Centering Prayer Guidelines
1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s Presence
and action within. Examples of words are Abba, Jesu, Mary, Love, Yes, Shalom and so
on.
2. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Settle, briefly and then silently introduce the
sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.
3. When you become aware of thoughts, sensations, feelings – any perceptions
whatsoever – return gently to the sacred word.
4. At the end of the 20 minutes prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a
couple of minutes.
According to Father Thomas Keating Taken from an article in Common Boundary,
September/October 1997
NOTE: Some people find it useful to jot down critical themes, thoughts, feelings etc. or to journal after this prayer session.
