giving me the way to develop a deeper relationship with God and a total confidence that He is taking my hand always guiding me wherever He wants I need to go.
Let Your God Love You
Be silent.
Be still.
Alone.
Empty.
Before your God.
Say nothing.
Ask nothing.
Be silent.
Be still.
Let your God, look upon you
That is all.
God knows.
God understands.
God loves you.
With enormous love.
And only wants
To look upon you
With that love.
Quiet.
Still.
Be.
Let you God-love you.
Edwina Gately and Jane Hammond-Clarke.
Whispers: Conversations with Edwina Gateley
Source Books, 2000
http://www.cachisdigital.com/wp-content/juf-websites/prayingfromtheheart/?p=158
Prayer of Abandonment (Br. Charles de Foucauld)
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures –
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul:
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father, my Mother my Alfa and my Omega,
my refuge and my strength,
my inspiration and my consolation.
An Ancient Byzantine Prayer
Serene light shining in the ground of my being,
Draw me to yourself,
Draw me past the snares of the mind,
Free me from symbols and words
That I may discover the Signified,
The Word unspoken,
in the darkness that veils, the ground of my being.
Father Carl Arico wrote a series of questions and answers about the richness of Contemplative Prayer, Centering Prayer and the role of Contemplative Outreach.
I highly recommend you read his article: Renewing the Understanding of the Contemplative Tradition
Durante la Conferencia de Contemplative Outreach en donde se celebró los 30 años de Contemplative Outreach el pasado Septiembre, vi este video. Los cuatro monjes son el Abad Joseph Boyle, el padre Thomas Keating, el padre Basil Pennington y el padre William Meninger. Ellos discuten acerca la Oración Centrante, contemplación y los 30 años de Contemplative Outreach.
During the Contemplative Outreach Conference, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Contemplative Outreach last September, I watch this video and I love it. The four monks are Abbot Joseph Boyle, Fr. Thomas Keating, Fr.Basil Pennington and Fr. William Meninger. They have a discussion about Centering Prayer, contemplation and 30 years of Contemplative Outreach. I hope you will enjoy this video as I did.
Josefina Fernandez CONEO Coordinator November 18,2014During the Contemplative Outreach Conference, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Contemplative Outreach last September, I saw this video and I love it. The four monks are Abbot Joseph, Fr. Thomas Keating, Fr.Basil Pennington and Fr. William Meninger. They have a discussion about Centering Prayer, contemplation and 30 years of Contemplative Outreach. I hope you will enjoy this video as I did.
I am presenting the complete video and them the pieces so you may be able to watch them in the format that it is easier for you.
Josefina Fernandez CONEO Coordinator November 18,2014
During the Contemplative Outreach Conference, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Contemplative Outreach last September, I saw this video and I love it. The four monks are Abbot Joseph Boyle, Fr. Thomas Keating, Fr.Basil Pennington and Fr. William Meninger. They have a discussion about Centering Prayer, contemplation and 30 years of Contemplative Outreach. I hope you will enjoy this video as I did.
I am presenting the complete video and them the pieces so you may be able to watch them in the format that it is easier for you.
Josefina Fernandez
CONEO Coordinator November 18,2014 Complete video of the four monks: