Centering Prayer Resources
What is Centering Prayer?
Centering Prayer is a receptive method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself.
This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Christ.
Choose among these resources to start your journey or take your current journey one step farther …
Centering Prayer Groups
There are currently 17 plus Centering Prayer groups meeting in the metropolitan Washington area, in person and via Zoom. Included in this listing is the facilitator’s contact information, their meeting location and schedule. All are welcome!
Prayer Groups>
Centering Prayer Practices
COMW offers simple guides to various Centering Prayer practices. Included here are brochures on Lectio Divina, the reading, reflecting, responding and resting in the word of God; Centering Prayer, a method of prayer in which we consent to rest in God’s presence; and the Welcoming Prayer, or letting go of thoughts and feelings that support the false-self system.
Practices>
COMW Video Library
Starting in Spring 2021, COMW embarked on a project to create a video library of past half-day retreats. You may follow along at home as dynamic leaders such as Fr. Vincent Pizzuto, LJ Milone, Bob Mischke and others take you through their thoughtful presentations. Your donations to our video library fund helps us share these meaningful contemplative experiences with a wider audience.
Videos>
Contemplative Outreach International
Centering Prayer is a receptive method of silent prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. Experience the wide range of Centering Prayer resources offered by Contemplative Outreach International. Contemplative Outreach LTD Resources>
Contemplative Outreach of Northern Virginia
Join them for the Second Saturday Morning of Centering Prayer. Visit the CONOVA Website for details on their monthly retreats, held on second Saturdays.
Important Links
Regional and International Websites
- Contemplative (Centering) Prayer & The Cloud of Unknowing
- Shalem Institute
- Contemplative Society
- Sacred Space
- Center for Christogenesis – Ilia Delio
- The Taize Community
- FindTheDivine.com
Retreat Centers
- St. Benedict’s Monastery, CO
- Bethany Retreat Center
- Dayspring Retreat Center, MD
- Bon Secours, MD
- Holy Cross Abbey, Berryville, VA
Resource Guides
Resource Guide – A terrific source identifying books, authors, tapes
So that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in me, and I in You, may they also be one in us.
John 17:21