Centering Prayer
“If you pray, go to your inner room…”
— Matthew 6:6
If you feel distracted…
restless…
or unsure how to be with God…
Centering Prayer offers a simple way to return.
Not more words.
Not more effort.
Just sitting quietly…
and opening to God’s presence within you.
What Is Centering Prayer?
Centering Prayer is a practice that opens us to contemplative prayer.
In contemplative prayer, we simply sit with God.
We open our mind, heart, and body to God—
who is beyond thoughts, words, and emotions.
It is like sitting quietly with a close friend.
No words are necessary.
The relationship itself is enough.
The Four Basic Guidelines
• Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention
• Sit comfortably and introduce the sacred word
• When you engage your thoughts, gently return to the word
• Rest in silence at the end
Starting the Practice
Start small.
Begin with five minutes.
Gradually increase to fifteen or twenty minutes.
You may also consider a second sit later in the day.
Be gentle with yourself.
There is no perfect way to do this.
What You May Begin to Notice
Over time, something begins to shift:
• More peace
• More clarity
• Less reactivity
• A deeper sense of God’s presence
This happens gradually…
often in ways you don’t expect.
A Brief History
In 1974, Father William Meninger, a Trappist monk and retreat master at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, discovered a small, dusty book in the abbey library titled The Cloud of Unknowing.
As he read it, he realized that this anonymous 14th-century text described contemplative prayer as a simple, teachable practice, one that invited ordinary people into a direct experience of God beyond thoughts and words.
Father Meninger began sharing these teachings at the Abbey Retreat House.
Soon after, Abbot Thomas Keating and Father Basil Pennington joined him. Both had been searching for a way to present Christian contemplative prayer in a form that could be practiced by modern people—especially at a time when many were turning to Eastern meditation traditions.
Together, they developed what is now known as Centering Prayer—a simple method for consenting to God’s presence and action within.
About a decade later, Father Thomas Keating founded Contemplative Outreach, an organization dedicated to sharing and supporting the practice of Centering Prayer around the world.
Today, Centering Prayer continues to be practiced by individuals and groups seeking a deeper relationship with God through silence, stillness, and trust.
Begin Your Practice
If you’d like a simple way to begin:
👉 Download my free Centering Prayer guide
Go Deeper
If you’d like guidance in your journey:
Invite Me to Your Group
I teach Centering Prayer in churches and communities.
If you’d like me to speak to your group: