Q: I have received and seen the DVD “God is All in All“. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you! However I have a question. Thomas Keating talks a lot […]
In Memory of Mary Mrozowski: An Exemplar of a Lay Contemplative
Mary Mrozowski died on October 18, 1993. In honor of the 25th anniversary of Mary’s death and her contribution to the contemplative dimension of life, we offer these free recordings of her […]
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Going Deeper
I have practiced Centering Prayer for many years, but the most profound changes in my attitudes were effected by the presence of Father Thomas and friendship with him. It […]
What is “Collaboration” and When is It Needed?
An exploration of collaboration in the context of the relationship model by Mary Jane Yates In this new world of online prayer groups and events, the number of […]
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Contemplative Walks
The Centering Prayer group at St. Thomas More parish in Sarasota, Florida, USA, started doing one hour contemplative walks on a Saturday afternoon in a local wooded area followed […]
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Art as Prayer
Using a few colored pencils, black paper, and a journal our Centering Prayer Group in Hawaii has been responding to the Lectio Divina portion of our weekly Centering Prayer practice […]
Hosting a Facilitator Workshop
CONTEMPLATIVE OUTREACH (CO) PITTSBURGH FACILITATOR WORKSHOP CO Pittsburgh planned an in-person Facilitator Workshop in 2019 to introduce the newly-developed online video formation materials for Facilitator Training. A link to […]
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The Unfolding of a Spiritual Memoir
Many years ago, I started the practice of journaling almost everyday. I needed to be aware and compassionate concerning my own feelings and my challenging profession. I was responsible […]
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The Difference Between Centering Prayer and Contemplation — And Why It Matters
Q: I have a question about Centering Prayer, that has come to me after rereading David Frenette’s book about Centering Prayer. He talks as though Centering Prayer may, and sometimes […]
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Blessings from Behind the Bars: Centering Prayer in Prison
In 2006, my late wife, Kate, four other psychotherapists, a cognitive behavioral trainer, and myself began a program at Travis County Correctional Center in Austin entitled LifeTools¬©. It provided psychological, […]
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How Does God Work in Centering Prayer?
Q: My problem is in understanding in what way and how God works in me in Centering Prayer. I know that to enter in Centering Prayer is to let […]
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Spiritual Depression or Clinical Depression?
Q: Can a spiritual depression turn into a clinical depression in the spiritual journey? According to Fr. Keating there is a period during the spiritual journey that all is obscure, confused […]
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A Call for Essays on the Fruits of Centering Prayer: How Centering Prayer is Changing the World
Centering Prayer changes lives, as many of us have experienced first-hand. Sometimes mountains move in the silent stillness when we consent to God’s presence and action within and, over […]
Is Charisma a Gift or a Curse?
Q: I have a question about charisma – I heard it can be a gift of the Spirit but I also know it can be a serious ego trap […]
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Is The Welcoming Prayer a Prayer?
Q: Do you consider Welcoming Prayer a prayer? I recently presented Welcoming Prayer to the Centering Prayer group I attend … and a member asked this question. She listened […]
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Remembering Nestor de Armas
“Are we having fun yet”? This was Nestor’s way of greeting people in meetings and workshops. With these words, always accompanied with a broad smile and twinkle in his […]
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Zoom Prayer and Support: How Two Meditation Chapel Groups Meet the Need for Contemplative Community in Our Virtual Age
Two years ago Contemplative Outreach hosted a Global Introductory Workshop on Centering Prayer in the midst of the pandemic. Several hundred people from around the world tuned in to […]
TM, Centering Prayer and the Sacred Word
Q: I have a question regarding the sacred word. Before coming to Centering Prayer I had been practicing Transcendental Meditation. As long as I maintain the intention of Centering Prayer, […]
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Where Should the Attention Be in Centering Prayer?
Q: First, let me send you my sincerest gratitude for all that Contemplative Outreach does. After several years of Buddhist meditation, I have found my home in the teachings […]
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Thoughts About Thoughts
by Eben Carsey, Boulder, Colorado, USA The Centering Prayer method is a prayer of intention to consent to the being, presence, and action of God within. During prayer, thoughts arise. In the […]
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Guard of the Heart and Welcoming Prayer Practices
Q: Bob Mischke writes this about Guard of the Heart , from Fr Keating: “The following are three ways of keeping yourself on course in everyday affairs. The first […]
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Welcoming Prayer and Onset of Mania or Depression
Q: Firstly, I am very thankful for the teaching on Centering Prayer and have been practicing it for about two years. (The mobile app is really helpful too.) Though […]
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The Real Welcoming Prayer Practice
Q: I have a question about Welcoming Prayer. I saw some website posting Father Thomas Keating’s poem： Welcome, welcome, welcome. I welcome everything that comes to me today, because […]
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Perception Through Levels of Consciousness
Q: I’m a practitioner of Centering Prayer for about 15 years. I started after reading Cynthia Bourgeault’s and Thomas Keating’s introductions to Centering Prayer. Their later works have me […]
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Why Meditation/Contemplation?
Q: I’ve been practicing meditation/contemplation for more than twenty years. As of late, I am periodically troubled by the question “why am I doing this, i.e., contemplation?” The question is in […]
