Centering Prayer: Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form

Rating:
Summary: Union with God is possible...
Review: Centering Prayer is a method to experience direct connection with the Divine. This book explains the terminology, psychology, and processes around this updated and modernized form of contemplative prayer. It is a shame to me that the Church does not emphasize the contemplative dimension of the Gospels more. But luckily we have authors like Basil, Pennington, Keating, and Merton to help us along.

The words that the Catholic Church uses to describe God's divine plan and the methods lay and religeous alike can use to attain Divine Union are frought with confusion and ambiguity. Terms like "economy" and "meditation" are used commonly today but have subtle differences when talking about the spirit and the soul as seen by the Church.

This books explains these anomolies, talks about the commonality and differences with other forms of contemplative prayer from other traditions, and truly opens the door for a Divine relationship with the Trinity.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Disappointing and Frustrating Book
Review: I have no doubt that Basil Pennington is a very loving and well-meaning man,and an expert on his subject. But he is also very maddening.If you want to know about the background to centering prayer then probably this is as good an introduction to that aspect of the subject as any. But if , like me, you actually want to know how to do centering prayer, then don't bother with this book. It tells you just about everything you could wish to know about the history, benifits, and application of centering prayer (it even tells you how to structure centering prayer retreats and seminars). But unbelievably, within its 254 pages Pennington devotes little more than one page on how to actually do it, and what he does say is vague and interspersed with latin phrases. I have the impression that Pennington has written something more explicit somewhere, but this book is definitely not it.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Way of Prayer
Review: The concept of centering prayer is one that can be alienating to many people raised in the traditional American tradition. Most of us have been raised to be "doers," "analyzers," "achievers," etc. To many of us in that category, prayer is something to pursue actively whether it be at Mass, communal prayer, Liturgy of the Hours, etc. The author presents centering prayer as something different, perhaps even beyond our traditional understanding of prayer. "Centering Prayer", by M. Basil Pennington, presents a concept well-suited, yet often challenging for our hectic times. The book, written a number of years ago, presents the method of prayer in a new light, combing eastern Christian spiritual exercises with the context of western spirituality, offering practical guidelines for integrating the "way of prayer" into our daily lives.

The author presents the concept of centering prayer in a simple format, clearly outlining and explaining the history, status and principles of this ancient, but recently revitalized tradition. We are reminded continuously that faith is a gift from God; our ability to pray depends upon our willingness to "rest in the Lord." We are called to empty ourselves and allow God to enter our hearts and our souls. Drawing on a number of sources, including Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross as well as the anonymous author of "The Cloud of Unknowing," Father Pennington offers a simple, cogent discussion of the various aspects of prayer.

Even beyond the text, this book is an invitation. It is an invitation to open oneself to God and the gift of grace. It's neatly arranged chapters offer the reader the opportunity to reflect upon the nature of prayer and reference it frequently as needed. As one progresses in the way of centering prayer, this book is a simple, yet invaluable resource.