Through the practices of Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, and Welcoming Prayer, we bring the contemplative dimension of the Gospel into everyday life.
Centering Prayer, as developed by Thomas Keating, William Menninger, and Basil Pennington, is a receptive form of silent prayer or meditation. Centering Prayer is the heart of what we do.
Lectio Divina (“divine reading”) and Welcoming Prayer (a method of consent to God’s presence) are companion practices that help to enrich our connection to the Divine.
Contemplative Outreach Northwest nourishes Centering Prayer in the Northwest by providing workshops, retreats, and ongoing support for individuals and prayer groups.
What is Centering Prayer?
Centering Prayer is a method designed to facilitate the development of contemplative prayer by preparing our faculties to receive this gift. It presents ancient Christian wisdom teachings in an updated form. Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer; rather it casts a new light and depth of meaning on them. It is at the same time a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. This method of prayer is a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with him.
The Guidelines
1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.
3. When engaged with your thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.
Practice Centering Prayer for a minimum of 20 minutes, twice each day, with the intention of deepening your relationship with God.
Learn More About Centering Prayer
REGISTRATION OPEN
6 DAY (5 NIGHT) CENTERING PRAYER POST-INTENSIVE RETREAT
Sunday, March 16, 2025 (4:00 PM) to Friday, March 21, 2025 (1:00 PM)
St. Andrew’s Retreat House
7500 E. State Route 106, Union, Washington 98592
Meditation Chapel is an independent, nonprofit global platform with which Contemplative Outreach Ltd. partners to encourage groups and individuals in a life of contemplative practice. Therefore, the global website of our parent organization features this Online Meditation Chapel, which is very easy to use and provides the opportunity to see, hear and join in silent prayer with others from all over the world.
Registering for Meditation Chapel – You must first register to attend the meetings in the Chapel. You can do so at this link: https://meditationchapel.org/getting-started/. Once registered, you will receive the chapel links and can then check the calendar to pick one or more groups convenient for your schedule.
CONTEMPLATIVE RESOURCE
Presenting for the first time
Thomas Keating & William Meninger on History and Vision of
Centering Prayer & Contemplative Outreach
(48 minutes)
Recorded in 2013 at Snowmass, this intimate conversation is being presented for the first time during this 40th anniversary year of Contemplative Outreach. With Fr. Carl’s nudging, Fr. Thomas and Fr. William discuss the early history of Centering Prayer and Contemplative Outreach, including the origin of these terms. As they engage in humor and lively dialogue, they share anecdotes and insights, along with their vision for the movement and for growing ecumenism and interfaith dialogue.
The Contemplative Outreach YouTube channel offers a treasure of free videos of shorter and longer lengths.
