Have an idea for a Thomas Keating book to explore as a group, email [email protected]
The Young Contemplatives Thomas Keating Book Club Series is a virtual contemplative book study and discussion of Fr. Thomas’s foundational books.
You are invited to participate in a three-month online book study where we’ll explore insights from our reading in facilitated faith-sharing circles.
Stay tuned for upcoming groups!
Fr. Thomas Keating gifted us the method of Centering Prayer and profound spiritual teachings. Invitation to Love, first published in 1992, Fr. Thomas outlines a process of spiritual growth refined over his time teaching during Centering Prayer Intensive retreats at Snowmass. The teaching is meant to complement our regular practice of Centering Prayer and give language to the process of transformation that occurs as a fruit of the practice.
Reading and Meeting Schedule
| East Coast Group | Mountain Group |
The book clubs will meet every two weeks over a period of 3 months. The first session will be a welcome and orientation to the book. Every two weeks thereafter will explore themes in the assigned chapters.
Each session will last one hour, beginning with an abbreviated period of Centering Prayer, followed by gentle and expansive faith-sharing prompts to encourage reflection and discussion on the chapters we’ve read.
This is a contemplative book study group, not designed to discuss content at a theological or intellectual level. In the style of a traditional faith-sharing circle, your facilitator will offer simple guidelines and prompts to encourage reflection on how the content resonated with you on a personal level. Facilitators are not teachers or experts on the “topic” or selected reading, but rather present to serve as sacred space holders.
Our Book Club Community Guidelines
- Pre-registration is required with a suggested donation of $25
- Please read the assigned chapters before each session, following the schedule provided.
- Commit to a daily practice of Centering Prayer.
- The Zoom space will be safeguarded by a facilitator.
- To create safety and intimacy, your full presence is requested…If you are not able to participate with your camera on to be fully present to the group and those who are sharing, we kindly ask that you join us at a later session, another week!
To make a donation to support the YC community, click here:
https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/yc-donation/
In the introduction to Invitation to Love, Fr. Thomas shares:
“This is an attempt to provide a road map, as it were, for the journey that begins when Centering Prayer is seriously undertaken, and to point to some of the recognizable landmarks on the journey as well as to its ultimate destination….”
