The “Queen’s House (QH) Centring Prayer” group continues their weekly in-person meetings here at St. Philip Neri in our Sunroom, as well as via Zoom.
Each session includes 20 minutes of centring prayer followed by a 15-20 minute video, featuring teachers on the contemplative life (Thomas Keating, Cynthia Bourgeault, Richard Rohr, etc.) The group then takes a few minutes to discuss any insights gleaned and reflect with each other on the practice of centring prayer. All are welcome to join in this special form of prayer. To register, email Ana Gheyssen at: .
Centering Prayer in the Catholic Church is a form of silent, contemplative prayer where individuals focus on achieving a state of interior silence by letting go of all thoughts and distractions, using a chosen “sacred word” as a focal point to gently return to when their mind wanders, with the goal of experiencing a deeper presence of God within them; it’s considered a way to “consent” to God’s presence and action rather than actively petitioning or asking for things.
Key points about Centering Prayer:
- Focus on silence:
The primary aim is to quiet the mind and create space for a deeper connection with God, not necessarily focusing on specific thoughts or prayers.
- “Sacred word”:
A single word like “Jesus” or “Love” is chosen to serve as an anchor when thoughts drift, helping to gently bring the practitioner back to the present moment.
- Not about emptying the mind completely:
While the goal is to let go of most thoughts, the focus is on returning to the sacred word whenever distractions arise, not on achieving a completely blank mind.