October 18, 2005
Today’s “From the Friars” reflection will be a bit more instructional than inspirational.
I would first like to thank Carmela for writing and asking for some assistance and clarification on a form of prayer which she benefits greatly from called “centering prayer”. Carmela attends Mass every day, enjoys Eucharistic adoration often, and makes a weekly confession. However, one day a few well-meaning parishioners “verbally attacked” her, stating that she was involved in something spiritually harmful and even against Church teaching. So for the sake of Carmela and her fellow parishioners, I would like to offer a few thoughts on “centering prayer”.
One could say that there are as many forms of prayer as there are people. Like fingerprints and snow flakes, when it comes to prayer no two people “look the same”. Prayer is indeed very personal and obviously unique to each individual. Needless to say it would be difficult and quite presumptuous to judge another person’s prayer; there are just too many things which swim down below the surface. A person’s motivation for prayer, for example, can vary, as too their level of devotion, attentiveness, sincerity, and faith – just to fish out a few unseen elements known only by God and certainly not to neighbor.
I don’t doubt the sincerity and honest concern of Carmela’s fellow parishioners; but, any form of emotional aggression appears to be inappropriate and not very helpful. Evidently her friends fear that she is involved with some form of New Age or Eastern meditation group. Why? Because centering prayer is a form of prayer in which stillness and silence are key while giving some attention to breathing and none to images – like yoga. Unlike devotional and liturgical prayer, in this form of prayer, one says very little but silently sits in the presence of God. If centering prayer had a “patron saint”, it should be John the Beloved because those who practice it silently rest without a word on the breast of Christ like at the Last Supper.
Why then is there some controversy over something so simple? Well, first of all, it’s not popular; it’s different – which makes some people nervous. I must admit, because of a lot of liturgical nonsense which has been perpetrated in the past forty or so years, some of the faithful are somewhat sensitive to what might appear to be “trendy”. Yet, centering prayer – when it is Christ-centered – is actually ancient and well-rooted in the Church, especially in the East. Eastern Catholics and Orthodox are well familiar with the “Jesus Prayer” which uses the repetition of a small phrase to attain a continuous union with God. Not only monks but also lay people use this form of prayer, saying over and over in their hearts while they work and walk: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner”.
The Church also has expressed a tradition popular in and outside monasteries which also sought to fulfill the Scriptural mandate to “pray always”. Books like “The Cloud of Unknowing” or “Practicing the Presence of God” are classics which are available and I assure you – very Catholic! Like centering prayer the goal is to be continually in God’s presence and, without words, offer Him an interior disposition of adoration. Also, the monastic tradition of the Church has enriched us with “lectio divina”, or sacred reading, which is also a way of praying in which one uses the Bible to “rest” in God. You can find books on both the mystical and monastic prayer forms in some Catholic bookstores and certainly in every monastery gift shop.
This being said, while prayer is indeed very personal and particular to an individual, one must also pray guided by the wisdom of the Church. Look up “Quietism” in a Catholic encyclopedia and read about a popular form of silent prayer that went haywire and heretical. The purpose and goal of every prayer must be our generous response to the love of God; this means obeying His will and loving others. So, if concern for your neighbor’s spiritual welfare is expressed in anger and attack, maybe you – not they – should try another form of prayer.
Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR
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