Centering Prayer

‘Come …
… To know Christ and
the Power of His Love …’ (Phil 3:10)
… Through Centering Prayer
with Scripture Reflection

Invitation

Every Tuesday Evening during Lent (7.30 – 8.30 pm), beginning Tuesday 28th February, our group will meet in The Clonfert Family Centre, Brackernagh, Ballinasloe, H53 NX59.

You, are Most Welcome!

The focus of this receptive prayer is on the deepening of one’s personal relationship with the indwelling presence of Christ, which also tends to build communities of Faith and bond members in mutual respect, friendship and love.

For further enquiries please contact Sr. Kathleen on 087 2780723.

‘He alone has the Message of Eternal Life.’ (John 6:68)

What is Centering Prayer?

Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares participants to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, i.e. prayer in which persons experience the presence of God within themselves, closer than their own breathing and their consciousness. It is a method of prayer that is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.

Centering Prayer does not seek to replace other kinds of prayer that Christians engage in. Rather, it seeks to add depth-of-meaning to all prayer by facilitating a movement from being active (saying words,using one’s imagination, reflecting on a scripture text etc.) to simply being receptive by resting in God.

Jesus’ Teaching on Centering Prayer

“When you pray, go into your inner room and when you have closed the door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you” (Matt 6:6).

Prayer Before Centering Prayer

The following prayer offers a lovely insight into the aspirations underpinning Centering Prayer:

O God,
I adore you at the centre of my being.
Draw me inwardly by the greatness of your love
So that I may taste that peace that surpasses all understanding
and that, little by little, I may understand
what it means to be lived in by God.
Heal the wounds of a lifetime, body, soul and spirit
as I lovingly wait upon Your Presence and Action within me.
Amen.

Scripture Reflection

This is the second element of our shared prayer time.

During each of our meetings we take time with the Sunday Gospel passage of the coming Sunday- reading / listening to it, reflecting on it together, sharing with one another what it brings to mind, exploring how it is “good news” and resting with it.

This element is always guided by a group facilitator so newcomers can anticipate lots of encouragement, help and support as they grow in familiarity with this type of prayer (also known as Lectio Divina) and with our group.

For More Information

Please contact:

Sr. Kathleen Lynch FMDM
La Verna
Brackernagh
Ballinasloe.
H53 EV97
0909643679 / 0872780723.
klynch@hotmail.com