ABOUT
Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer; prayer in which we experience Gods 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 is drawn from our Christian contemplative heritage, notably the Fathers and Mothers of the dessert, the monastic practice of Lectio Divina, the anonymous author of "The Cloud of Unknowing "and the writings of Saint John of the Cross, and Saint Teresa of Avila. Centering Prayer was distilled into a simple method of prayer in the 1970's by three Trappist monks; Thomas Keating, Basil Pennington, and William Menninger.
Presenter: Fr. Rev. D Joseph Manship
Fr. Manship has served as a diocesan priest for over 41 years here in Maine. He is uniquely qualified to teach Centering Prayer as he holds a Master's Degree in Pastoral Counseling and a Master's Degree in Theology. He also continues to work as a Jungian Analyst (Depth Psychologist) in Biddeford, Maine. He has been trained and certified as a Centering Prayer Presenter by Contemplative Outreach Ltd. an international ecumenical spiritual network that fosters the practice of Centering Prayer. Its founder and guide is Fr. Thomas Keating, a Trappist Monk who designed this form of Prayer.
"When you pray go to your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret......."
- Mathew 6;6
